Difficulty

Easy

Steps

6

Time Required

                          15 - 30 minutes

Sections

1

  • Swimming Pool Maintenance
  • 6 steps

Flags

2

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Introduction

The focus of this guide is to discuss how to maintain the typical swimming pool that requires chlorine, it does NOT have a salt chlorinator.

What you need

Step 1

              Swimming Pool Maintenance
  • Check the water jets in the pool to see if the water is flowing at the normal flow.
  • If you have an automatic pool cleaner and it has slowed down or stopped working, this is a sign that you may have some sort of filter or pump blockage.
  • Another way to check your water flow is to check the pressure gauge on your pool filter. Most pool filters have a pressure gauge attached to monitor the waterflow. When the pressure is higher than normal, this indicates that the filter may need to be cleaned or replaced.

Check the water jets in the pool to see if the water is flowing at the normal flow.

If you have an automatic pool cleaner and it has slowed down or stopped working, this is a sign that you may have some sort of filter or pump blockage.

Another way to check your water flow is to check the pressure gauge on your pool filter. Most pool filters have a pressure gauge attached to monitor the waterflow. When the pressure is higher than normal, this indicates that the filter may need to be cleaned or replaced.

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Step 2

  • If the water flow seems slower than normal, your pool filter and/or pump may need cleaning or replacement.

If the water flow seems slower than normal, your pool filter and/or pump may need cleaning or replacement.

Step 3

  • Turn off the power to the pool pump.
  • Most all pool pumps come with a debris basket attached to them.
  • Locate the debris basket (usually has a plastic see-through round lid). Remove the lid and empty the debris basket.

Turn off the power to the pool pump.

Most all pool pumps come with a debris basket attached to them.

Locate the debris basket (usually has a plastic see-through round lid). Remove the lid and empty the debris basket.

Step 4

  • Next locate the pool filter. D.E. and cartridge filters can be easily maintained by you.
  • If you have a cartridge filter, remove the lid and examine the cartridge element. If it is discolored (not white) or has debris on it, then take your water hose and thoroughly spray it off to remove the debris.
  • If you have a D.E. filter, you will need to run the backwash procedure that your pool equipment installer should have showed you. If you do not know how to do this you can visit your pool filter manufacturer website for exact details.

Next locate the pool filter. D.E. and cartridge filters can be easily maintained by you.

If you have a cartridge filter, remove the lid and examine the cartridge element. If it is discolored (not white) or has debris on it, then take your water hose and thoroughly spray it off to remove the debris.

If you have a D.E. filter, you will need to run the backwash procedure that your pool equipment installer should have showed you. If you do not know how to do this you can visit your pool filter manufacturer website for exact details.

Step 5

  • Replace both the pump debris basket and the filter elements back in the equipment and ensure the lids are sealed properly.
  • Next turn on the power to your pool equipment. Monitor the pump and filter until your pool jets are flowing normally again.
  • If you see any water leaking from the pool equipment, turn off the power again and remove and re-close the equipment lids and repeat until you confirm no water is leaking from the equipment.

Replace both the pump debris basket and the filter elements back in the equipment and ensure the lids are sealed properly.

Next turn on the power to your pool equipment. Monitor the pump and filter until your pool jets are flowing normally again.

If you see any water leaking from the pool equipment, turn off the power again and remove and re-close the equipment lids and repeat until you confirm no water is leaking from the equipment.

Step 6

  • If the pool jet water flow is still flowing very slowly, this is an indication that it may be time to replace your filter element/cartridge.
  • You can expect to replace your pool filter element/cartridge once a year to ensure your pool water flow is maintained at the proper level. However, pool usage will determine the frequency of replacing your filters.
  • I would recommend purchasing your replacement pool filters online to save money. Online retailers offer the filters at a significantly lower cost when compared to the local pool store.

If the pool jet water flow is still flowing very slowly, this is an indication that it may be time to replace your filter element/cartridge.

You can expect to replace your pool filter element/cartridge once a year to ensure your pool water flow is maintained at the proper level. However, pool usage will determine the frequency of replacing your filters.

I would recommend purchasing your replacement pool filters online to save money. Online retailers offer the filters at a significantly lower cost when compared to the local pool store.

To keep your pool in it’s optimal condition, ensuring your pool water flow is normal is an easy do-it-yourself part of the process that you can do in a short amount of time.

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                    Gary

Member since: 11/17/2010

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Ryan - Jul 12, 2018

Reply

Putting a cover on pool pump reduces the noise and also helps in preventing it against dirt and weather attack. I have used one and it is working perfectly great. I used Serene+ pump cover.

Coveting Complex - Oct 21, 2018

Reply

Make sure you relieve the pressure, and drain the water from the filter housing prior to opening. Also, after backwashing a D.E. (diatomaceous earth) filter, one will need to add more D.E. back into the system. You’ll ruin the grids if you don’t add D.E.. Additionally, adding too little or too much D.E. can cause problems as well. Be sure you know how much you should add, and have a proper measuring device for measuring the added D.E..

Ann Moon - Feb 19, 2020

Reply

Great guides for swimming pool maintenance. As with many things in life, proper swimming pool maintenance is anything but quick and easy. As a matter of fact, the job requires a great deal of knowledge just to start. You’ll need to learn a thing or two about pool chemicals, pH levels, proper maintenance equipment, and more.