Countrywide Pools Northam

CountrywidePools Looking After Your New Pool ...... 3 Sanitising Your Pool ...... 4 Table of ...... 4 Pool Water Testing ...... 5 Contents Daily Testing ...... 5 Weekly Testing ...... 5 Pool Water Testing cont...... 6 Monthly Testing ...... 6 Periodic Testing ...... 6 Water Balance ...... 7 pH Level, Total Alkalinity, Hardness ..... 8 Stabiliser, Total Dissolved Solids ...... 8

Safe Chemical Handling; Emptying your Pool ..... 8 ...... 10 The Importance of Filtration ...... 11 Sand Filter Cleaning and Maintenance ...... 12 Vacuum Cleaning Your Pool ...... 13

Countrywide Pools Northam 2 CountrywidePools

Looking After Your New Pool

Swimming pools bring with them many benefits including many hours of fun for the whole family, a good form of exercise as well as adding value to your home.

Your new pool will be both easy and a pleasure to own provided that you take some simple steps in looking after it.

In order to get the best from your swimming pool it is important that you test your pool water on a regular basis. This is to ensure the water is chemi- cally balanced, which is important in maintaining a bacteria free environment safe for you and your family to swim in.

Countrywide Pools offer complimentary pool water testing, simply bring a 500mL sample of your pool water at your next visit and we will supply you with the information you need on what chemical your pool requires.

This booklet contains the basic information about taking care of your new pool. The information along with our advice at Countrywide Pools will ensure you and your family enjoy many years of trouble-free enjoyment from your swimming pool.

Countrywide Pools Northam 3 Sanitising Your Pool

Many people believe that, as long as your pool water is clear it is clean and Regular testing and balancing of your pool water requires no treatment. However, is critical and takes very little time. even crystal-clear water can harbour potentially harmful bacteria. CHLORINE Chlorine is the most commonly used water Untreated or improperly treated pool sanitiser in the world. It is a highly effective water can be a health risk. Chemically product and comes in the following forms: balanced and sanitized water, on the other hand, will provide a healthy Calcium Hypochlorite (65% active granular chlorine) visually appealing environment for  (10-15% active liquid chlorine) you and your family.

Stabilised chlorine available in 2 forms: Pool water is contaminated with a) Dichlor - granular chlorine approx. 60% active algae and bacteria from various b) Trichlor - slow dissolving tablets approx. 90% active sources including wind, top-up water, swimmers etc. Controlling these Salt Water Chlorinators – these units produce influences is an ongoing requirement 100% active chlorine through the electrolysis of salt in the pool water. and involves some simple steps.

Countrywide Pools Northam 4 Pool Daily Testing Water It is necessary to test the free available chlorine level Testing of your pool water daily. This is the level of chlorine in the pool water that is ready to fight bacteria. We recommend conducting this test daily before It is critical to test your pool water re-dosing or when a heavy bather load is expected. regularly with a pool shop professional. At Countrywide Pools Weekly Testing we offer our customers complimentary water testing and comprehensive advice on keeping pH Level – This test tells you whether your water is your water balanced. too acidic or too alkaline. To achieve the correct balance, we recommend testing the pH weekly during the swimming season. The control of the pH helps It is important to make sure you use maximize the efficiency of chlorine therefore an uncontaminated bottle or minimizing the quantity of products you will need to container. We will supply you with a use. water sample bottle at the Total Alkalinity – This will test the quantity of handover of your pool. Avoid using alkaline materials in your water which help stabilize empty juice, cordial, sauce bottles the pH. Conduct this test at the beginning of the etc. as these can contaminate the swimming season, get the levels balanced and then water to be tested. test once a week.

Countrywide Pools Northam 5 Pool Water Testing cont.

Monthly Testing

Stabiliser – This is the component that extends the effective life of chlorine in your Periodic Testing pool water by protecting it from the sun’s UV rays. The level of stabilizer in your pool We recommend periodically water can determine how rapidly chlorine testing your pool water for is used up. Total Chlorine. Calcium Hardness – This test will tell you the amount of dissolved calcium If you notice a chlorine odour, components in your pool water. chloramines or combined This is important for balanced pool water chlorine may be to blame. as high calcium levels can contribute to The problem is in fact insufficient cloudy water and low levels can cause chlorine and a shock treatment corrosion of the pool. will restore the water

Countrywide Pools Northam 6 Water Balance

Your swimming pool is a water Balanced water means that its chemical container and the water it contains demands have been met. should be suitable for both the If the chemical levels are too low the swimmers and the container. water will aggressively seek the products it needs by attacking the pool surface The term “water balance” refers to the and equipment. This can lead to severe interaction between pH, total alkalinity (TA), corrosion. calcium hardness and total dissolved solids (TDS). On the other hand, high chemical levels will precipitate from the water and form These factors work in conjunction with one scale on the pool surface and within the another to provide sparkling clear water equipment. and protect the pool surface, tile grout and equipment from damage. Therefore, unbalanced water can lead to expensive damage your pool and may The principles and benefits of water inhibit the sanitizing process. balance apply to both fresh water and salt water pools.

Countrywide Pools Northam 7 Water Balance pH Level Stabiliser pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your Ultra-violet light attacks chlorine. To pool water is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 stabilize your pool water you will need to with 7 being neutral. Values below 7 are acidic add Cyanuric Acid. This chemical reduces and values above 7 are alkaline. the amount of chlorine destroyed by sun light, acting as a “sunscreen” for the With pool water, we are seeking a pH balance chlorine. suitable for the pool users, the pool itself and the sanitiser or chlorinator. Australian Standards For both health and financial reasons it is 3633 defines the operating range as 7.0 to 7.8; important to overcome this effect as however, 7.2 to 7.6 is ideal. much as possible and so keeping the Since the human tear has a pH of 7.4, the pH of water stabilised is strongly recommended. the pool water should center on this value to To initially stabilize the water in your new prevent skin and eye irritation. pool, Cyanuric Acid should be added to achieve a recommended level of 30 to 50 ppm. Total Alkalinity (TA) Stabiliser is lost through splash-out and Total Alkalinity refers to the measure of backwashing of the filter therefore will bicarbonates, carbonates and hydroxides in need to be replaced regularly. your pool water. The recommended range is 60 to 200 parts per million (ppm) according to Australian Standard 3633. The ideal TA level is Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) dependent on calcium hardness, pH, the type of pool surface and the type of sanitiser. It is Total Dissolved Solids or TDS are the essential not to confuse the TA with pH. TA is the soluble and organic matter dissolved quantity of alkaline materials in the pool which in the water. The most common soluble help to stabilize the pH. salts in swimming pools are sodium and calcium chlorides and bicarbonates. They If the TA level is too low, there will be rapid originate from the water supply and changes in the pH. Low TA is frequently chemicals added during treatment. associated with coloured water, stains, etching plaster and accelerated signs of corrosion. Excessive levels can cause scale to form on the walls of the pool and pipes as well as corrosion of the metal fittings. It can Calcium Hardness also make it increasingly difficult to clarify the pool water. Calcium hardness is a measurement of dissolved calcium in the water. Low calcium hardness can be very damaging because it increases the “aggressiveness” of the water.

This can result in etching of the cement based pool surface or causing the tile grout to dissolve. The desired range is 80 to 500 ppm according to Australian Standards 3633. A reputable pool company will provide you with the specific requirements for your pool finish, water supply and equipment at the handover. 8 Water Balance

Safe Chemical Handling

Never mix chemicals! This could lead to a violent reaction or explosion, as well as the production of toxic fumes. Even different chlorine can react violently when mixed together.

It is recommended that you use a different bucket for diluting different chemicals. When transporting chemicals in your vehicle, do so in a manner that prevents them from mixing in the event of a spillage or accident.

Chemicals should be stored in this way also; that is so that accidental breakage or leakage does not cause the chemicals to mix with each other or with other stored substances.

Emptying Your Pool

As a general rule, swimming pools should not require emptying.

If you think that your pool needs to be emptied for any reason, please consult with one of our team at Countrywide Pools before doing so.

Emptying your pool without prior consultation with a pool professional may lead to expensive remedial action and quite often the problem can be treated without emptying the pool.

As well as causing a costly problem for yourself, emptying your pool can also void warranty.

CountrywidePools

9 Salt Water Chlorination

The process of salt chlorination for domestic swimming pools has achieved remarkable growth in Australia over the past decade. Common everyday salt, or , is added to the pool water to achieve a level between 0.4% and 0.7%. Sea water is 3.6% salt concentration, therefore the pool water becomes 1/6 as strong as sea water.

This mild salt solution is passed through a cell of platinum and electrodes. This is inserted beside the filter in the return to the pool piping, to which is attached to a power supply of approximately 7.5 volts. The cell uses electrolysis to form primarily Sodium Hypochlorite, commonly termed as liquid chlorine.

Any domestic pool can be converted to a mild salt chlorination process. Contrary to some suggestions, the mild salt solution does not corrode the filtration equipment and other metals in contact with the water. For details on correct operation of your selected chlorinator, please refer to the Operator Manual.

Countrywide Pools Northam 10 The Importance of Filtration

The removal of dirt and suspended matter An initial leaf basket in the skimmer box to trap by filtration reduces the extra load on the leaves and large debris before it is sucked through chlorine to get the pool water clean. the pump. This automatically enhances the kill-power A secondary basket in the hair and lint pot in of the chlorine to effectively combat algae front of the pump. and bacteria. A circulating pump. A filter which physically removes solids from the Filtration is a physical process and should not be water. confused with disinfecting. It involves the Pipework through which the clean water pumping of the pool water through the filter returns to the pool. medium which may be either sand, diatomaceous earth or a cartridge. Please Note: To prevent debris inhibiting water flow and causing pump starvation all baskets need The capacity of the pump and filter should be to be cleaned regularly. All filtration relies on large enough to turn over the entire volume of removing solid matter from the water as it is the pool water within 5 to 6 hours to maintain pumped through the filtration medium. There are water clarity. Debris such as twigs, leaves and three different types of medium currently being stones should be removed with a leaf scoop or used: by the use of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) a good quality automatic pool cleaner. Sand Cartridge It is important to run your filtration system for 6 to 8 hours per day every day, depending on the All three types have high flow characteristics and size of the system installed. In addition the filter are highly efficient, however they all require should be running whilst the pool is in use and cleaning to remove the entrapped solids. Failure to for a short time after to remove body oil from clean your filter as required will result in reduced the pool water and add some chlorine in the filtration flow. It can also cause an increase in the case of an automatic salt chlorinator. pressure within the filter tank which can potentially reduce the life of the unit. Regular cleaning, as While filtration systems may differ in regards to indicated by the pressure gauge, is therefore filter type, they all have the essential. same basic features: Cleaning methods will depend upon the filter type. A skimmer box into which the inflow carries Diatomaceous Earth and Sand filters can be surface debris such as leaves, oils etc. into the “backwashed”. Cartridge filters require hosing start of the filtration system. down and soaking in a cleaning fluid.

Countrywide Pools Northam 11 Sand Filter Cleaning and Maintenance

Normal operation of the sand filter requires the Control Valve Handle to be in the FILTER position.

Cleaning Your Sand Filter 1. Turn the pump OFF. 2. Move the control valve handle to BACKWASH. 3. Turn the pump ON. The water will discharge through the backwash/waste line. 4. When the site glass is clear turn the pump OFF. 5. Move the control valve handle to RINSE. 6. Turn the pump ON. The water will eventually run clear. 7. Wait until the water runs clear and then turn the pump OFF. 8. Turn the control valve handle to FILTER. 9. Turn the pump ON. Your sand filter is now clean and ready to use.

Countrywide Pools Northam 12 Vacuum Cleaning Your Pool

1. Turn the pump OFF.

2. Fit the vacuum plate into the skimmer box.

3. Connect vacuum brush or foot to vacuum pole.

4. Connect the vacuum hose to the head and lower into the pool at the end closest to the skimmer box.

5. Prime the hose by pushing it into the pool water vertically to allow for the discharge of air.

6. When all of the air is out of the hose, connect it to the skimmer vacuum lid connection.

7. Turn the pump ON. Vacuum the pool clean making sure that the skimmer box does not fill with debris, leaves etc.

8. Do not lift the vacuum head out of the water when the pump is running. This will cause the hose to lose prime and the pump will not operate correctly.

9. When you have finished vacuuming, always do a BACKWASH to remove all of the dirt from the filter. This will ensure more efficient operation during the life of the filter.

Countrywide Pools Northam 13 CountrywideCountrywide Pools Northam Countrywide Pools is a family business and we pride ourselves on our highPools standard of customer service and attention to detail. We can provide you with our professional advice and qualityNortham pool products well after the installation process is complete. We offer complimentary pool water testing with comprehensive advice on products and ongoing care for your pool.

CountrywidePools

Contact Us Our team are always available to assist you with any queries you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact us via phone or email. We look forward to you visiting us in store!

333 Fitzgerald Street NORTHAM WA 6401

Phone: (08) 9622 5571 Mobile: 0407 957 874 Fax: (08) 9622 5580 Email: [email protected]

www.countrywidepools.com.au