PHOTO COURTESY OF BIOLAB COMMERCIAL POOL CARE
Regular cleaning of the filter is key to ensuring proper filtration and circulation throughout the whole pool.Ensuring proper filtration and circulation throughout the whole pool is critical to maintaining water clarity. Without regular maintenance of the filter and filter components, poor filtration will eventually require more chemicals and maintenance time. There are three typical kinds of filters that a pool may be operating under: sand filter, cartridge filter or a diatomaceous earth filter (D.E. filter). No matter what type of filter the system has, it is important to follow manufacturer's guidelines for chemical and physical cleaning of the filter media.Additionally, to ensure proper filtration, inspect the filter elements regularly to check there are no additional problems such as channeling in the sand bed of a sand filter or holes in the D.E. filter grids.Turnover rate is another critical factor to maintaining a clear and inviting swimming pool. Check your local health-department codes for guidance on turnover rates. Be sure to take into account any special characteristics or demands the system will have.
Sanitizer level
A second problem is not maintaining an acceptable sanitizer level. Too often commercials pools have peaks and valleys for their sanitizer level due to high bather load and improper water balance.
Low levels of sanitizer will not effectively kill bacteria in the water, which can cause swimmers to become ill. On the other hand, high levels can bleach bathing suits and cause irritation for swimmers' eyes and skin. High or low sanitizer levels also may cause the health department to close the pool, costing you valuable down time and potential damage to the pool surface or equipment.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIOLAB COMMERCIAL POOL CARE
A wireless monitoring system can alert a manager before a major problem occurs.
Chemical controllers should be used to maintain proper sanitizer levels with minimal maintenance. Controllers offer completely automatic measuring, control and dosing capabilities. Advanced chemical controllers with multiple inputs will allow you to measure pH and ORP (oxidation reduction potential) and control dosing for pH increaser, pH decreaser and sanitizer. These advanced controllers also offer proportional dosing controls, decreasing wear and tear on equipment by tailoring chemical application to the actual swimming pool needs.
Wireless monitoring systems also are available and will greatly reduce maintenance time. You can check pH and ORP readings from a PC or PDA and even receive alarms to your cell phone if desired. This is particularly important if you have several properties or facilities to manage.
Other technologies, such as commercial electrolytic chlorine generators, offer an alternative to traditional pool care maintenance and can be an ideal treatment solution for almost every commercial application.
Commercial pool industry experts predict that this emerging technology will replace a large portion of the traditional chemical feeder technology because the ability to produce hypochlorous acid on-site within the feeder reduces the risk of direct contact with chemicals. With an electrolytic chlorine generator, consistent chlorine generation can occur without direct application by a pool-care professional.
