Basic Pool Filter Maintenance and Replacement

For residential pools, there are three main types of filters: sand, cartridge and DE filters. Each of these requires ongoing maintenance to ensure they are properly cleaning your pool water and will need to be routinely replaced. Allowing a filter to go without maintenance will jeopardize the cleanliness of your pool and can cause additional damage to the rest of your pool equipment. It is important to care for your filters on a regular schedule to protect your investment into your pool.

Sand Filters

One of the most common filters is the sand filter, which uses a special sand to filter out particles and debris. To care for these filters, they need to be backwashed, usually about once a week. If you are on a pool maintenance plan, your pool service can do this for you. About every five years the sand will need to be replaced.

Cartridge Filters

Cartridge filters are more expensive than sand filters but also require less maintenance. These filters can be routinely cleaned by taking them out and rinsing them clear of debris. They will need to be replaced more often than sand, usually about every three years or more, depending on your pool usage.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filters

DE filters use a fine powder from biological sources to filter the pool. These filters need to be cleaned and backwashed often, usually about every few months, more often with heavy use. The easiest way to maintain these filters is to have a professional pool service backwash and add more DE as needed as part of your pool maintenance.

One of the benefits of having professional pool maintenance is not needing to worry about caring for your pool filters. Most pool maintenance service includes cleaning, backwashing and replacing your filters as necessary.

Posted on behalf of:
Premier Pool Enterprises
Canton, GA
(494) 496-5579

3 Renovations That Can Change Your Pool from Boring to Brilliant

Does your pool lack any sparkle or personality? While it may be a great place to cool off during the hot summer months, you also want it to look great and be a centerpiece to your outdoor area. It doesn’t necessarily take a full makeover over to add some bling to your pool area. Consider these three renovations that can quickly convert your boring pool to a brilliant centerpiece.

  1. Resurfacing. If your pool surface is faded, stained or just plain, a resurfacing can make a huge difference in the appearance of your pool. Consider options like a Pebble Tec, Wet Edge or Diamond Brite that can bring out the brilliance of your pool. These come in an amazing variety of colors and finishes that will make your pool look brand new.
  2. Water Features. Nothing adds a splash to your pool like a water feature. A drizzling waterfall can add movement and sound to your pool area that makes it more than just a standing basin of water. Wok pots are another option, gracefully spilling water from strategically placed pots on your pool deck into your pool.
  3. Lighting features. One of the best times to enjoy the beauty of a pool is at night, when lights flicker off the surface. Bring out even more brilliance with the addition of light features. Fiber optic lighting can add color and pizazz to your nighttime pool appearance for a spectacular showpiece.

Adding one of all these renovations to your pool can transform it from basic to phenomenal. Call your local pool renovation specialist to discuss ways to give your pool a mini-makeover.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pool Service & Repairs
401 East Las Olas Boulevard #130
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Pool Cleaning: When to Hire a Professional

You like to save money by doing home maintenance yourself, and that includes cleaning your pool. You spend hours each week scooping out debris, checking your PH balance, cleaning filters and adding the right chemicals. While this is all great, are you really keeping your pool as clean as you would like it? Here are a few signs that it may be time to hire a professional to help keep your pool pristine.

  • PH balance is consistently off. Are you always struggling to keep your PH balance at the right levels? This could mean that your cleaning efforts are not as effective as you thought. It could also mean your pump is not working properly. A professional pool service can monitor your chemicals for you, provide superior cleaning and inspect your pump for issues.
  • Your pool is stained. It takes more than just scooping away debris to keep you pool looking great. Stains can be caused by certain metals in the water; a professional pools service can remove those stains and offer preventive treatments to keep future stains away.
  • Your pool water is no longer clear. If you are getting algae formation even with regular home cleanings, you need a professional pool service to help you get this under control. Even if you prefer to do the weekly cleanings yourself, having a pool service clean your pool once a month can help keep these types of issues at bay.

Having a clean pool helps reduce maintenance and repair costs on your pool equipment, plus it ensures that it looks great and is safe for your family. It is worth the investment to have a professional clean your pool at least once a month to keep it clean and healthy.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pool Service & Repairs
4581 Weston Road
Weston, FL 33331
(954) 840-8544

Benefits of Upgrading Your Pool Pump

When it comes to keeping your pool clean, your pool pump is the workhorse of the system. Pool pumps filter the pool water, keeping algae and debris out of the water while helping maintain the PH balance. However, if your pump is too small or is not running long enough every day, it may not be getting your pool as clean as you think and actually may be costing you more in energy. Upgrading to a right-sized pool pump is the best way to keep your pool clean and save money off your energy bill.

Right Size, Right Speed

To keep your pool clean, the water in the pool should be cycled through the pump at least once every 12 hours. To do this, you can either have a pump that runs all the time, or have it set to run several hours at a time, then off for several hours. Some people opt to have a larger pump than their pool requires, then try to save energy by only running it part of the day. In the long run, this could be costing more money. The trick is to have the right size pump that can run all day, giving you a clean, efficient pool.

In many cases, a pool company may sell a pump on the “bigger is better” philosophy. That is not necessarily the best option. Instead, a pump that is designed to clean the correct amount of gallons of water over a 12 hour period that can be left on all day can actually save money while cleaning 24-hours a day. These need to be 2-speed or variable speed pumps that can be set at an efficient rate to clean your pool.

If you have a high-horsepower, one-speed pump that you are cycling on and off every day, it may be time to upgrade to a more efficient, right-sized pump. Talk to your local pool service about how a multiple speed pump can keep your pool cleaner and save on energy at the same time.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pools, LLC
Miami Beach, FL
(305) 767-7755