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Maintenance - Concrete Pools

CONGRATULATIONS, Your beautiful new Factory Pools, Swimming Pool is finished and almost ready to enjoy. There are however, things you will need to know in order to maintain the pool and equipment like new.

 

This personalised customer pool handover will explain to you in simple terms how easy it is to look after and enjoy your pool for many years to come.

 

We realise you may not remember all the points discussed in this handover, so we have put it all in writing on the following pages, so you can refer to this at a later date.

 

Remember, the way you look after your pool could affect the manufactures warranty on the Pool and Equipment. So read carefully. 

How do you look after the Pebble Interior of your pool? 

 

On completion of acid wash, the Acid Wash Technician will commence filling the pool via a garden hose (left on site by the owner). The pool must fill from the deep end as water running from the shallow end will streak the interior. Pool must be filled to the TOP OF THE SKIMMER BOX and IN ONE CONTINUAL ACTION. Failure to do so will result in a so called ‘tidal mark’. This mark is not easily removed and can be permanent.

 

Concrete pools with a cement based interior can take between 4-6 weeks to cure fully. During this time the interior is vulnerable to chemical damage. Immediately after ‘handover’, the following procedures must be strictly adhered to for the first 3 weeks.

 

  • Add the recommended chemicals or agents as instructed (if not already done by the Contractor)

  • Monitor and balance water chemistry – weekly

  • Manually brush and vacuum the entire surface finishes – daily, checking and clearing the skimmer basket/s and lint pots in the pump/s for small particles brushed off the surfaces. The use of a filter sock in the skimmer basket during this time will greatly assist in catching these small particles.

  • Run the filtration system for a minimum of 8-10 hours a day (Saltwater Chlorination)

  • Check and adjust the ph of the pool/spa water every 2nd day

  • Maintain ph in the range of 7.2 to 7.6

  • Do not add Calcium to the water during this time as the Smoothcrete pebble has Calcium added.

  • Attend to algae flashes promptly

 

Removing CALCIUM BUILD UP is no easy task, however preventing calcium from adhering to pool surfaces can be as simple as following the above recommendations. Failure to do so may cause irreversible damage as calcium scaling is not always able to be removed evenly (oxide added interiors are in extreme danger of this).

 

Pools which continually appear cloudy may need to be flocked to trap suspended solids. Allow 12-24 hours for floc to settle to the floor and then vacuum sediment to waste, topping up pool water level if necessary.

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THIS IS A GENERAL GUIDE. ALWAYS CONSULT THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES FOR WATER CHEMISTRY AS IT MAY EFFECT THE WARRANTY OF THE PRODUCT.

GENERAL CARE

 

Pool Weekly

 

  • Test pH of water

  • Test Chlorine levels (Salt water chlorinated)

  • Test Copper levels (NAKED, EnviroSwim® Systems)

  • Brush waterline, steps and benches

  • Empty skimmer basket & Pump Lint basket (more frequently in leafy areas)

  • Keep water levels at least half way up skimmer mouth

  • Run Pool Lights for a minimum half an hour, twice a week

  • If you have a Robotic Cleaner, use once a week or fortnight (depending on pool use). Remembering to clean it after.

     

Pool Monthly

 

  • Have your pool serviced monthly by our local pool maintenance pro, Kim Slatter of Kim's Pool and Spa Services on 0420 854 583.

     

Equipment Weekly

 

  • Salt Water Chlorination: Run filtration 8-10hrs a day minimum up to 50,000 litres as Salt chlorinators must run at least

    8hrs per day, with an Eco Pump 10hrs per day

  • Freshwater Systems: Run filtration 4hrs a day up to 50,000 litres in hotter weather less in cooler weather

  • Check for leaks around any equipment (there should not be any)

  • Listen for noises that were not there before – evident on start up

     

Equipment Monthly

 

  • Backwash Sand filter or clean Cartridge Element when pressure gauge nears 100kpa or 50kpa above/every 2-4 weeks

  • Backwashing: With pump turned off, turn valve to BACKWASH and turn pump on for 2-3 minutes until sight glass is clear

  • Turn pump off and turn handle to RINSE, turn pump on for 20 seconds then turn off

  • With pump off turn back to FILTER and turn pump back on

  • Listen for leaks and noises that were not there before

  • Clean out the pump basket for leaves and pebbles

  • Very sparingly grease all silicone O’rings with silicone grease (DO NOT USE VASELINE) 

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THIS IS A GENERAL GUIDE. ALWAYS CONSULT THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES AS IT MAY EFFECT THE WARRANTY OF THE PRODUCT.

GENERAL HINTS

 

  • Running pump filter and chlorinator less than 8hrs a day may result in unhealthy water (despite how it looks)

  • During winter halve pool filtration to approx 4hrs a day & winterize with pool algaecide

  • Cloudy water is due to pool sanitizer level, poor water balance or poor filtration. All outdoor pools must have at least

    30ppm of stabilizer (pool sunscreen) to prevent excessive chlorine loss by the sun, or you will have used double the

    amount of sanitizer used.

  • Pools can lose 50-60mm in evaporation per week, this is normal especially in warm windy conditions.

  • Set Salt chlorinators to 100% output in summer and reduce to 80% in winter with reduced filter times.

  • In winter run pool solar in Winter Mode.

  • Never mix chemicals together and keep separated in a very well ventilated area. 

 

THIS IS A GENERAL GUIDE. ALWAYS CONSULT THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES AS IT MAY EFFECT THE WARRANTY OF THE PRODUCT.

SANITISERS - Salt Water Chlorination

 

Your balanced chemical levels should be: (ppm=parts per million)

  • pH: 7.2 to 7.5 ppm (concrete pools)

  • Chlorine: 2 to 3 ppm

  • Alkalinity: 80 to 100 ppm

  • Sunscreen (Stabiliser): 30 to 60 ppm ideal

  • Salt: 4000 ppm or 2700-3500 ppm for Low Salt Chlorinators like the Davey Chloromatic Nipper, EcoSalt & Hayward Salt & Swim 3C

  • Calcium Hardness: 200 - 250 ppm (concrete pools)

  • Pump: Run pump 4hrs in the early morning and 4hrs in the late afternoon. (Add 1hr morning & afternoon for Eco pumps)

    Pool water should be balanced as above at all times. This is easily done at home by checking weekly your pH & Chlorine levels. Your mobile pool technician or pool shop can do the rest on a monthly basis.

 

Chlorine: check the chlorine levels daily when swimming. Low or high chlorine can cause injury to swimmers. If the levels are low you can either shock dose with liquid or powder, or boost with your salt chlorinator. Expect on hot and heavy bather load days to need to add extra at the end of the day. 

 

Pool water should be balanced as above at all times. This is easily done at home by checking weekly your pH, chlorine & calcium levels.

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THIS IS A GENERAL GUIDE. ALWAYS CONSULT THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES FOR WATER CHEMISTRY AS IT MAY EFFECT THE WARRANTY OF THE PRODUCT.

SANITISERS - Ozone System

 

Always consult the Manufacturers guidelines for water chemistry.

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POOL PUMPS

Your pool pump is the heart of your pool. Once it pulls water from your swimming pool, it circulates the water through the filter and returns it to the pool.

 

Without a quality pump, your pool water won’t be cleaned to an optimal level.

 

Regardless of the type and size of your pool, we offer industry-leading pool pumps suitable for any swimming pool.​

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FILTERS - SAND FILTER

 

VALVE POSITIONS

  • FILTER: Normal filtration and vacuuming position

  • BACKWASH: Used to clean filter by flushing water backwards through sand bed, washing dust and dirt down the drain

  • RECIRCULATE: Water returns to pool without being filtered (for circulating chemicals)

  • RINSE: Used after backwashing to re-bed sand and clear any remaining dirty water

  • WASTE: Water is sent to the drain unfiltered, for vacuuming excessive dirt from pool floor

  • CLOSED: Used to close and stop water entering and leaving filter (pump must stay OFF)

 

BACKWASHING: Backwash when pressure gauge nears 100kpa or 50kpa above start up pressure - every 3-4 weeks (or after vacuuming)

  • With pump turned off, turn valve handle back to BACKWASH, turn pump on again until sight glass is clear

  • Turn pump off and turn handle to RINSE, turn pump back on for 30 seconds then turn off

  • With pump off turn handle back to FILTER and turn pump on to resume (leave 15 seconds) normal filtration

  • Repeat this procedure for extremely dirty filter

NOTES

  1. Valve handle should NEVER be operated when pump is running

  2. Don’t backwash unnecessarily as a dirty filter is more efficient

  3. Disconnect cleaner when backwashing

  4. Never vacuum on backwash position

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THIS IS A GENERAL GUIDE. ALWAYS CONSULT THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES FOR WATER CHEMISTRY AS IT MAY EFFECT THE WARRANTY OF THE PRODUCT.

FILTERS - CARTRIDGE FILTER

 

  • Check system pressure on filter gauge at start up of system kpa

  • Clean cartridge when pressure on gauge reaches 40kpa above start up/every 2 weeks

  • With pump OFF open the air relief valve situated on top of the filter until any pressure inside the filter has been released

  • Unlock the filter lid, the lid will unscrew or unclamp. Remove lid

  • With lid removed gently remove dirty cartridge from filter, if filter has a steel rod through the middle, take care not to unduly knock or bend

  • The cartridge is made up of woven material and assembled in a concertina fashion; the dirt is trapped on the outside of this material

  • Hose off the dirt in a downward manner making sure the jet of water cleans deep into the folds of the cartridge. The hose pressure should not be too strong or damage to the cartridge will occur over time

  • When clean put back into filter making sure it goes back as it came out

  • Cartridge to be chemically cleaned as seasons end to remove oil grease and contaminants. This will extend the life of the cartridge and assist better filtration

After cleaning, pressure should have dropped to near start up pressure, if the time between cleaning becomes shorter and shorter, use cartridge filter cleaner – Most pool shops stock it.

 

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THIS IS A GENERAL GUIDE. ALWAYS CONSULT THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES FOR WATER CHEMISTRY AS IT MAY EFFECT THE WARRANTY OF THE PRODUCT.

 

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