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You’ve probably heard all about how maintaining the circulation in your body is important. After all, circulation is how every area of your body gets the water, nutrients, and oxygen it needs. However, you might be surprised to know that just as maintaining good circulation is essential for your health, maintaining good circulation is also essential for your pool’s health. Luckily, you don’t need to make a doctor’s appointment for your pool’s circulation; here are some tips to care for your pool’s circulation health.
Understanding Pool Water Circulation System
Pool maintenance starts with caring for your pool’s circulation. If your pool’s water circulation is poor, the filter isn’t able to properly remove the dirt and your pool pump may be weak. This can make keeping your pool clean impossible. There are several aspects to your pool’s water circulation system:
- Skimmer
- Pump
- Filter
- Jets and Water Features
As you might suspect from all the moving parts, there are many steps to the circulation process of your pool. First, the pump sucks the water from the pool and pushes it through the skimmer, which is the rectangular door that is found on the pool walls. The water travels through the pump and is forced out through the filter which catches any dirt and grime that can damage the health and quality of your pool. Water is pushed back through the pool thanks to the jets. Water features further increase the circulation of the water, keeping the pool cooler and cleaner.
Here are the maintenance steps you need to know to keep your pool’s water circulation system running strong:
1. Run the Pool Pump
Your pool pump should be run between 8-12 hours a day. The more you run your pool pump, the cleaner your pool will be. For warmer climates such as those found in Texas, you will want to run your pool pump a bit longer each day, closer to the 12-hour mark.This will decrease the amount of dirt and grime that could lead to the growth of algae.
A variable speed pool pump is the perfect choice for Texas customers to save money and energy. The speeds at which it runs can be changed throughout the day, allowing it to run at its highest setting only when needed.
2. Backwash the Pool Filter When Needed
This should be done when the filter gauge reads about 10 psi higher than normal. For reference, most pool filters are normally between 10-15 psi. If the pool filter gauge is reading higher than this, the pool filter cartridge needs to be cleaned or backwashed (depending on which type of filter you have).
3. Clean the Skimmer Basket
Your pool skimmer basket should be cleaned at least once or twice a week. Clogged baskets make it harder for your pool pump to do its job, placing extra strain on the seals in your pump and decreasing its life expectancy.
To clean the skimmer basket you will need to do the following:
- Turn off your pool pump
- Empty the removable basket under the skimmer lid
- Clean out the basket before returning it to the skimmer
4. Angle the Jets
Always make sure your pool jets are pointed away from the skimmer so that your water cycles in a circle around your pool. This will help the skimmer get rid of debris more efficiently. The jets should also be angled downwards to remove dirt and grime from hard-to-reach areas such as the stairs, ladders, crevices, and corners of the pool.
Need Help Caring For Your Pool’s Circulation or Maintenance?
You may not need to call a doctor for your pool maintenance, but you can call a pool specialist to make sure your pool’s circulation is in tip-top shape. Just as you wouldn’t attempt to address something as important as your circulation without the advice of an expert, consulting an pool expert can help you rest easy that you are handling your pool maintenance the way you should. The skilled and experienced team at Summerhill Pools can handle all of your pool needs, so contact us today!
