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Pool Care

Ocean Blue Pools has some tried and true suggestions for how you can keep your pool in GREAT SHAPE.

Give these a try... and if you have questions... you KNOW how to REACH us!

Vinyl Liner Care Instructions

 

    Your vinyl pool is one of over two million that are in use today throughout the world. Even with that many in use, some pool supply stores do not fully realize the difference between your vinyl pool and the concrete/plaster one next door. When buying chemicals always ask if they are positively safe for vinyl pools. If the wrong chemicals or concentrations are used, your liner could be harmed beyond repair. Conversely, if no chemicals are used for extended periods of time, your liner could irreversibly damaged.
      Neglect is the number one cause of liner failure. Your pool is a valuable investment and deserves the best of care all of the time.

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Water Testing

   

WITH A TEST KIT,
PREFERABLY A 4 IN 1 OR BETTER,
CHECK THE FOLLOWING DAILY IF NEEDED:

  1. Water balance
  • Total alkalinity of 125 to 165
    • If alkalinity is below 125, add alkalinity increaser
    • Alkalinity above 250, add one quart of acid daily for 4 days
    • Check balance.  If still high, repeat procedure
    • Do not check pH while adjusting a high alkalinity
  •  pH of 7.2 to 7.8
  • Chlorine residue of 1
  • Calcium hardness 300 PPM
  • Always maintain your chlorine residue while adjusting
  1. The water line should be cleaned weekly with a suitable vinyl cleaner purchased from your local pool supply. Do not use steel wool or sharp bristled brushes, scouring pads or cleansers.
     
  2. Clean your filter system regularly. If you have a cartridge type filter you might add one 8 oz cup of D/E to the skimmer each time you wash the elements.
  3. Be very careful when sweeping or vacuuming your pool, especially as the liner gets older.
  4. Keep pets and foreign objects out of pool.
  5. If your pool does happen to get a tear or puncture, it can usually be repaired without the removal of the water.

        NEVER COMPLETELY REMOVE THE WATER FROM YOUR POOL

 

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General Knowledge and Suggestions

  1. The most common need in a pool is to raise the pH. A low pH should be especially avoided, since it can cause the liner to form wrinkles. It is recommended that all vinyl lined pools be routinely stabilized with cyanuric acid and that a minimum of 25 PPM be maintained.
  2. Chemicals should never be mixed together or added to the pool water at the same time. Certain combinations of the chemicals that individually will have no effect can cause bleaching of the liner if concentration is allowed to remain high in the vicinity of the liner. Allow chemical to disperse throughout the pool by means of water circulation, before adding a second chemical. Always predissolve any chemical added to your pool to prevent concentration in any one area.
  3. Never close the pool in the fall without circulating pool water for several hours after final addition of chemicals. Even liquid chlorine can concentrate in the deep end and cause liner bleaching, if not sufficiently blended with the rest of the pool.
  4. Although there are many chemical suppliers who see no harm in them, many experts argue against the use of trichloral granular chlorine in vinyl pools. To be safe, don’t use them. Also be VERY CAREFUL with floating chlorinators. They can bleach a liner if they sit in one spot for a period of time.
  5. Do not place chlorine tablets in your skimmer basket. It allows too high a concentration of chlorine in the area around the skimmer. If your pool has a main drain the concentration seeks the lowest level and can form a high concentration.
  6. Metals such as copper, iron, and manganese, may be present in your water system, especially in rural areas. If their presence is known or expected, ask your pool supply for a metal remover considered safe for vinyl pools.
  7. Clean your pool regularly. Grime and dirt allowed to settle and dry out at the waterline are nearly impossible to remove after they have been baked by the sun over even a short period of time. The grime, oil, and grit will permeate into the vinyl, causing it to harden and crack.

In the San Jose, California area, call: 408.723.0100
Contractor's License - C53 567720

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