Maintenance Recommendations and Tips

Hobert Pools offers a wide variety of services to help compliment the luxuries of being a pool owner.

Let our professionals do the dirty work. Please feel free to contact our service department for more information at 972-422-5710

Standard Chemical Clean Service — $89.95

Water is tested and necessary chemicals added to maintain proper balance
Skimmer baskets, pump basket, and cleaner bags emptied
Brush steps and benches
DE Filters backwashed when needed (does not include cart. filter clean)
Pool equipment monitored for optimal performance
Scheduled one time per week

Deluxe Chemical Clean service — $155.00

Water is tested and recorded and necessary chemicals added to maintain proper balance
Skimmer baskets, pump basket, and cleaner bags emptied
Brush steps, benches, tile, and walls
Skim and vacuum pool
DE Filters backwashed when needed (does not include cart. filter clean)
Add water to pool while on site
Pool equipment monitored for optimal performance
Scheduled one time per week

Additional services available but not included in the above packages:

Filter cleaning: $75.00 per cleaning, recommended at least 2x per year
Algaecide/Cyanuric Acid Treatment: $45.00; recommended 1x per year
Conditioner Treatment: $25.00 as needed (shocks, metal removers, etc)
Sequestering Agent Treatment: $35.00; recommended 1x per year
Equipment Repairs: $75.00 per hour, not including parts

Service Video

PJ from Hobert Pools describes how to adjust and maintain your pool’s control system.

Basic Pool Cleaning Tips

It is necessary to clean and maintain your pool on a regular basis. Routine maintenance on your pool requires minimal effort if it is done regularly.

The steps to cleaning a pool include the following:

1. Skim the surface of the pool water with a net attached to a tele-pole.
2. Brush the pool walls to move any dirt and debris toward to the main drain.
3. Empty the skimmer baskets.
4. Empty the cleaner catch bag.
5. Vacuum the pool
   1. Turn on the equipment.
   2. Connect the vacuum head and hose to the tele-pole.
   3. Drop the vacuum head in the pool and connect the Hose to the skimmer suction at the bottom of the skimmer.
   4. Once the hose is activated, vacuum the floor of the pool slowly.
6. Empty the pump basket (turn off the equipment).
   1. To clean the pump basket correctly, please refer to the product manufacturer’s guidelines.
7. Check the filter gauge
   1. Clean the filter if the gauge is 10 pounds above normal.
   2. To clean the filter correctly, please refer to the product manufacturer’s detailed guidelines.
8. Check the chemicals
   1. Using a test-kit, check the chlorine, ph, alkalinity and calcium levels.

Chemical Maintenance

The filter is simply a mechanical screening device designed to remove suspended solids from the pool. The filter does not disinfect the pool. The effectiveness of any filter varies in relation to the conditions that exist, such as temperature, air born contaminates, sunlight, swimmers, and the proper usage of pool chemicals.

It is recommended that you test your pool weekly. It is also advisable that you frequently bring a water sample to a pool professional.

The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, formerly the National Spa and Pool Institute, recommends the following chemical levels:

• Free Chlorine: 1.0-3.0 ppm
• pH: 7.2-7.6 ppm
• Alkalinity: 80-100 ppm
• Dissolved Solids: 1000-2000 ppm
• Calcium Hardness: 200-400 ppm
• Cyanuric Acid: 30-50 ppm

Chlorine

Chlorine is extremely important to prevent the growth of algae and bacteria in the pool. The summer months require more chlorine than the winter months. It is also recommended to shock or super chlorinate the pool once a week during the summer months. Salt generators have a feature that allows for super chlorination.

To raise the chlorine level - add granular or tablet chlorine
To lower the chlorine level - manually reduce the feeder amount

pH

pH is measured on a scale from 1-14 with 7 being neutral. For chlorine to function properly, pH should be kept at a level between 7.2 and 7.6. A high pH reading means the water is over alkaline and may emit a strong odor and cause eye irritation. A low pH reading can cause irritation, stains, and may affect the plaster surface.

To raise the pH level - add baking soda (1/2 pound per 10,000 gallons)
To lower the pH level - add muratic acid (1 pint per 10,000 gallons)

Alkalinity

Alkalinity acts to balance the levels of pH in the water. To maintain correct levels of alkalinity follow the same recommendation for raising or lowering pH levels.

Winterizing Your Pool

When the temperature is going to drop below 32 degrees it is important to follow the steps outlines below to prevent any damage from happening to your equipment and plumbing lines.

1. Turn on your swimming pool equipment.
2. Turn on all additional pumps used for water features.
3. If you have a time clock or remote control, it will activate the freeze guard automatically. Please note that some remote controls are not equipped to activate additional water feature pumps.
4. Fill lines and suction lines should be drained.
5. Clean the pump basket and skimmer baskets.
6. Remove any type of anti-siphon device on your water faucet.
7. Do not turn on your heater in freezing temperatures.
8. Do not backwash during freezing temperatures.
9. The swimming pool cleaner may be kept in the pool.
10. In severe conditions, cover your equipment with a blanket.

Common Swimming Pool Maintenance Mistakes

1. Not checking your pool’s chemistry often enough. Check the pools chemistry twice per week in the summer and once per week in the winter. By doing this you can make minor adjustments to your water chemistry instead of big adjustments that create a wild up and down graph of activity.
2. Allowing pH to get above 8.0 At 8.5 Chlorine is only 10% active. At 7.0 it is about 73% active. By just maintaining pH around 7.5 the chlorine is 50 to 60% active. Keeping the pH in check will allow you to use the full potential the chlorine that is already in the pool.
3. Not keeping alkalinity between 80-140 PPM. Low or high alkalinity can affect water balance and ultimately a sanitizer’s ability to perform.
4. Not checking TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) or Calcium hardness on a regular basis. Check TDS every 6 months and Calcium hardness every month. These also affect water balance which is different from sanitation, although related.
5. Not cleaning the cells in salt water systems (Chlorine Generators). Corroded or calcified cells will produce little chlorine.
6. Backwashing Sand or DE filters too often. If you do this, the filter can never reach its cleaning potential. If you backwash on a regular basis for no reason, you are wasting water. Most filters require backwashing when the pressure gauge reads 25 psi or more.
7. Not cleaning the skimmer basket and or pump basket often enough. If these are full of debris you will get little flow resulting in poor circulation, potentially creating a problem.
8. Not brushing the walls and tile down often enough. If you circulation system is suspect, and many are brushing down the walls will help eliminate algae problems. Keeping your tile clean will save you money. Once the tile gets calcified it becomes like plaque and will take a specialist to get it off.
9. Keep water level at least half way on your tile line.
10. Not running pumps long enough. You should run your pump about 1 hour for every 10 degrees of temperature. This assumes you have a decent circulation system. It is ALL about the FLOW! Circulation is the key to a low maintenance swimming pool.
11. Not replacing broken or missing drains or suction sources. This is a potential hazard. The same could be said for defective door/gate closers and fences in disrepair.

Contact Information

There’s a lot more to having a pool in your backyard than picking a swimsuit. We know what it takes to plan, design, install, and maintain a beautiful custom pool. Feel free to contact us to talk about any questions you might have.

(972) 690-8118