Swimming Pools in Freezing Weather
Now that the weather is starting to bite in many parts of the country you need to ensure that your pool is properly prepared for the freezing weather. The appropriate methods of defending your swimming pool against freezing will vary depending on your location.
If you would like free advise on protecting your swimming pool please give us a call, post a reply or send an email. All Swimming Pools need to be looked after in the winter so you can start the 2008 swimming pool season running!!¼/p>
January 8th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hi, my pool has a habit of going green if I leave it longer than two weeks. In france I buy something called shock. This gets it back to normal in a day. Can I buy something like that in Kent. thanks,,,Glyn
January 11th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Hi Glyn
Hope the below information will help your algae problem.
How to Control Green Water in your Swimming Pool
Green algae is a common swimming pool problem, which may appear as a greenish growth on the floor and walls of a swimming pool, a green tint to the pool water, or greenish material suspended in the pool water. The only swimming pool chemical that will kill an algae growth is chlorine based swimming pool “shock”. Shock is a granular form of highly concentrated chlorine, which quickly raises the chlorine level of the swimming pool water. The elevated chlorine level makes the pool water conditions unlivable for anything organic, and algae quickly dies.
Steps that need to be taken if your swimming pool is Algae Infected
v Brush the walls and floor of the swimming pool to remove as much of the algae as possible. This will greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to kill and clear the algae bloom.
v With the pool filter system running, add a chlorine based swimming pool shock at the rate of 1kg. per 11,000 gallons (or follow the pool shock manufacturer’s dosage suggestion for killing algae). The pool filter system should continue to run 24 hours a day.
v If the condition of the swimming pool does not significantly improve after 12-24 hours of filtering, add a second dose of chlorine pool shock at the increased rate. Repeat this process until the algae has been eliminated.
v Once the algae is dead it will turn a white or grayish color, and it will be suspended in the pool water or settle to the floor. When there is no longer any sign of the color green in your pool, thoroughly vacuum the swimming pool. It is recommended that you vacuum dead algae to waste and not through filter.
v The pool filter should be backwashed or cleaned to be sure that dead algae is not trapped inside the filter. If the filter is not thoroughly cleaned the algae may quickly return.
v Test and balance all of the pool chemical levels using the following guidelines. Free Chlorine: 1-3 ppm, pH: 7.2 – 7.6, Alkalinity: 80 – 120 ppm and Calcium Hardness: 200 – 350 ppm.
v Begin adding an algaecide pool chemical on a weekly basis to prevent algae from returning.
How to Avoid this Problem in the Future
v Pay closer attention to the chlorine level of your swimming pool water in the future. Algae and harmful bacteria are almost immediately destroyed by a free chlorine level of 1 ppm or higher. You have experienced an algae problem because you have not properly maintained the chlorine level, and it was allowed to drop below 1 ppm. Test pool water frequently and make any necessary adjustments for a clean, safe and easy to maintain swimming pool.
v Chlorine pool shock needs to be dissolved in a large bucket of water before it is added to the swimming pool. Always add chemicals to water when dissolving. NEVER add water to chemicals.
v Monitor your pool filter system closely during this entire process and thoroughly backwash or clean the filter each time the pressure rises 10 psi. above the normal operating pressure. The dead algae that your pool filter collects may quickly dirty the filter, and need to be cleaned out frequently.
v In the winter, invest in a mesh pool cover that will prevent debris from entering your pool, yet allow water to pass through, and keep your pool clean.