Swimming pool maintenance |
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It does not matter what type of swimming pool you have in France, your pool is going to require regular maintenance. During the summer swimming months this will be on a daily basis. Summer swimming pool maintenance As a general guide, a pool will need a daily visual check of its filtration to ensure there are no blockages in the skimmers. Presumably you will have a summer heat retention cover, however, leaves, small animals and insects can still enter the pool. We have found salamanders in ours, also mice, frogs and even a snake! (luckily a grass snake ie non poisonous) A lie on pool cover will prevent animals entering the water, as will an Abri. However, If there are any unwanted livestock in the pool, these should be removed ASAP. They will ultimately die, due to the chemicals in the pool which are too strong for their little bodies, or they will die due to inability to find the way out. Rotting corpses are obviously not good for pool water safety. Plant matter will also decompose if left in the water and should also be removed ASAP. Routine daily inspections for animal or vegetable debris is a necessary part o of swimming pool maintenance in France If you are expecting people to use the pool on a daily basis during the summer, it is best to hoover the base of the pool in the morning, while the weather is still cool. Depending on pool size and amount of dirt on the bottom, this may take up to 1 hour or more, if doing this by hand with the cleaning equipment normally provided as standard with the pool. The summer cover must be removed prior to the base cleaning pool maintenance. The pump should also be checked to see that it is functioning properly and that there is no undue noise or straining - this may indicate a blockage in the filters. The water should come right up to the top of the pump, visible through the top clear inspection area as provided with all our swimming pools in France. If you have cartridge filtration, straining on the pump means it is way past time to clean those filters. On average the cartridge filters will need to be removed weekly and hosed down until clean, then returned to the pool. You will need to turn the pump off to reduce the pressure in order to remove the filters and also protect the pump whilst cleaning is underway. If pool use is high and/or there is stormy weather, the filters may need cleaning more often. Some areas often effected by flying ants who seem to be on a suicide mission - these have to removed and cleaned out of the filters. Hence cartridge filters require more care as part of the pool maintenance. Sand filtration merely requires turning of a valve to backwash the sand. The pump is not turned off for this. Glass Media requires the same backwashing but less often and with less water. (Low pool maintenance) In the evening the summer cover needs to be replaced when swimming has finished to retain heat. The water condition must also be checked regularly. At least weekly, more often if pool usage is high and/or weather stormy depending on your pool sanitation. Test kits are available for this from DIY shops and are perfectly suitable for domestic family pools. After checking the pH and chlorine levels, chemicals may need to be added to adjust the readings into the recommended areas. Allow time for the pool water to circulate and the chemicals to work before retesting. Swimmers should not be allowed into the pool if the readings are not in the advised dilutions nor directly after the addition of pool chemicals. Hand dosing of chemicals is not a pleasant task, often when the container lids are raised, gases are released, which can cause coughing and watering eyes. Care must be taken as pool chemicals are often toxic in concentrated amounts. Ensure you have read the directions and add the correct amounts as stipulated in the instructions. This is an important part of pool maintenance - even if you do not speak French you should be able to ascertain the amounts to be added. Winter care Once the pool season has finished, care diminishes a little, although the water condition and pool base cleaning, visual checks of skimmers etc must still be made. Pool care really only stops once the pool is overwintered and the winter cover is in place with the pump turned off and drained. It is advisable to close your pool leaving it in a clean condition rather than be sadly disappointed at the state of when it is next opened. Pool care made easier Swimming pool care can be made easier by the addition of automated chemical addition and monitoring of chlorine and pH. Or opting for the no chemical sanitation with the ECOsmarte system. Also robots make swimming pool cleaning a more restful experience. These additions do not come cheap! For a pool robot, prices start at about 600 euros ttc to 3K euros Automated swimming pool chemical controllers come in various price ranges as well, basically you get what you pay for with both robots and automated chemical units. ECOsmarte is a different unit altogether using copper electrodes and carbon dioxide for the pH. We have tried and tested many of the products we retail and can therefore vouch for their reliability and ease of use. For further information on swimming pool maintenance in France, contact us. |
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