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Homeowners wait all year to open their pools, but how well-kept do they maintain them once they’re opened? With a morning or nightly dip, that’s a lot of contamination going into the water. With that in mind, how often should it be changed?
Under normal circumstances, the answer to the question should be: never. In fact, trying to drain your own pool can lead to changes or damage to the structure of your pool, or worse, you could end up risking your own personal safety. While the water in your pool can be changed, it should only be done by a professional.
Letting the chemicals to the work
Most chemicals available for pools are disinfectants and sanitizers that prevent bacteria from multiplying and also plant growth from things like algae. Chlorine is the most common one because it’s cheap and easy to use, although environmentally friendly alternatives exist. That’s why it’s so important to maintain a certain PH balance in the pool.
Tip: on a sunny day, the light can speed up the breakdown of chlorine, so check your pool more frequently to maintain the right PH.
Have your pool cleaned regularly
A weekly cleaning is recommended as it prevents detritus from floating around or getting stuck in parts of the pool that should remain clear. Remember, as organic materials are exposed to air and water, they tend to break down, making it harder to clean, often instead spreading it across the surface.
It’s likely that all the water in your pool is not the same as it was when it was first filled. The reason for this is simple: evaporation and precipitation.
During the day, as the air warms up, the water from the surface of the pool evaporates into the air. When it rains, new water refills the pool and continues to do so even as the excess is siphoned off the sides. On a general summer, you won’t have to worry about how sanitary the water is in your pool because it’s been cycling through nature on its own throughout the season.
What about TDS?
Total Dissolved Solids describes solids that are invisible to the eye and can’t be removed using traditional methods, such as skimming the pool. Usually that count is low, especially for pools that have been regularly cleaned. However it is possible for material to accumulate over time. For most people, this isn’t a concern but if you’d like to have that checked, a TDS of over 1400 may not leave you with many options.
The only time there would be a need to change your pool water urgently before using would be if a small animal was found deceased in the pool. Unfortunately in rural areas this isn’t uncommon when pools are left uncovered at night. If you find yourself in this situation, call Solda Pools and our team will be happy to assist!
