If you grew up having a pool in the backyard, you may have memories of your dad spending hours tending to it — skimming the surface, manually vacuuming it, endlessly fiddling with chemicals to get the water “just right”.  You may have noticed that he barely got a chance to enjoy the pool due to all the time he spent maintaining it. Well, those days are long gone. Owning a pool is easier than ever in today’s world. 

 

Energy Saving Equipment

• Variable Speed Pool Pumps: The new variable speed pumps can save you up to 90% on your utility costs. They adhere to the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards of energy efficiency, are quieter, and outperform the old single-speed pumps.
• Robotic Pool Vacuums: Spend more time enjoying your pool instead of cleaning it. Robotic pool vacuums use less energy and do a better job than manual pool vacs. Costing only 5 cents an hour to operate, they are cheaper to operate as well.
• Pool Automation Systems: The innovation of automatic pool systems has been a huge boon for pool owners. It is now possible to use a smartphone to remotely control all of your pool’s features from any location. You can even program it to maintain your desired chemical levels. Imagine, you can adjust the heat, turn on the lighting, and open or close the pool cover.

 

Maintaining Chemical Balance

Keeping your pool water balanced is essential. The world of pool chemicals may seem mystifying at first, but once you familiarize yourself with the basics, it isn’t difficult to achieve. Research the proper chemical levels for ideal water balance so you know what to look for. Get yourself a water testing kit and learn how to use it. Your local pool professionals can give you some guidance if you are confused. With the right products and the willingness to learn, you can maintain your water balance with ease.

• Chemical factors: Familiarize yourself with the ideal pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels necessary for water balance.
• Sanitation: There are many choices of pool sanitizers available, such as chlorine, bromine, biguanides, salt systems, and more. The pool sanitizer’s job is to kill bacteria and keep your water clean.
• Pool shock: Pool shock is an extra jolt of sanitizer to kill off bacteria upon pool opening or closing, or after heavy usage. Shock is added weekly during the warmer months of the season.
• Algaecides:  The job of an algaecide is to be a backup to your normal sanitation system. It is an extra layer of prevention to prevent algae from gaining a foothold in your pool. It is usually added after pool shock.
• Chemical test kits: Take the guesswork out of knowing whether or not your pool chemicals are in balance. You don’t need to have aced chemistry in school to use this convenient aid. The typical test kit will give you information on the basic chemical levels you need for a clean and sanitized pool: pH, chlorine, alkalinity, acid demand, and water hardness. They are simple to use and very accurate. 

 

Professional Service

There are many aspects of pool ownership that are easier than ever these days. Innovative equipment and excellent products make the job a breeze compared to what it was in your father’s day.  However, there may be some tasks for which you would prefer to call in the pool experts. Luckily, your local pool professionals can be hired to handle the bigger jobs such as pool opening and closing, equipment inspection and repair, and emergency services. Since 1974, Aqua Pools has been proud to offer Chicagoland the very best in products and customer service. Call us today for more information.