Parts and Equipment

Proper maintenance is one of the most important things you can do to maintain the beauty and protect the safety of your pool. Check your pool's equipment regularly to ensure that it is working properly. When it's time for replacement parts or new equipment, visit yoiur helpful Backyard Place retailer.


Pumps

A good pump is an essential part of your pool equipment. When choosing a pump for a new pool, consider how quietly it operates, its energy efficiency, capacity, warranty and price. Many manufacturers' web sites provide detailed information about pump features and options. Your Backyard Place retailer can also offer helpful information and assist yoiu in selecting the right pump for your pool.


Filters

Filters keep your pool fresh and clean by removing dirt from the water. Filters are designed to eliminate oils, grease and dirt from poolwater, though they cannot filter out algae, bacteria or minerals.

Obvioulsy, when pool water is no longer clear, it's time to clean the filter. However, you should check the filter even before pool water loses clarity. The filter needs to be cleaned if the gauge on the filter tank registers an increase in pressure or there is a reduction in water circulation in your pool.

Sand filters are less expensive than other filters and easier to operate and maintain than other filters, making them the most popular type of filter. Pool water is pumped into a pressurized container filled with layers of sand, which traps dirt and grease particles. When the filter becomes dirty, it begins to restrict the flow of water, causing water pressure to increase. This indicates that the filter should be cleaned – a relatively simple task that involves “backflushing” or reversing the water flow to clear the dirt from the filter. With proper backwashing and use of a filter cleaner, the sand can last indefinitely.
 

Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters contain diatomaceous earth, a white powder that filters out even very small particles. These types of filters offer less resistance to water, which allows the pump to work easily, even when the filter is dirty. D.E. filters offer outstanding cleaning capabilities. However, since they must be routinely disassembled for manual cleaning, they require more maintenance than other filter types.
 

Cartridge filters do not require backflushing and offer low water flow resistance. Durable polyester elements within the filter trap dirt. To clean a cartridge filter, you simply need to remove the filter from the unit and rinse with a water hose. You can remove a build-up of oily residue from the filter by soaking it in detergent. Cartridge filters have a low replacement cost and should be changed when they fail to maintain clear water in the pool or when they show signs of wear.

Pool Cleaning

Automatic pool cleaning systems allow you to clean your pool in a matter of minutes. These systems have units that "walk" along your pool floor and require little supervision while they are working. You can even continue to swim while the system cleans your pool.

Safety Equipment

While active adult supervision is the best way to maintain a safe pool, your Backayrd Place retailer stocks equipment and devices, such as pool covers and alarms, that can provide additional measures of safety.

Safety covers, impenetrable barriers that completely cover and block access to the pool, are available in both manual and automatic versions. Door exit alarms alert homeowners when a door leading to the backyard pool area is opened. Fence gate alarms sound when the gate to the fence surrounding the pool is opened. You can even install a pool alarm, which detects accidental or unauthorized use of the pool.

There are many other safety enhancements available, and your Backyard Place retailer can help you decide which options are best for your pool. You should check with your state and local government regarding specific requirements for these safety features and conduct regular inspections to ensure that all safety equipment is in proper working condition.

Chemicals and Cleaners

You can easily and safely complete most of the water testing and maintenance that our pool requires. Your Backyard Place retailer is ready to provide you with all the supplies and helpful advice you need.

Water Testing

Your Backyard Place retailer stocks several types of water test kits and meters. Carefully follow the directions that come with the kit. For the most accurate results, take each water sample at the same time of day and reach far below the water surface to obtain the sample.

Your testing kit helps you determine the pH level of your water. If the water sample registers below 7.2 pH, the pool water is more acidic. If the water is too acidic, it can damage the piping and pool surfaces. Soda ash or sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate may be used to raise the pH level.
 

Above 7.6, the water is more alkaline (base) and can create deposits in the piping and on pool surfaces. Muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate lower pool water pH and make it more acidic. The ideal pH level for pool water is between 7.2 and 7.6. In this range, the pH balance helps chemicals disinfect the pool properly, prevents scale from forming on the pool surface and equipment and slows corrosion.

Chemicals

Chlorine, bromine, shock treatments, sanitizers, algaecides and other chemicals all play an important role in maintaining the safety and beauty of your pool. Your Backyard Place retailer can explain the benefits and proper use of these supplies.

Chlorine and Bromine

Chlorine and bromine protect your pool from germs and algae.


Pool Shock and Super Chlorinators

Lotion, cosmetics, perspiration and other organic material may react with the chlorine in your pool water and form combined chlorine. Combined chlorine is a very poor disinfectant and can cause eye and skin irritations as well as a strong, unpleasant chlorine odor. Routine shock treatment, through superchlorination or the use of non-chlorine shock, is necessary ot destroy combined chlorine compounds and restore the efficiency of the chlorine sanitizer.
 

Superchlorination, adding large amounts of chlorine to your pool, has some disadvantages. Large amounts of chlorine can damage pool lines and disturb the chemical balance of the pool water. After superchlorination, swimmers must wait, often a day more, until the chlorine drops to a safe level and they can return to the water. However, a non-chlorine shock product allows swimming almost immediately after its application and is safe for pool liners and water balance.

Algaecide
 

Algaecide kills algae growing in your pool. This product should be added exactly as specified by the manufacturer’s directions. Since algae are plants that grow in the presence of sunlight, this product is most effective when added to pool water in the morning on a bright sunny day. If black algae are present, brushing the algae once a day removes dead cells and makes living algae more susceptible to the algaecide.

Sanitizer

You should regularly add and maintain a proper level of an EPA-approved sanitizer, especially when using non-chlorine shock treatments.

 

A few more words about chemicals and cleaners…

Unless you are superchlorinating, you can generally use your pool once the chemical has been dispersed, approximately fifteen minutes to one hour after adding the product.
 

Always store chemicals and cleaners in a safe and secure area away from children and pets. Regularly check expiration dates, use protective gear and follow manufacturers’ instructions.
 

You should also be aware that water chemistry varies from pool to pool. Talk with your friendly Backyard Place retailer if you have questions about water testing, water chemistry or pool chemicals.