If you have small children or if you have pets it is a great idea to have a safety fence built. These fences are not expensive and the expense is well worth the peace of mind.
Although bacteria and germs are invisible to the human eye, there are certain signs to look at for when evaluating the cleanliness of your pool:
Sight:
Look for clean and clear water, free from algae and not clouded. You should be able to clearly see the drain or painted stripes on the pool floor. Look also for drainage grills at the top of pool walls. Water should be constantly lapping over the grills to be filtered.
Touch:
Check for tiles that feel smooth and clean. Sticky or slippery tiles are caused by algae and other unwanted organisms. A hand full or scoop of water should disperse quickly and not stick to your hands.
Smell:
Chlorine helps keep pools healthy, and will not cause a strong chemical odor in a well-maintained pool. Strong chemical odors, as well as skin, eye or respiratory irritation, are caused by the high levels of chloramines, formed when chlorine combines with contaminants brought into pools by swimmers.
Sound:
Listen for pool cleaning equipment. Properly operating pumps help make sure that clean, chlorinated water reaches all parts of the pool, while filters physically remove debris. If your pool equipment start making a different sound, you could have a problem with your equipment which will lead to an unclean pool.
Chlorine in swimming pools kills the germs that may make people sick. Chlorine, in properly disinfected pools, kills most germs that cause recreational water illnesses. However, certain germs can survive for days in even a properly disinfected pool.
Many things can reduce chlorine levels in pool water, including: sunlight, dirt, debris, and contaminants carried by swimmers. Healthy swimming behaviors and good hygiene are needed to protect you and your family from recreational water illnesses.
South Florida swimming pools will normally lose water each day. The amount can be as little as 1/8-inch per day and more. The amount of evaporation is dependent on factors such as: the amount of direct sun the swimming pool receives during the day, pool features that increase the amount of water exposed to the air such as water falls and fountains, the use of the swimming pool (each swimming pool user can reduce the total water by 1/2 gallon as they exit the swimming pool).
An easy way to determine if you could have a swimming pool leak is to place a bucket on the top step in your swimming pool. Fill the bucket with water so that the water level is the same as the swimming pool. Check 24 hours later to see if the levels in the bucket and the swimming pool are the same. If they are not, you should have a professional check your pool for leaks.
“From Parkland to Port St. Lucie”
