If you own a pool, you have to acknowledge that pool maintenance is an essential part of pool care. Nonetheless, it’s a part that pool owners dread! It is likely to take a lot of your time and effort. You’d much rather be enjoying the water instead. The task cannot be avoided and as much as you hate doing it, it is crucial that you do. Cleaning your fiberglass pool guarantees its health and yours too. Numerous options are on offer as regards the cleaning of your pool. In this write-up, you’ll discover a reliable guide to different ways of pool cleaning and what they may mean for you.
You Need The Know-How
A basic idea of pool cleaners and systems is essential for you to grasp what is involved. A good filtration system is necessary to clean your pool. It does this by circulating the pool water. Algae and bacteria that tend to develop in pool water get minimized in this way. Filtration of your pool also regulates the water’s pH levels. As a result, the water stays hygienic and safe for you to swim in. By itself, a filtration system isn’t enough to keep your pool spotless. You have to add chlorine or salt when you clean your pool. Over time, both these can cause breeding grounds for algae and bacteria. This is kind of a catch 22 situation, so you need to be careful while cleaning.
Something else to note, is that, since pools are located in outdoor areas, there is a likelihood of leaves, twigs, and other debris getting into pool water. There are varying techniques of pool cleaning for your fiberglass pool. You need to know what is best for you to employ.
Cleaning Pools Manually
Cleaning your pool by hand can be a tedious task that some pool owners rise to. There is a range of pool cleaning equipment available if you choose to use this method. The following is typical equipment for manual pool cleaning:
- A net for skimming attached to a telescopic pole is used to gather debris that have landed in the pool.
- A telescopic pole with a pool brush attached – this is used to scrub off any algae, mold or dirt stuck to the pool walls and the pool floor. It is important to note here that all skin brushes must be used for painted concrete pools and fiberglass pools. Unpainted concrete pools need brushes made of stainless steel with nylon bristles.
- A manual vacuum for pools – a vacuum head may be affixed to the telescopic pole.
The telescopic pole is a common tool on which several devices are attached for cleaning. Depending on the kind of pool you own, you will need to tailor pool cleaners to your specific pool. If you have a busy lifestyle, manual cleaning won’t be the cleaning choice for you as it requires immense time and work. Besides this, manual cleaning needs to be done on a daily basis, in terms of skimming and vacuuming at least twice a week, as does brushing.
Automation For Cleaning Pools
If you want convenience in pool cleaning, then automated pool cleaning is the sure way out. Numerous pool owners opt for this and have some automation device to clean their pools. This is a far more efficient technique for your pool cleaning needs, as well as saving on time and hard labor. Automated pool cleaners cost more to clean your fiberglass pool, but the initial investment is sensible. You save effort and time and are assured of more precise cleaning. Primarily, three types of automated cleaning are available today.
- Suction cleaners for sides- these fit on your skimming device which is a component of your filtering system. The water is sucked out of the pool to be filtered. This cleaner traverses the pool floor, picking up debris. Propelled by the movement of water being sucked in, some cleaners with suction power can climb pool walls too. These are the most inexpensive automated cleaners you can buy and will work only while your pool pump is running. This takes up a lot of energy and can be a burden on your pool filter over time.
- Pressure cleaners for sides – these get affixed to the jets in your pool filter. The jets are responsible for pushing water back into your pool after filtration. These pool cleaners come with a filter bag and a hose for sweeping. They are more costly than suction cleaners as they are more effective at lifting debris. The cleaner can make its way around the pool by way of the water that is propelled out of the jets in the filter. Dirt and debris get freed and make their way into the filter bag. It’s important to match this kind of cleaner to the pool you have. Such cleaners come with varying degrees of power, and this affects the price as well.
- Robotic cleaners -these are the most advanced automated cleaners today. Running on electricity, they operate on their own, segregated from any mechanism in your pool. With very long power cords, these cleaners run on low voltages. They are safe for fiberglass pools, and though working on electricity, don’t pose harm. Designed for sockets that automatically detect any power fluctuations, you can be assured of safety while using these. These are the most convenient pool cleaners and the most efficient. As a result, they cost more than other automated cleaners. If you are using an automated cleaner, then its wise to buy these, even though they require their own maintenance.
Pools That Clean Themselves
Pools that do all the cleaning for their owners are the most advanced pool cleaning systems today. Your fiberglass pool will be in good hands with this hi-tech cleaning system, while costly, a wise investment. Smart pool technology blends with efficient cleaning to have nozzles embedded in the pool floor. These are totally flush when the system is not being used, so they don’t interfere with pool use. For cleaning, jets containing filtered water are released by the nozzles that rise from the pool floor. The direction of water flow is an upward one, ensuring complete cleaning of the pool.
Self-Cleaning Pool Advantages
In a pool self-cleaning system, the pool is cleaned from the bottom up. There are no spots that are missed and algae and bacteria are forced out. Automated systems often miss out areas of dirt, but this system cleans all water layers thoroughly. Additionally, chemicals that are used for cleaning get distributed evenly throughout the pool. This means that you can use a lower amount of chemicals to clean your pool. Effectively, this creates less of a health hazard on the environment and on you. Think of the amount of money you save on chemical cleaning agents too! Most fiberglass pools are fitted with self-cleaning mechanisms.
Prevention Of Hazards
Amongst its many advantages, a self-cleaning system prevents the ill effects of chlorine—too much chlorine results in dry skin, breathing problems, and eye irritation. Specifically, if you have children, a self-cleaning pool works in your favor. You don’t have to worry about storing harmful pool chemicals where children can get at them. Self-cleaning systems are smart pool cleaners that can be remotely controlled so that you can switch them on from anywhere. This can be enabled from your smartphone. Cleaning has timers so that cleaning can be scheduled when the pool is not in use.
