Well it finally got hot and that means pool time!!! I love the pool and miss having one of my own but still try to get to the community pool as often as possible.
I have to watch my skin though -- it can be a pain (literally) if I don't use sunscreen. I never used to be able to tan even though I tried really hard. I come from the baby oil generation (you know, lay out in the sun slathered with baby oil -- terrible for our skin!) but I could never get even a hint of a tan.
Until, oh gosh, that reminds me -- when I was 18, I took a trip to the Ozarks and while there spent about 15 minutes standing near a lake looking at how pretty it was.
Apparently that 15 minutes was enough because I got 2nd degree burns all over my entire body! Right through my clothes and everything! Apparently the sun was at just the right angle to glance off the water. I was in agony.
Someone at the motel said to use vinegar so I soaked in a tub of vinegar -- no relief. Then someone suggested tomato juice (this works for skunk smell, so why not?) -- nope, still no relief.
Finally, and still very much in agony, my skin so swollen I thought it would split open, I went to the local doctor. When I walked in, he burst out laughing -- apparently I smelled a bit like a salad! Anyway, he gave me some prescription burn ointment and that finally worked.
A couple weeks later though, my skin bubbled up like the bubble wrap used for shipping. Blisters all over. I went from ugly to flaky as my skin healed but you know what? Now I can tan! Weird! Actually it's not so weird I guess because the pigment in your skin can change from 2nd degree burns.
Anyway, I digress. What I wanted to say is that having a pool is such a great thing, especially when the temperatures soar. There's nothing like a swim on a warm evening.
To keep your pool swim ready, it is important to properly care for them. Most of you already know we have to service pools twice per week because the sun dissipates the chemicals so quickly. The bigger issue is the hard water here in the desert. If the chemicals are improperly balanced, the calcium can cause problems.
Too little calcium in the water can cause plaster etching. Too much calcium (more common) can result in deposits at the water line, in chlorinators and in filters; all of which can be costly to clean.
Even when your pool chemistry is properly maintained, the hard water still takes its toll. Depending on where you live and the color of your tile, you may see hard water lines. Sometimes the need to have the tile deep cleaned to remove the deposits can be as often as every 2-4 years.
To clean the tile, the water level must be lowered, the tile is bead blasted, cleaned and then sealed which helps prolong the life of the tile and keeps it looking its best. These are actual pictures of pool tile we cleaned recently (before and after).
|
Pool Tile Before Cleaning
|
Pool Tile After Cleaning
|
Sometimes the water is so hard; the only thing you can do is drain the pools and start over. We've had to do that for clients twice in the last five years. If you need to drain a pool, be sure to check with your city and the HOA for rules regarding water runoff. Some cities require a permit and often they will tell you where the old water can go and which days of the week to do the draining.
Another important factor is keeping the water sanitary and clean. That's the primary point of chlorine -- to kill bacteria and keep the water clear. Salt systems, if you don't know, convert to chlorine; salt is just gentler on your skin.
And just as an FYI, it is not necessary to vacuum pools on every visit. If you don't get wind, have bougainvillea or have a tree hanging over the pool, maybe once every two weeks is sufficient. Other times you need to vacuum at least once per week.
So if you don't see the pool guy vacuum, trust that he knows whether or not it needs to be done. As long as your pool is clean and clear, he is doing his job! Oh, and if there have been heavy winds, please be patient! It can take a while to get all the pools back in shape.
Don't forget that your pool equipment requires some amount of preventative maintenance too. Pool filters should be cleaned at least once or twice per year. We do have some clients who like their filters cleaned every quarter but generally once or twice per year is sufficient.
Pool heaters should be checked to make sure their burners are clean and functioning properly; you want to be sure there are no leaks around your equipment and that pumps run smoothly. Keep an eye on filtration timers too - a power outage can throw everything out of whack!
If you keep your pool properly maintained you can enjoy the crystal blue waters for years to come. If you need someone to maintain your pool, perform repairs or clean the tile, Give us a call at 760-898-9064 or send an email.
We service pools from Palm Springs to Indio.
And don't forget your sunscreen -- you don't want to end up smelling like a salad.....
