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What You Need to Know About Concrete Pool Maintenance
time2011/02/03
- What You Need to Know About Concrete Pool Maintenance
Concrete pools are incredibly durable and offer endless design possibilities as far as customization is concerned. If you're interested in building or owning a concrete pool, you need to understand how to maintain it. Unlike fiberglass pools, which are known for being very low-maintenance, concrete pools require a lot of care. Here's what you need to know if you want to build or own a concrete pool.
Inhibiting algae growth
Unlike vinyl and fiberglass, concrete pools are porous. This is a characteristic that makes them much more prone to algae growth. The algae feed on the bacteria that get trapped in the porous surface of the concrete, allowing the algae to grow and thrive.
Concrete pools require more chemicals and filtering to keep bacteria and algae in check than vinyl pools for this reason.
Additionally, algae are resistant to typical chlorine levels. This means it's crucial to balance your pool's pH in order to inhibit the growth of algae. The recommended pH for pools is roughly between 7.2 and 7.8. Algae grow when the pH of your pool becomes acidic, making it necessary to remain vigilant about pH balance.
Keep in mind that pool water pH that is too high can also cause problems such as scaling, which refers to mineral deposits that stain the pool surface. An alkalinity of 80 to 150 parts per million is ideal.
Removing existing algae
If you notice algae already growing on your pool, you'll need to take some measures to remove it. Treating with granular chlorine works well for isolated growth that covers a small section of your pool. For example, small blooms on pool stairs respond well to granular treatment.
However, if the algae are pervasive and covering larger portions of your pool, granular treatment is unlikely to suffice. In this case, it's often necessary to shock the pool with a strong chlorine dose to kill the algae.
Brushing and vacuuming
Even when you treat your pool with chemicals and balance the pH, you'll need to scrub your pool regularly to remove the trapped bacteria, debris and other contaminants that get stuck in the porous surface of your pool.
Scrub the floor and walls of your pool to remove contaminants, using a high-quality pool brush. The best approach is to start at the shallow end and slowly work your way to the deep end, taking care to scrub all of the nooks and crannies where contaminants lurk.
After brushing and vacuuming the floor and walls of your pool, use a pool vacuum to remove the debris you've loosened.
Avoiding overtreatment
While concrete pools do require more chemical treatment than vinyl or fiberglass, it's important to avoid excessive chemical treatment. Using too many chemicals in an attempt to control algae growth and prevent bacteria may actually damage your pool. It can cause the concrete to erode.
Excess chemical treatment is also hazardous for the people who swim in your pool. Excess chemicals can cause skin irritation and aggravate conditions such as asthma.
Resurfacing
Concrete pools are vulnerable to cracking, chipping and developing shallow spots. This is because the waterproof layer over the concrete deteriorates over time. You'll need to resurface your pool to maintain it in good condition.
The good news is you won't have to worry about this right away. Depending on how much you use your pool, you'll need to resurface it every several years after having it built.
Concrete pools offer unmatched durability. With a little know-how, you can keep your concrete pool looking beautiful for years to come.