fiberglass pool maintenance Archives

Fiberglass Pool Maintenance

A pool is not a “set it and forget it” affair, so some basic knowledge of maintenance and cleaning is essential to its long-term enjoyment. And fiberglass pool maintenance isn’t as hard as you may think. In fact, it’s rather easy if you follow the instructions of your dealer and read the manuals that accompany your pool filter equipment, pool chemistry kit and vacuum. In this post, we’ll explore the basics of maintaining a fiberglass pool. Your Fiberglass Pool: Much more than a shell holding water First things first. Give yourself a pat on the back for having made the choice of fiberglass. Not only does it look great, but it’s going to be a little easier to vacuum and maintain a fiberglass pool. It’s not maintenance-free, but it is one of the lower-maintenance pool options. If you’re in a seasonal/temperate location, you might think of pool maintenance in terms of opening, closing, and ongoing maintenance. They’re all equally important to the enjoyment and long-term integrity of your pool. The amount of fiberglass pool maintenance you do may ebb and flow with the seasons and use, but you can make that maintenance schedule predictable by being consistent and detailed in your […]

Ask the General: How Do I Troubleshoot the Heater and Chlorinator on My Fiberglass Pool?

Some pool troubleshooting tips to try before you call in the pros. Dear General- We are fiberglass pool owner newbies. We love it, but we did have to call an inground pool service pro a couple of times—once for our heater and another time for our chlorinator. Both times, it turned out to be a fairly simple fix and we wished we had tried to troubleshoot the problem ourselves before we called. Do you have some pool troubleshooting tips to share? Signed- Newbies in New Orleans Dear Newbies- Of course, I’m happy to share pool troubleshooting tips, especially for new pool owners. You didn’t say what kind of heater or filtration system you use, so I’m just going to go with one of the most common combinations: a gas heater with a sand filter and a chlorine-sanitized system. Let’s start with the heater. Do a visual inspection. Your first pool troubleshooting step is simply taking a look at the unit. You’re looking for leaks, rust or burn marks. Any of these visual clues most likely mean trouble inside the unit, and you probably need to bring in a pool maintenance pro to check it out. Clean it off. You should […]

Ask the General: When is the Best Time to Open My Pool?

Dear General– Spring finally made it! The weather is warming up, and the summer swim season is almost upon us. We’re ready! We’re dreaming of spending our days relaxing in our inground fiberglass pool! When is the best time to open our pool? Signed- Amping in Ann Arbor Dear Amping– Your pool opening and closing schedule will vary based on where you live. But the short answer for YOU is … now! Once we’re past the danger of a damaging freeze, it’s time to kick it into gear. The sooner you get your fiberglass inground pool open, the sooner you’ll be having fun in the sun with all your family and friends. While you may have already scheduled a pool maintenance pro to come and open up your pool, there are still some things you can do to get the ball rolling so you’ll be in the swim ASAP. Here are some things you should be thinking about right now in order to maximize your swimming time in the days to come: Check your water level. Even with your pool tightly covered, water will find its way out over the winter. Your water level needs to be up to mid-way […]

Ask the General: What Do I Need to Know About General Pool Maintenance?

Dear General- We live in Kentucky and just got a new pool last year. It’s almost time to open our pool for the season, and we feel like we could use a refresher course on pool maintenance as spring approaches. Can you give us some general (no pun intended) pool maintenance tips to ensure we’ll be in good shape the whole season long? Sincerely, New Pool Peeps in Petersburg Dear New Peeps- Thanks for writing, and go Wildcats! You didn’t say whether you have a vinyl, gunite or fiberglass pool, so I’ll cover a little bit of everything. Obviously, the first step is to get your pool open. If you are using a pool service company, ask what they need you to do before they arrive. Companies often have a “to do list” that will help them efficiently open your inground pool. For example, all your equipment (and parts and pieces that were removed at closing) should be accessible. Be sure to have power available to the equipment area. If you aren’t home when the technician arrives, and a breaker is off in a locked house, it will be a wasted trip. Being prepared when the pool service arrives will […]

DIY or Pool Maintenance Pro? Caring for Your Pool Takes a Little of Both

Whether you’re a do-it-yourself type or a big believer in delegation, you are ultimately responsible for your pool. And no one will care more about your investment than you. Factors such as your inground pool shape and type can affect pool maintenance and your decision to take on certain tasks. You can handle several routine tasks, but some require pool professionals. Let’s explore what you need to know about maintaining your inground pool. Regularly Caring for Surfaces Consistently cleaning the walls and floor are relatively easy tasks that should be completed as needed. You should plan on doing some of this yourself, even if you hire a weekly pool service. Brushing the walls and surface prevents algae and bacteria from adhering to the surface and forming biofilms. The swimming experience is more enjoyable and safer, reducing the risk of slipping or stepping on debris. Dirt and debris may settle in areas that have less circulation. Brushing surfaces allows it to get to the skimmer. By removing debris and preventing clogging, vacuuming helps maintain the efficiency of the pool filter and pump system, prolonging their lifespan. A skimmer net can get any leaves or other debris that may fall into your […]

How To Choose the Best Pool Maintenance Professional

The greatest joys of owning a swimming pool include the hours of relaxation and swimming in crystal clear water. Proper water chemistry, regular cleaning and systems maintenance for your inground fiberglass pool is essential to keep your pool systems running smoothly and ensure a lifetime of worry-free pool enjoyment. It’s important to find a good pool maintenance professional near you who you can trust to assist you in keeping your pool in tip-top shape so you can sit back and enjoy your investment. They’ll also be your expert guide when it’s time to close your pool for the season. To ensure you’ve got the best person for the job, here’s a list of things to do as you’re searching for and evaluating pool maintenance pros in your area. Ask for recommendations. Ask your local pool installer and any friends or neighbors who have a swimming pool who they use for their swimming pool maintenance and what their experience has been. If your pool installer also happens to offer maintenance and annual opening and closing service, that’s a great place to start. Since they’re the ones most familiar with your pool, they’re the best qualified to service it. Do your […]

Ask the General: How to Backwash a Sand Filter in My Fiberglass Pool?

Dear General; I love my fiberglass pool, but here’s my problem. I don’t understand how to backwash a sand filter. I keep my pool clean and add all the chemicals I’m supposed to, when I’m supposed to. What is backwashing, and WHY do I have to do it to my sand filter? Signed; Bad Backwasher in Bainbridge Dear Bad Backwasher: Funny you should mention bad back(washing), as I’m writing this with my feet propped up and an ice pack on my back. I’d like to tell you that I pulled something doing a triple Lindy off the high board into the pool, but the truth is, I hurt my back bending over to tie my shoe. The General’s not as young and spry as he used to be. My point is, much like tying a shoe, the simplest things can cause a lot of pain. Which brings us to your learning how to backwash a sand filter. If you want to talk about pain (which clearly I do because I’m in it), let’s talk about the pain of paying for extra chemicals to clear up a pool that got cloudy due to poor circulation. Why might you have a […]

Ask the General: How Do I Control Heating Costs in My Pool?

Dear General; I absolutely LOVE my new inground fiberglass swimming pool. What I’m not sure I’m going to love is my pool heating bill. Do you have any tips and tricks for controlling swimming pool heating costs? Signed– Don’t Want My Dollars Going Down the Pool Drain. Dear Dollars; I hear you. No one wants to see their hard-earned money going down the swimming pool drain. Let’s take a look at the various kinds of heaters and ways you can save your money for more fun things. ______________________________________________________________________ Four types of heaters First of all, pool heaters are NOT the most energy efficient appliances you’ll ever run across. The most popular options are electric and gas. Some folks also use solar or, in rare cases, wood burning. Which is best? That depends on who you ask. Let’s break it down. Electric Electric heat pumps use electricity to capture heat and move it from one place to another. In other words, they take the ambient heat surrounding your pool and transfer it into the pool. The electric heat pump manufacturers report that they are the most efficient. Gas Gas pool heaters use either natural gas or propane. As the pump circulates […]

Ask The General: How Do You Prime the Pool Pump?

Dear General; Everyone keeps telling me I have to prime the pump for my fiberglass pool. That’s all well and good. My question to you is, how in the heck am I supposed to do it? And how do I know when it’s done? Signed– In a Perplexed Pool Pump Priming Pickle in Peru. Dear Perplexed; No need to be in a pool priming pickle. Honestly, I get this question all the time. You’re not alone. Let’s break this down together. First of all… Let’s take a look at how water circulation systems work. The key, believe it or not, is atmospheric pressure. There are approximately 14 pounds of air pushing down on all of us all the time. That means there’s the same amount of pressure pushing down on the surface of your fiberglass pool water. Your pool pump has a something called an “impeller” that creates a low pressure area by spinning. It pulls water into it, and pumps it back into the pool. A “closed system” means NO AIR Here’s the secret that explains it all. Your pool needs to be a CLOSED system to operate. Your pump, all your piping and everything that’s involved with the […]

Is There a Fiberglass Pool Near Me?

Is there a fiberglass pool near me? Because Thursday Pools Trucking delivers high quality pools safely and professionally, there sure can be. We deliver so our customers can get the job done quickly but safely. Thursday Pools are delivered top side up with unloading straps attached. A pool can be unloaded and in the hole within fifteen minutes of arrival. Can you ask for a more efficient way of unloading? Contact us at 877-929-7665 or at www.thursdaypools.com. Thursday Pools LLC designs and manufactures one-piece fiberglass swimming pools and spas. We are located in Fortville, Indiana, part of the greater Indianapolis area.

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