PROPERTY NEWS - A swimming pool is a highly sought-after amenity in a household or community.
For those who live in coastal areas, an occasional swim in the sea does the trick, but for people who live far from natural water bodies, a swimming pool is a treasured spot for relaxation and entertainment, and can also be the perfect place for friends and family to gather.
However, one of the biggest maintenance challenges pool owners face is the water turning green.
What causes a pool to turn green?
Algae is the main cause of the unattractive green colour which builds up in the water. Algae are caused by excess and disproportionate concentrations of chemical nutrients. Keeping a pool's water clear requires constant effort to not only clean it, but to also maintain its chemical balance.
How to maintain the chemical balance
• Chlorine - Your pool needs the right levels of chlorine to prevent algae. The right amount of chlorine is between 1,0 and 3,0 parts per million (ppm), which is one milligram per litre of water.
• Calcium hardness - The industry- and regulatory-approved standard for dissolved calcium is 200 to 400ppm in normal swimming pools and 150 to 250ppm in private spas.
• pH - The pH of a pool is the acidity level of the water, measured on a scale of 0 to 14. The level considered as normal is between 7,4 and 7,6.
• Alkalinity - The optimal level of alkalinity for a pool is 80 to 120ppm.
Chlorination, pH level, total alkalinity (TA) and calcium hardness are vital in achieving the right nutrient and chemical balance in a swimming pool.
Pool owners will agree that pools can be temperamental and a green pool is not fun at all, and often hard to fix.
Photo: www.fratellipoolservice.com
Here's how you can remedy a green pool:
Get a water test
A water test ensures that you have a clear understanding of what's affecting the chemical balance of the water in your pool.
Shock your pool
Shocking the pool is one of the most effective ways to get the job done. This entails using huge amounts of chlorine - 70% of available chlorine would be the ideal amount. Chlorine naturally gets burnt off by direct sunlight, so it is better to shock the pool after sundown.
Filter
Shocking the pool can't completely clear the water on its own. You need to also turn the filter on for at least 24 hours to get the dead algae out of the water, and ensure that the shock has fully dissipated and the water is completely clear.
Brush
You can also clean a green pool by using a heavy industrial brush. This is labour-intensive and time-consuming, but the process takes care of algae on surfaces in and around the pool.
Regular maintenance
Regular maintenance shouldn't be overlooked, because it ensures the sustainability of the swimming pool. You can do this on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on the availability of time and resources.
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