A Guide to Maintaining Your Pool - Paremata Spa & Pool · stop the pump before using the multi-port valve to change setting! The settings on the multi-valve have the following functions:

© 2014 Paremata Spa & Pool Version 1.9 – Jun 2014

A Guide to Maintaining

Your Pool

Paremata Spa & Pool 143 Main Road Paremata

Phone: (04) 233 8451 Email: [email protected]

Your Swimming Pool

© 2014 Paremata Spa & Pool Page 2

Contents

FOREWORD 3

YOUR POOL EQUIPMENT 4 The Pump 4 The Filter 4 Backwashing your Filter 5 Heater 6 Vacuuming the Pool 7 Keeping your Pool full 9 Covers 9

TAKING CARE OF THE WATER 10 SANITISING THE WATER 10

Killing Bacteria 10 Remove Water Impurities 11 Algae Inhibitors 11

ANALYSE YOUR WATER REGULARLY 12

GENERAL INFORMATION 13 DON’T LEAVE THE HOSE IN THE POOL 13

STORAGE OF POOL CHEMICALS 14

TROUBLE SHOOTING 15 OTHER TYPES OF POOL CHEMICALS 16

LEAKING POOLS 17

Your Swimming Pool


FOREWORD

This book has been designed to give you a quick reference guide to the important parts of your pool, regular maintenance, trouble shooting, and situations when to call for expert service advice.

Your pool will give you hours of enjoyment and is quite simple to maintain. Remember when you first learned to drive a car … the first few times it was quite a daunting task, wasn’t it? Gears, pedals, indicators, the lot … these days you just hop into the car and drive.

Looking after your pool is a little bit like that. There are a few things which may be new to you … but they will soon become second nature. These are the things you will have to know about:

The pump;

The filter;

Backwashing the filter;

Heaters;

Covers, and

Keeping your pool full.

All these topics are covered in some detail in this section. The following section talks about how to take care of the water:

Sanitising the water;

Analysing the water regularly, and

Winterising your pool.

If you have any questions, please come and see us

Paremata Spa & Pool 143 Main Road Paremata

Phone: (04) 233 8451 Email: [email protected]

Your Swimming Pool


from pump

to pool

Normal Filter Setting

from pump

to pool


from pump

to pool


Pool Pump

Hair & Lint

Basket

Pump

Electric Motor

Pool Pump

Hair & Lint

Basket

Pump

Electric Motor

Your Pool Equipment

The Pump

Your pump needs a little bit of time each month for some maintenance checks. Inspect and clean the hair and lint pot basket on a regular basis (monthly or when more than normal amounts of dirt and leaves are present) to ensure that the pump is working efficiently.

When placing the lid on the hair and lint pot, check for dirt and particles around the O’ring seat. These can cause air leaks into the system. Clean the O’ring and coat it with a silicon-based lubricant.

Hand-tighten the lid for an airtight seal. Important: Do not over-tighten!

Please note, operate pump only if water is in the pump!

If the pump does not perform well, call Paremata Spa & Pool. For initial checks on what could be wrong and how it may easily be fixed, please refer to the Trouble Shooting section at the end of this manual.

The Filter

The filter is an integral and important part of the system that will keep your pool clean. The filter is filled with silica sand, which collects and filters out dirt and impurities from the water.

The pool water is pumped through the sand and the cleaned water is collected in the under-drain at the bottom of the filter and returned to the pool.

Over time, the dirt and impurities collected in the sand will clog up the filter. You will notice that the pressure builds up (as indicated on the filter pressure gauge) and that the flow to the pool is reduced.

Your Swimming Pool


from pump

Backwashing Filter

to gully trap

from pump

Backwashing Filter

to gully trap

RINSE

To clean the sand, the water flow is reversed (back-wash) and the dirt and impurities are flushed away into a suitable drain (gully trap or soak pit). The filter will need to be rinsed before it can be set back to normal again.

All functions, such as backwashing, rinsing and filtering, are controlled by a multi-port valve at the top of your filter unit. Move the lever to the appropriate setting. Please note: Turn power off to stop the pump before using the multi-port valve to change setting!

The settings on the multi-valve have the following functions:

Filter Normal filter setting.

Waste To empty pool or to vacuum excess algae and debris from the pool without blocking up the filter. Take care when using this setting as water is not returning to the pool.

Closed Used during maintenance work only by Paremata Spa & Pool, or to shut off water flow when clearing pump lint pot basket where the pump is below the water level.

Backwash Setting is used to clean filter.

Recirculate Rapid circulation of water without filtering. Used to circulate chemicals without passing through the filter. Take care when using this setting.

Rinse Setting is used after backwash to flush dirt from the valve.

Allow the filter to run for a minimum of 4 hours a day during winter months and up to14 hours a day through spring and summer. Pumps are designed to run continuously. Do not worry about over-filtering your pool.

Backwashing your Filter

As your filter continues to remove dirt from the pool, the pressure gauge will rise. When the gauge rises by 20 – 30 KPa above its start-up pressure it is time to backwash the filter and remove the impurities and dirt from the sand.

Your Swimming Pool


Typical Gas Heater

Typical Hot Water Heat Pump

This is how you do it:

1. Stop the pump.

2. Select Backwash on multi-port valve.

3. Restart pump and let it run for 30 to 40 seconds, or until sight glass shows that the water is clean.

4. Stop the pump.

5. Select Rinse.

6. Restart the pump and let it run for about 10 seconds.

7. Stop pump.

8. Return the multi-port valve to Filter.

9. Turn pump back on.

Please note: Backwashing drops water level. Do not drop below skimmer throat.

You have completed the backwashing of the sand filter, the sand should now be clean again and can capture dirt and impurities. The pressure gauge should be back to the original pressure.

If you suspect that the filter does not perform properly, call Paremata Spa & Pool.

For initial checks on what could be wrong and how it may easily be fixed, please refer to the Trouble Shooting section at the end of this manual.

Heating (Heat Pump or Gas)

Your heater needs the filter pump to be working before it can heat the water. The heater is controlled by a pressure

or flow switch which turns the heater on when the filter pump is working.

The heater is then controlled by the thermostat, which will switch the heater off as soon as the pre-set temperature has been reached.

We can supply a range of different heaters depending on your specific requirements. Please contact Paremata Spa & Pool for more information on pool heaters

Your Swimming Pool


Vacuuming the Pool

To keep your pool clean, please follow these few simple steps when vacuuming your pool. Trapping air in the vacuuming hose is a common problem, - so be sure that you follow the steps exactly as detailed:

1. Install vacuuming plate into skimmer. The plate is stored under the skimmer lid or in the filter shed.

2. Attach vacuuming hose to vacuuming cleaner. The vacuum cleaner has a telescopic handle to guide the cleaner around the pool.

3. Twist handle to left to unlock and slide extension inside other part of handle. Twist to right to lock in position.

4. Place vacuum head with the attached hose into the pool and throw the vacuum hose onto the water. The vacuum hose has a natural tendency to coil. It is easier to unwind it while floating on the water.

Your Swimming Pool


5. This step is the most important step to ensure that no air is trapped in the hose! Take the first part of the hose and force it under water. Follow the hose pushing it continually under water from one end to the other, forcing the air out of the hose.

6. To make sure that the hose is full of water, hold the end of the hose approximately 50 mm above the water. The water should rise up in the hose above the pool water level and spill over. If not, repeat step 4. You haven’t forced all the air out of the hose.

7. Put your hand over the end of the hose and quickly pull it over into the vacuuming plate in the skimmer.

8. Water is now being drawn up through the hose from the vacuum cleaner at the bottom of the pool. If you get air into the hose, the vacuuming will not work until the pump has exhausted the air and is pumping water. If it doesn’t work, go back to step 4.

9. Take the telescope handle and push the vacuum cleaner slowly across the floor of the pool. If it is done too quickly, you just stir up the dirt in the pool. It will suspend in the water and later settle on the bottom of the pool again. As a guideline: The speed of normal household vacuuming is too fast.

10. Vacuum all parts of the pool including the steps. Be careful when vacuuming the top step. Do not take the vacuum cleaner above the water line. It will suck in air and the vacuum will stop working.

11. If the pump loses its suction, stop the pump and ensure both skimmer and pump baskets are clear of debris. It may also be necessary to backwash to the filter. Run the pump for a while before repeating the set-up process, step 4.

Your Swimming Pool


Skimmer Box

Vacuum Plate

Leaf Basket

Skimmer Box

Vacuum Plate

Leaf Basket

12. Pools need brushing from time to time to remove build-up of debris in awkward corners and unseen algae from walls. Always brush one hour before vacuuming to allow time for debris to settle on the bottom of the pool.

Some people find vacuuming the pool quite relaxing with the peacefulness and the movement of the water. Don’t be put off by this process, it will give you a lot of satisfaction to have a wonderful clean pool.

If you have an automatic pool cleaning system, please refer to the manufacturers product instructions for information, or Paremata Spa & Pool if you have no instructions.

Keeping your Pool full

Due to evaporation, all pools will lose some water depending on the atmospheric conditions at the time. If you do not have an automatic water top-up facility, please make sure that you observe the water level in the pool and that you add water as required. If the water level drops below the line of the skimmer the pump will suck air, which can cause problems.

Please never drain your pool without involving Paremata Spa & Pool. It can cause costly damage to your pool.

Covers

Outdoor Pools Heat retention covers (bubble or foam covers) should be removed every day to allow the pool to oxidise to the atmosphere.

Indoor Pools Please note: if you have an indoor pool, remove covers for one hour or when using the pool to avoid condensation problems.

Always store covers out of the sun if possible. To maintain your covers, please hose them down and clean them regularly. Always remove cover from pool at the end of the season when you have finished using it. For further information see section Getting Ready for Winter.

Your Swimming Pool


Taking Care of the Water

The environment as well as the users of the pool will all contribute towards the gradual deterioration of the quality of your pool water.

Whilst your pool filter will take care of some aspects of maintaining the quality of the water, you will need to do some simple, basic things to keep your pool water in top condition.

The chemical side of looking after your pool is just like putting petrol and oil into your car … if you do it regularly, you won’t have any problems.

There are many options available to you and we have tried most of them. We found the following most easy to use and very effective.

Sanitising the Water

There are three steps to sanitise your water:

Stabilised chlorine will kill bacteria to prevent possible infection.

Chemical treatment will remove impurities and improve water quality.

Algae inhibitors will prevent algae from growing in your pool.

Killing Bacteria

We recommend using stabilised chlorine.

The stabiliser is an integral part of any program designed to protect the bathers from harmful bacteria – and makes for more economic and efficient use of chlorine.

Many people think that all chlorine is the same. That is simply not true. Unlike drum or liquid chlorine sold in many discount stores, stabilised chlorine lasts longer in your water fighting bacteria, saving you money.

In stabilised chlorine, a special “sunscreen” prevents a quick dissipation due to the sun’s ultra-violet rays. Chlorine that isn’t stabilised is used up very quickly and often leads to problems.

There are different forms of administering stabilised chlorine. Come and see us at Paremata Spa & Pool to discuss the most convenient option for you.

It won’t take more than a few minutes each week to look after your water.

Your Swimming Pool


Remove Water Impurities

Impurities from pool users such as perspiration, urine, suntan oil and cosmetics accumulate in a pool as it is used.

Those irritations can make eyes sting, irritate skin, dull water and give algae plenty of food to grow on.

When impurities build up in the water, in particular after many people have used the pool, the effectiveness of chlorine is reduced.

Because the impurities dissolve in the water, the filter cannot remove them. The nitrogen in the impurities combine with chlorine to form something called chloramines. It’s the chloramines, which can lead to odours and irritation, not the chlorine.

There are simple treatments available to remove impurities from your pool’s water. The size of your pool will determine the dosage of the treatment. Please come and see us at Paremata Spa & Pool to determine the best treatment for your pool, we will advise you.

Algae Inhibitors

It pays to prevent algae from ever getting started in your pool. Algae is microscopic plant-life that multiplies rapidly.

They attach to pool surfaces, cloud the water and can clog your filter. They enter your pool from rain and wind – even on your swimwear.

They are hard to see, since they are so small … once you can see them (green pool), it is almost too late and it can be costly to remove them.

A weekly dose of algae inhibitors prevents algae growth from occurring.

If algae have already established themselves in your pool, act quickly. There are ways of destroying every type of algae. Come and see us at Paremata Spa & Pool to identify the right cure for your pool.

Who would have heard of algae bloom until recently - now we have it in our oceans.

Your Swimming Pool


Analyse your water regularly

At Paremata Spa & Pool we can analyse a sample of your pool water for you and supply you with a print out of recommendations to ensure your pool water remains in balance for healthy swimming.

The results are printed on one page with easy to read and follow instructions.

Your Swimming Pool


General Information

Don’t Leave the Hose in the Pool

If you top up your pool water, please make sure that you do not leave your hose in the pool! If the main water supply is disconnected while the hose is in the pool, a back-siphoning effect will reverse the flow, emptying the water from your pool.

The Council doesn’t like having your pool water in the mains supply, - and you would end up with a bit of a surprise finding your pool almost empty! Yes, it has happened.

Getting Ready for Winter

With winter approaching, many pool owners stop using the pool and want to make the pool into a carefree environment. We would like to share a few ideas with you, which come from years of experience.

The pool is a lovely part of your landscaping and although you may not be swimming, it is very pleasant to sit by on a lovely winter’s day or to view from the inside of your house. Pool lights at night also add to the ambience. Make your pool into a landscaping feature.

Some children will swim in wetsuits in the winter or, at the time of school holidays; the pools can be heated temporarily for holiday entertainment.

It is important that you still look after the pool. Do not let the pool turn into a frog pond!

When the swimming ceases for the season, turn the heater off but still leave the filter running. As the air temperature cools, gradually reduce the running time of the filter until it is running 3-4 hours a day.

The weekly chemical treatment can be extended to a monthly treatment. Keep the water chemically balanced and it will be very easy to get the pool up and running again for the next summer.

Unless you have a mesh debris cover, remove the thermal bubble or foam cover, wash it down and, if possible, put away in storage. If you use our cover system, wind the cover onto the roller.

Keep pool clean. Do not allow leaves to settle on the bottom of the pool, as they will stain. Look after your investment.

Your Swimming Pool


Storage of Pool Chemicals

There are a few basic rules you should observe to ensure the safe storage of your pool chemicals:

Store chemicals away from mechanical equipment, fertilisers/ pesticides, paint products, petrol/ gasoline products, and other inflammables (including such things as charcoal starters and matches). If pool chemicals are mixed with the above, there will be the danger of an explosion.

Your storage should be in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Do not store chemicals in a basement or other area where fumes could escape into the home environment.

Use sturdy shelves and not the floor, which could become damp. Do not store liquids near, and especially not above, dry chemicals. A drip of water into chlorine will start a fire!

Always store acid and chlorine separately, so that there is no chance of them coming into contact with each other.

Keep the storage area locked so that children or others not educated in handling chemicals will not be exposed to danger. Do not store pool toys or other equipment with the chemicals.

Keep all chemicals tightly sealed and always turn your head away when opening a container of chemicals. Use a dry and clean scoop for measuring and never use the same scoop in different chemicals.

Always store chemicals in their original containers.

Read all labels and follow instructions carefully. Dispose of any chemicals with a label that is not readable.

Always follow proper disposal instructions to safeguard our environment.

Your Swimming Pool


Trouble Shooting

Your pool is a complex system; symptoms and causes are not always obviously related. Below you can find a list of some fault symptoms and the appropriate action to be taken. Please note; if in doubt contact Paremata Spa & Pool..

What is happening? What’s the likely cause? What can you do?

Water is cloudy Incorrect pool chemistry. Is the pH of the water within normal range (7.4 – 7.6)? Has the water maintained a steady chlorine residual of 1 ppm or greater?

Take water sample to Paremata Spa & Pool for chemical analysis of your water

Remedy Chlorine demand

Filter is dirty. Backwash filter.

Unusually high dirt loads in water.

Allow filter to run 24 hours a day for a few days and see whether water is cleaner.

Pool has been used a lot.

Filter hasn’t been running long enough.

Low water flow Skimmer and hair and lint pot baskets are filled with debris.

Remove debris.

Filter is dirty. Backwash filter.

Pool water level too low. Add water.

Strange noise coming from pump.

Call Paremata Spa & Pool.

Filter needs to be backwashed frequently

Presence of algae in the pool water.

Check chlorine content, pH and total alkalinity. If problem persists, take water sample to Paremata Spa & Pool for chemical analysis of your water.

Backwash of filter was not effective.

Backwash filter thoroughly.

High pressure on starting-up pump and filter.

Partially closed valve on return line.

Check valve.

Your Swimming Pool


What is happening? What’s the likely cause? What can you do?

Pump is noisy. Debris in skimmer and hair and lint pot baskets.

Check and clean.

Rust stains Hair clips, nails or other metal objects lying in the pool.

Remove metal objects. Call Paremata Spa & Pool as it can be very difficult to remove rust stains.

Whitening of pool walls

Incorrect water balance and over-dosing with chlorine.

Check water balance. If in doubt, analyse pool water.

Stains Copper in water Copper algae remover

Ioniser

Pool Magnet – metal remover.

Pump hums or pump doesn’t start

Fuse may be blown. Check fuse.

Impeller may be jammed Check skimmer and hair and lint pot baskets. Call Paremata Spa & Pool for advice..

Power or time clock failure.

Check.

Stripe of filter sand underneath the jets.

If it is white silica sand under the jets, the under-drain in the filter is broken.

Call Paremata Spa & Pool.

Eye/Skin Irritation or Chlorine Odour

Your pH may be too low. Bring in a water sample to Paremata Spa & Pool for chemical analysis.

Other Types of Pool Chemicals

There are many types of chemical treatments for swimming pools.

Chlorine: 3-Step Programme

Tablet feeders, manual adjustment.

Automatic feeder with sensors.

Your Swimming Pool


Mac Unit

Gauge

Sight Glass

Mac Unit

Gauge

Sight Glass

Salt: Pool salt is added to the water and passed through an electrolyte-type cell to break the salt into chlorine. Appears easy but can cause many problems if not looked after properly.

Ioniser: An ioniser has copper and silver anodes with a current passing through. Appears to be an easy solution but problems can appear later on, especially if the copper/iron content in the water gets too high.

Ozone: This is a gas produced by corona discharge or UV light. Chlorine is still required but in a lesser amount, as the ozone is not long lasting.

Bacquacil: Works as a coagulant. From experience, we cannot recommend it.

If you want to change your pool chemical treatment please check with Paremata Spa and Pool first.

Leaking Pools

If you suspect a leak in the pool, here are a few things you can do to check it out.

You do not need to read this section unless you suspect that you have a leak – which is very rare.

The most common place for water leaks is from the valve on the top of the filter tank. The valve is a multi-port valve with three pipes, one coming from the pump, a second pipe returning the water to the pool and the third being the backwash pipe connecting to the sewer drain (gully trap).

As a first test, check the backwash pipe for a trickle of water while the system is running, i.e.

Undo the mac union that connects the backwash pipe to the multi port valve.

Undo the little screw-in sight glass.

Check the far end of the pipe where it meets the sewer drain (gully trap).

This could mean a worn spider gasket inside the valve or a bit of grit letting the valve not seat correctly on the spider gasket, which can potentially happen after backwashing.

Your Swimming Pool


To clean any suspected grit switch off pump first. Set filter handle between locating recesses and turn pump on for about 10 seconds. That should flush away any grit. Switch off pump and return filter handle to filter setting.

If problem persists it could be the spider gasket inside the valve. A steady drip from a worn spider gasket can cause considerable loss of water over 24 hours. If you suspect a worn spider gasket or if you are unsure about the above procedure, please contact Paremata Spa & Pool.

The next test is to make sure that the water is not simply evaporating. Take a large plastic bucket and three-quarters fill it with pool water. Now float it in the pool and tie it to a handrail or something similar that will prevent it from tipping over and spilling.

Make a mark on the inside of the bucket on the inside waterline, and also on the pool shell at the pool waterline. Leave the pool unused for a day or two, and then check both water levels. If they have both gone down by the same amount, the loss can be attributed to evaporation.

If the pool level has gone down more than that in the bucket, you have a leak. This method works for both indoor and outdoor pools, and it doesn’t matter if it rains or not.

If you still assume that you have a leak, call the Paremata Spa & Pool.

Documents

A Guide to Maintaining Your Pool - Paremata Spa & Pool · stop the pump before using the multi-port valve to change setting! The settings on the multi-valve have the following functions: