General Pool Maintenance

Routine Pool Maintenance
Although it takes great chemistry to maintain sparkling clear water, it also takes a good maintenance plan to ensure the water stays clean and clear all season long. To help with this activity, BioGuard® developed the 5 Keys to Pool Care: Circulation, Cleaning, Filtration, Chemistry, and Testing. For Chemistry and Testing, BioGuard utilizes patented water testing and analysis software, called ALEX®, to help maintain proper pool chemistry.

Circulation
Water circulation has a dramatic affect on the sanitation of a pool. When water is in motion, the chemicals are distributed more thoroughly making it harder for bacteria and algae to find a hospitable surface on which to grow. Several things affect circulation: the size and efficiency of the pump, how often the pump runs, the amount of swimmer activity, and the shape of the pool. For most pools, the pump should operate at least 10 - 12 hours a day and the return outlets should angle 45 degrees down in the same direction to enable water circulation throughout the pool. However, there will always be dead spots where algae and bacteria can grow. Dead spots are areas of water stagnation caused by pool design, ladder or step placement, or improperly positioned return outlets. Water found in dead spots is neither filtered nor properly treated with sanitizing and oxidizing chemicals. Common dead spot areas include: corners, recessed walk-in pool steps, the wall behind pool ladders, the inside of a light niche, and the bottom of pools without main drains.

Cleaning
The main solution to minimize the problems attributed to dead spots is brushing. The entire pool surface should be brushed at least once a week. Brushing helps to physically circulate water found in dead spots, allowing contaminants to be treated by chemicals or filtered out through the pool system.

The type of brush needed depends on the type of pool. A vinyl liner pool requires a soft, nylon bristled brush that protects the vinyl surface from damage. For harder surfaces like plaster or fiberglass, stainless steel bristles work best, especially when trying to brush up stubborn growths like black algae. BioGuard offers a full line of cleaning handhelds that are specifically designed to address the needs for each type of pool.

Vacuuming
Environmental debris such as leaves or bugs will eventually sink to the bottom of the pool. Aside from being unattractive, excessive debris depletes the sanitizer through natural oxidative processes. Vacuuming removes this debris, which is important for two reasons: Improved pool appearance and improved sanitizer efficiency.

Some owners manually spot vacuum the pool every day, focusing their cleaning effort on the visible areas of dirt and debris. Other pool owners install an automatic pool cleaner to run continuously throughout the day. Regardless of how it's done, the entire pool should be vacuumed at least once a week.

Surface Cleaning Products
Oil residue from bathers can form a greasy water line at the waters surface around the interior wall. Routine chemical cleaning of this residue is important. It prevents the residue from permanently discoloring a vinyl liner and eliminates what can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria. Routine cleaning also facilitates easier subsequent oil removal. BioGuard® Off-The-Wall is a product specifically formulated to address oil waste at the water line.

Filtration
Knowing when to physically or chemically clean the filter is an important part of the pool maintenance process. Removal of contaminants and debris from the filter bed facilitates greater filtration efficiency and extends filter life. The three types of filters commonly used on pools are: Sand, Cartridge, and Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.).

Sand Filters
For sand filters, physically cleaning the filter is performed by backwashing the filter. Backwashing reverses the water flow, stirring up the sand to effectively knock the loose dirt into the freeboard area and through the backwash line to disposal. Typically, backwashing is conducted when the filter pressure reaches 8 to 10 psi above normal operating pressure as indicated by the filter pressure gauge.

Physical cleaning will remove most accumulated debris; however, over time the filter traps oil and scale contaminants that backwashing can't remove. This is when a chemical cleaning is necessary. BioGuard offers a chemical filter cleaning regimen that begins with Strip Kwik® to shampoo away the oils and then Kleen-It® to dissolve scale and metal deposits. For optimal filtration, this cleaning should be performed in the spring and then every four to six weeks throughout the season.

Because sand loses its filtration capacity over time, it needs to be replaced every three to five years. For pools that use biguanide systems, such as SoftSwim®, it is recommended that the sand be changed annually.

Cartridge Filters
Cleaning of cartridge filters should be conducted when filter pressure rises 10-15 psi above normal operating pressure. Physical cleaning is conducted by manually removing the cartridge from the filter housing and rinsing with a garden hose to remove particulate matter from the cartridge.

A chemical cleaning regimen is essential to maximize the efficiency and protect the life of the filter cartridge. First, soak the cartridge in a Strip Kwik solution according to label directions to remove grease and oil that has accumulated in the filter fibers. Then spray with Kleen It and rinse to remove residual scale/clarifier deposits.

For best results and longer filter life, rinse the cartridge thoroughly and allow it to dry before reinstalling into the filter housing. Many pool professionals recommend having an additional cartridge to switch out when conducting the cleaning process.

A cartridge must be replaced when the fabric has deteriorated beyond the point where routine maintenance will improve filtration efficiency. Otherwise, problems associated with poor circulation and filtration will begin to show.

Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) Filter
D.E. filter maintenance must be performed when filter pressure rises 10 to 15 psi above normal operating pressure. With a D.E. filter, "cleaning" could mean a couple of things: Regeneration or Backwashing.

Regeneration of D.E. results in the D.E. powder falling off the grids in the filter tank when the pump is turned off. When the pump is turned back on, the D.E. powder re-coats the filter grids with a regenerated D.E. surface area exposed to filtration.

Filter pressure that remains high after regeneration indicates the need for backwashing and chemically cleaning the grids. Backwashing a D.E. filter essentially accomplishes the same result as in a sand filter. Reversing the flow of water loosens the dirty D.E. and debris attached to the grids to be washed out of the filter tank through the backwash line. Note that many municipalities require supplemental separation tanks to be installed on the backwash line to capture the spent D.E. powder and prevent accumulation in the sewer system.

During backwash, it's important to also chemically clean the grids to remove the oils and organic debris not removed during the backwash cycle. To chemically clean, break down the filter and soak the grids in Strip Kwik to remove oils. Then rinse and spray with Kleen It to remove residual scale and clarifier deposits. Reassemble the filter and recoat the grids according to manufacturer's directions. It is recommended to backwash and chemically clean a properly maintained D.E. filter once or twice a year.