Filtering your Tampa swimming pool is very important. Proper pool maintenance that includes a well-functioning filter system will help your pool to look beautiful for many years.
This is especially important during the Summer months when violent afternoon thunderstorms can blow all kinds of dirt and debris into your swimming pool. Even if your pool has a screen enclosure, flying debris can cause tears in the screen, and most enclosed pools have planters with dirt, vegetation and critters that sneak in when you're not looking.
Failing to correctly manage your pool creates a dirty mess and an expensive clean up. It's much easier and less expensive to maintain your pool through good filtering than to correct a problem with chemicals. As a result, good pool maintenance saves you both time and money!
Tampa Swimming Pool Filtering Saves Money!
Pool filtering saves water and chlorine. Vegetation, dead insects and other organic matter break down and decompose. Inorganic things that sometimes fall off or blow into a pool like small bits of paper, plastic, and bandages can also affect the chemical balance of your pool. You will use less chlorine if the filter traps most of the organic and inorganic matter. Reducing the chlorine also reduces the need to add in fresh water. The math is simple: less chlorine + less water = less money.
How Long Should I Filter My Pool?
The pool’s filtration system should run long enough to clean the pool water. Variables such as the size of the pool, flow rate of the pool pump, whether the pool has a screen enclosure, the amount of rain and leaves entering the pool, and how often the pool is used all factor into how long the filtration system should be run each day. You can run calculations - pool volume, divided by the flow rate of the pump, times times the number of times you want the water cycled per day - but a good rule of thumb is to run the filtration system for 6-8 hours per day. If the pool is screened or doesn't get much use, 6 hours is usually fine. If the pool is open, gets a lot of leaves in it or gets a lot of use, more filtration is best.
Add and Remove Water When Necessary
A lot of debris that ends up in pools floats (at least at first). Therefore, its important to have the proper water level in your pool. When you get a lot of rain, the water level can rise above the top of the skimmer, preventing debris that is floating on the surface of the water from being sucked into the skimmer and filtered out of the water. In this situation, water should be drained from the pool until it is about an inch below the top of the skimmer.
When there are dry periods, the water level can fall near the bottom of the skimmer. If the water level is too low, water may not flow fast enough into the skimmer, causing the pump to "suck air" which can damage the pump. In this situation, water should be added. Ideally, the water level should be about half way between the top and bottom of the skimmer.
Proper Chemical Balance is Key
In addition to running the filtration system correctly, it's also important for the pool water to have the right chemical balance. Organic debris, rain water, evaporation and chemicals in hair and makeup will alter the chemical levels. Even with filtering, these items can stain your pool and reduce the lifetime of your pool equipment. So, it's important to test your water regularly. Many pool supply stores will even test your pool for free and tell you exactly what chemicals to add to gain the proper balance.
The combination of a properly running the filter system and proper chemical balance, will make your pool a healthy and refreshing source of fun and relaxation for years to come.
If you are considering building or remodeling a Tampa swimming pool, contact us at Grand Vista Pools today!
