CHEMICAL TESTING OF YOUR POOL

 Chemical tests and adjustments alone will not promote proper water chemistry. Rather, adequate circulation and filtration, as well as the pursuit of a routine maintenance schedule are also required. In order to perform routine maintenance, you have to become familiar with your maintenance equipment:

TESTING DEVICE

TELEPOLE

NETS

BRUSH

MANUAL VACUUM ASSEMBLY

AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANERS

DERLIN SPRING

CONNECTOR PIN

GARDEN HOSE OPERATED VACCUM

BACKWASH HOSE

AUTOMATIC WATER LEVELER 

TEST DEVICE:
 You must constantly test for chlorine (or its alternative), pH, and Alkalinity at the poolside. Approximately once per month, or if unusual pool readings occur, take a water sample to your local pool professionals and have them test every chemical reading on the computer. Test chlorine (or its alternative), as well as pH and Alkalinity, 2 - 3 times per week during normal weather conditions and under normal use. Test chlorine (or its alternative) daily during periods of scorching temperatures, unbearable humidity, and intense sunlight, as these are the times when bather load is at its highest. Test chlorine (or its alternative), as well as pH and Alkalinity, after heavy rainfall, before and after a pool party, and, of course, if water appears to be cloudy, murky, or beginning to form algae. The only way that you can accurately depict the condition of your water is by administering the actual tests. Either with test strips or test kits, the tests only take minutes to perform. Test strips and reagents (or tablets) for test kits are also inexpensive.
TELEPOLE:
  A long aluminum pole that can extend to various lengths in order to complete its intended maintenance procedure at any area and at any depth of the pool. The telepole attaches to your nets, brush, vacuum assembly, and other maintenance equipment in order to perform a maintenance task. The telepole also attaches to the "Shepherd's Crook," which is a life-hook (a life-saving device).
NETS:
There are two styles of standard pool nets: Deep Net and Skimmer Net.

• The deep net, which is often called a leaf rake, has a wide opening and a deep net. This style of net is primarily used to reach leaves or other large debris that have settled to the pool floor. The deep net can also be used to skim leaves and debris off the surface of the water, but the skimmer net is best at performing this task.
• The skimmer net, which has a shallow net, is primarily used to remove leaves, grass clippings, debris, or insects that float on the surface of the water.

BRUSH:
 Typically, a brush is 18" in length and has either nylon bristles or stainless steel bristles. The brush is used to brush away dirt and debris, as well as algae, from the pool walls and floor. There are also specialized brushes, such as an algae brush (only used to brush away algae) and a corner brush (to brush away dirt or debris, as well as algae, from the corners, where the walls meet the floor, and at the faceplates of the skimmers and return jets, where stubborn dirt, debris and algae is capable of escaping the standard 18" brush).
The nylon bristle brush can be used with any type of pool to brush away dirt, debris, or Green and Mustard Algae. The stainless steel bristle brush can only be used on a concrete, gunite, shotcrete, or fiberglass pool to remove stubborn Black Algae, stubborn dirt, any stains or scale. A stainless steel bristle brush can never be used with a vinyl-liner pool (it is too abrasive and may tear the liner).
MANUAL VACUUM ASSEMBLY:
  Consists of the vac head, the vacuum hose, the telepole, and perhaps a vacuum seal plate. There are two styles of vac heads: the brush-style vac head and the wheel-style vac head. A brush-style vac head is used for vinyl liner pools. A wheel-style vac head is used for concrete, gunite, shotcrete, and fiberglass pools. One end of the vacuum hose will connect to the vac head and the other end of the vacuum hose will connect to your skimmer. If so, a vacuum seal plate should be placed over the skimmer in order to trap optimal suction to complete the vacuum. Some pools have a designated vacuum line. If this is the case with your pool, connect the vacuum hose to this designated vacuum line instead of the skimmer. Use the telepole to maneuver the vacuum assembly across the pool floor and walls.
AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANERS:
 A vacuum cleaner that will vacuum your pool for you. Regardless of the brand and type of automatic vacuum cleaner, if you can afford one, buy one. They are a worthwhile investment. But, even if you own an automatic vacuum cleaner, you will still need to use your manual vacuum assembly in these situations:

• The pool has just been opened (after previously being winterized). After opening, a large amount of dirt and debris is typically present on the walls and floor.
• Any time that a large amount of dirt and debris are present on the walls or floor.
• Algae is present.

DELRIN SPRING:
 The spring that allows certain maintenance equipment (like nets, the brush, and the vac head) to attach to the telepole. Delrin Springs will break. But, they are extremely inexpensive. Purchase a half dozen at a time, store them with the rest of your maintenance equipment, and replenish your stock when you are down to your last Delrin Spring.
CONNECTOR PIN: Some maintenance equipment use Connector Pins to attach to the telepole. Connector Pins will break or get lost. But, they are extremely inexpensive. Purchase a half dozen at a time, store them with the rest of your maintenance equipment, and replenish your stock when you are down to your last Connector Pin.
GARDEN HOSE OPERATED VACUUM:
 Some pools do not have suction lines in order to vacuum the pool with a manual vacuum assembly. In order to vacuum these pools, a garden hose operated vacuum is used. There are two types of vacuum units: the brush-style vacuum unit and the wheel-style vacuum unit. The brush-style vacuum unit is used for vinyl-liner pools. The wheel-style vacuum unit is used for concrete, gunite, shotcrete, and fiberglass pools. Your standard garden hose will attach to the vacuum unit. The running water from your garden hose will create suction, drawing the leaves, dirt, and other debris into the silt bag of the vacuum unit. Once full, empty the silt bag, reattach it to the vacuum unit, and start again until the silt bag is full.
Many pool owners with the capability to use a manual vacuum assembly will also have a hose operated vacuum unit in their possession. If there is an enormous amount of leaves and other large debris on the pool floor-to much to net out and such a large amount that would clog your vacuum hose-the hose operated vacuum unit works great. The only drawback is that the silt bag can only hold so many leaves and other debris until the unit must be taken out of the pool, emptied, reattached, and sent back into the pool.
BACKWASH HOSE:
 Some pools do not have a plumbed in waste-line. Either local code or restrictions in your area did not allow for the waste-line. If your pool does not have a waste-line, simply purchase backwash hose from your local pool professionals. Backwash hose will allow you to manually create a waste-line any time you need one.
AUTOMATIC WATER LEVELER:
 Not at all considered maintenance equipment, but it is a very valuable accessory for your pool. Due to evaporation and splash-out, you will lose water, which will have to be replaced. The Water Leveler will sit on your pool deck and hang over the pool. Your garden hose will thread into the hose adapter on the part of the Water Leveler that sits on your pool deck. A float is installed on the part of the Water Leveler that hangs over the wall and into the pool. You will have to adjust the float to turn "off" the Water Leveler when the fill water reaches the desired water level (half way up the skimmer). The float on the Water Leveler is very easy to adjust. This accessory is very worthwhile.