Rules Of Pool Care

With more and more people owning and maintaining swimming pools and spas, the needs of some basic guidelines are overwhelming important. Many people who care for pools are not chemists, nor are they inclined to becoming one simply to care for the pool in their backyard. However, abiding by these rules (and they aren't all of them!), can lessen some of the potential disasters that await. Items marked with warnings are concerns for injury or possible death.

1.       WARNING!! NEVER mix two (or more) different types, brands or forms of chlorine in the same container. It can explode violently, causing severe injury or death!

2.       WARNING!! NEVER mix two (or more) chemicals in the same container. It can explode violently, or release extremely toxic gases, causing severe injury or death.

3.       WARNING!! ALWAYS add chemicals to water, do not add water to chemicals. Adding water to concentrated chemicals can cause explosions and / or release of toxic gases.

4.       WARNING!! ALWAYS turn off all power to equipment before opening any piece of equipment or valve. Hydraulic pressures can cause severe injury or death, a timer turning on a pump while working on it can remove fingers, etc.

5.       ALWAYS read chemical labels, manufacturers can vary greatly on concentrations and methods of applications.

6.       ALWAYS test water from elbow depth for accurate readings.

7.       ALWAYS test water BEFORE adding any chemicals. Guesswork pool care is the MOST EXPENSIVE way to care for your pool

8.       ALWAYS dissolve chlorine (or other chemicals) into a bucket of water before adding to a vinyl or fiberglass pool. Concentrated chemicals can burn holes in vinyl and remove gel-coat from fiberglass pools

9.       NEVER pour undiluted acid into a pool. Always mix acid into a bucket of water before adding, tossing (with back to the wind) the mixture into the middle of the pool, for surface dispersal. Acid is heavier than water, when added in a concentrated form, it sinks to the bottom, where it etches the bottom (extremely visible at times) as it slides to the main drain, where it is pulled into the equipment to cause damage there!

10.     NEVER add acid to a pool with a high chlorine level, or add chlorine to a pool with a low pH (alkalinity).Acid & Chlorine do not mix well, anytime, but if you add calcium from the plaster, it causes large blackish purple stains to appear on the floor and walls of the pool. It can take MONTHS to go away, if ever!

11.     NEVER drain a vinyl or fiberglass pool below the return fittings. The walls will collapse and the ensuing expenses will be a multiple of the cost for a professional to have drained it correctly and safely in the first place. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IF DRAINING IS NEEDED!

12.     NEVER drain a gunite (plaster, diamond-brite, or pebble-tech) pool if groundwater is present. Wait at least 7 to 8 days after the last rain, no underground streams, no heavy lawn watering, etc. The pool / spa can and will float up out of the ground, several inches to several feet, ripping the plumbing with it. A floated pool can cost tens of thousands of dollars, easily.