Keeping the water in your pool clean, clear, and properly balanced protects swimmers from illness and keeps the hardware healthy. This requires weekly skimming, brushing, and vacuuming of the surface as well as regular cleaning of the filters.
Pool Repair San Antonio professionals use specialized equipment, tools and chemicals to do this job correctly. This prevents damage to your pool, saves you money and helps you keep the value of your pool.
Putting off pool crack repair can have disastrous results. As the seasons change and the ground shifts, the crack can expand over time, causing severe structural problems. If you notice any cracks in the pool, seek out a full-service professional to inspect it for leaking and other issues.
Most cracks in a swimming pool are caused by structural problems. Structural cracks are deep dents or damages that run through the concrete shell of your pool and can be seen through the plaster coating and the tile area over the crack. These types of cracks are more serious than surface or shrinkage cracks. If you see rust stains around a crack, it may indicate that the damage extends into the inner rebar of your pool.
Structural cracks are typically wider at the top of the pool and narrower as they move toward the floor. Often these cracks are v-shaped and are caused by inadequate support under the pool. In these cases, the cracks will need to be corrected with a pier and beam system or removing the entire shell and replacing it.
If you have surface cracks that don’t extend to the interior rebar of your pool, it’s usually best to just repair the plaster and resurface the area. This will keep the water from leaking out through these cracks and will also look better for a while. If the cracks are extending into the interior of your pool, you’ll need to call a professional for a complete inspection and a recommendation for how to correct this problem.
When repairing these cracks, make sure to use pool repair mortar that is specially designed for pools. This type of pool repair mortar is thicker than standard masonry cement and contains a bonding agent to ensure the repair will hold. Also, when you finish a crack, cover it with a sheet or towel to prevent it from drying out before you fill the pool again.
If you have structural cracks, a professional can install Torque Lock Structural Staples to stabilize the crack and create a permanent repair. These anchors are placed along the crack lining and provide a controlled compression that opposes the pressure of water trying to get through the crack. This will ensure that the crack stays closed and won’t continue to expand.
Grout Discoloration
Grout fills the spaces between tiles, but unfortunately it also absorbs liquids that stain. Thankfully, this is easily corrected with a deep grout cleaning and resealing. First, test any cleaner on a small section of your grout to ensure it won’t cause damage. Then, scrub with a grout brush and rinse thoroughly. Finally, apply a grout sealer following the manufacturer’s instructions. You can find these products at most home improvement or tile stores.
If you want to avoid this problem altogether, use epoxy grout instead of cement-based grout. Epoxy is less porous, so it resists stains much better. In addition, try to keep your grout away from water and other spills as much as possible.
One of the biggest reasons that grout discolors is because it’s not cleaned properly. It’s important to use non-abrasive cleaning methods and pH neutral cleaners. Also, be sure to clean up spills right away and vent areas prone to high humidity, like bathrooms, to discourage mold and mildew growth.
Another reason that grout discolors is because it’s being used in the wrong application. Cement-based grout must be sealed in order to keep it looking fresh, but some people apply a grout sealer too early or use an inferior product that does not protect the grout.
Inspect your grout often to spot problems like cracks and stains. If you see these signs, it’s time to call a professional.
Despite your best efforts, sometimes grout will still look dirty and dingy no matter how much you clean it. This is because dirt particles can get trapped in the grout surface and over time, this will cause it to look duller and grimier.
Many homeowners believe that they are cleaning their grout properly by scrubbing it with a brush and vinegar or other natural cleaners. However, scrubbing your grout is hard work that can be difficult or even impossible to do if you have limited mobility or are older. It’s a much better idea to hire a professional maid service that can help you with your home cleaning in Legacy Park.
High Calcium Levels
When pool water calcium levels get too high your pool’s lining, plumbing, and equipment will start to deteriorate. This can create unsightly calcified deposits that are difficult to remove and will also cause your pump to work harder in order to circulate the water around your pool which leads to higher utility bills.
In addition, a high level of calcium in the pool can cause the water to become cloudy. This can be a serious problem for your swimming pool, especially when the water becomes so cloudy that you are unable to see the bottom of your pool or use your pool’s cleaning equipment. If your pool’s water is constantly cloudy then you may need to drain some of the pool’s water to lower the calcium levels in the pool.
Another way to lower your pool’s calcium levels is by using a product that works as a sequestering agent. This will help to prevent scale formation and reduce the need for manual scrubbing of your pool’s surfaces. However, before you can use a sequestering product you will need to perform a water test to determine your pool’s calcium hardness level and bring it back down to a normal range.
If you do not want to partially drain your pool then you can try to reduce your calcium levels by adding a pool flocculant. This product will clump the excess calcium in your pool and allow it to be filtered out of your pool. The best way to keep your pool’s calcium levels in balance is by testing the water often and adjusting it as necessary to ensure that it stays within the proper range. By keeping an eye on the pH and total alkalinity as well as calcium hardness levels you will be able to avoid costly repairs down the road.
Pump Leaks
The pool pump is a vital component of your system. It circulates the water, moves chemicals that fight algae and bacteria, keeps water clean and sanitized, and even regulates the temperature of your pool. Unfortunately, it can also be a source of leaks. While a minor leak can be a nuisance, major leaks are more serious and can lead to higher utility bills from constantly filling up your pool. If you suspect a leak, it’s essential to find and repair the problem before it gets worse.
Leaks in your pool’s plumbing are often caused by rust, corrosion or damage to the pipe or pipe fittings. These are expensive to repair, but a professional can use a hydraulic flow tester, ultrasonic detector or bench testing systems to quickly and accurately pinpoint the problem areas and make repairs.
If you see puddles under the pump or around the edge of the pool, this is a sign of a return line leak. These are often overlooked and can be a significant source of water loss in your pool. Another common type of leak is a pressure side return leak. These occur when the pressure of the pump causes small drips to open up into spraying gushers.
These are harder to detect but are often the most expensive leak to fix. This is because the water must be drained down to get at the leak, which can take up to a week to complete.
Another problem that can arise is an undetected shaft seal leak. This can be a very costly issue because it’s not something that’s easy to replace, and you have to remove the entire pump to do so.
Underground leaks are rare, but can occur if you don’t properly winterize your pool or the ground shifts significantly during the year. They are usually found underneath the equipment pad or near the skimmer, drain, or return pipes.
The best way to spot a leak is to walk the perimeter of your pool, looking for wet or standing areas. You can also test the water with a dye test, which involves turning off your pump and putting dark-colored food coloring in your pool. When the water is turned back on, the leak should be highlighted by the dye and indicate where the leak is located.
