Daily Pool Operation

• Test pH & Free Chlorine levels using a test kit. Ensure pH is within the 7.2 - 7.6 range.
  
• The pool filter should run at least 8 to 10 hours per day. Set your pool timer to run 4-5 hours in the morning & 4-5 hours in the evening.
  
• Make sure your skimmer baskets are empty and clear of leaves or other debris.
  
• Chlorine must be added to the pool daily so check that the Salt Water Chlorinator is operating correctly.
  

Weekly Pool Maintenance Check return flow of water to the pool. Add chemicals at this point to ensure effective mixing with filtered water return. Test & adjust water for Chlorine, pH and Alkalinity. Vacuum pool floor and walls (If you don’t have a Baracuda). It's a good idea to do this on a Friday evening ready for heavy weekend usage. Empty skimmer baskets. Backwash filter monthly or as required.

Filtration

There are several types of filters available for swimming pool water. Sand, diatomaceous earth and cartridge types are the filter mediums most commonly employed. Regardless of the medium used, the basic principles are the same.
This consists of passing water through tiny passageways. Particles larger than these passages are trapped and thereby separated from the main body of the water. This process continues until all of these passageways are blocked. The filter must then be cleaned and the cycle repeated.

Vacuuming

A filter is designed to remove sediment and suspended matter from the main body of water, however, some dirt will inevitably settle to the bottom of the pool during periods when the filter is not in operation. The only way for this sediment to be removed is through vacuuming.

The swimming pool vacuum operates in a similar manner to the common household unit except it draws water through the vacuum head instead of air. The most common method uses the suction power supplied by the filter which draws the sediment and dirt from the pool floor for removal through the filter. When there is a considerable amount of sediment to be removed the filter valves should be adjusted so that the vacuumed water will bypass the filter and run to waste.

It is recommended that the pool be vacuumed about once weekly, the exact schedule to be determined from the pool owners experience.

Surface Skimming

Hair, lint, leaves and insects which enter the pool and remain floating on the surface can be easily removed with surface skimmers. There are two types of surface skimmers-hand and automatic. The hand skimmer is simply a plastic screen or net attached to a long pole and should be used to remove the larger floating objects such as leaves and grass.

The automatic surface skimmer is a device which is attached to the filtering system. During the filtering process, part of the surface water is drawn through the skimmer and into the filter, carrying with it dust, small insects, and other fine debris before these can settle to the pool floor.
The pool should be skimmed frequently since most dirt enters the water through the surface.