Pool Maintenance

[Pragmaticus]

Originally Posted by MrPeterkin

I really enjoyed reading this thread. Just got a pool and want to try my hand at maintaining it myself first.

Feel free to ask if you have a problem. Make sure you test every week (specially the three parameters: Ph, free chlorine and alkalinity) so that you are on top of things and everything is within recommended range. That's the key. Once you get to use to it, it takes minutes to do the test.

Enjoy your pool and good luck!

[anhinga3]

Guys I have a question. My cousin has a pool; I do not. I live 5 minutes from his house. I would like to use his pool frequently (he has told me to, anytime I want) BUT his pool always has leaves, dead spiders/bees/wasps, and other crap in it. It does not have a cage and his backyard is shaded with giant live oaks. Also his pool water never smells/tastes clean. My question is, is it dangerous to swim in a pool that is not maintained properly? What are the signs of a properly maintained pool? Isn't the water SUPPOSED to look clear and smell of chlorine? His is always cloudy and never smells like chlorine.

By the way he makes a very good income but is just too damn cheap to get a pool service (which I imagine would do a better job of maintaining the pool than he does).

He is always telling me "come over and use the pool", but I am always like "no thanks". I guess it would be rude to say "no thanks, your pool is nasty".

[Pragmaticus]

Originally Posted by anhinga3

Guys I have a question. My cousin has a pool; I do not. I live 5 minutes from his house. I would like to use his pool frequently (he has told me to, anytime I want) BUT his pool always has leaves, dead spiders/bees/wasps, and other crap in it. It does not have a cage and his backyard is shaded with giant live oaks. Also his pool water never smells/tastes clean. My question is, is it dangerous to swim in a pool that is not maintained properly? What are the signs of a properly maintained pool? Isn't the water SUPPOSED to look clear and smell of chlorine? His is always cloudy and never smells like chlorine.

By the way he makes a very good income but is just too damn cheap to get a pool service (which I imagine would do a better job of maintaining the pool than he does).

He is always telling me "come over and use the pool", but I am always like "no thanks". I guess it would be rude to say "no thanks, your pool is nasty".

Cloudy water could be because of many things. Definitely, not a good sign. Checking the free chlorine level is the step on the right direction. The fact that he has all these craps in it tells me that probably his filter is full of dirt that is not cleaning the water at all. Even though I have a cage, when small stuff get in, they get sucked and captured by either the skimmer or with the filter. Cleaning the filter frequently is very important.

[MrPeterkin]

I would not jump in that water any time soon friend. After discussing it with the wife, I decided to pay a company $25 a week to clean, monitor and chlorinate the pool. When winter gets here I will swap to a saltwater pool and decide then if I want to maintain it myself.