Simple Steps To Improve Your Swimming Pool Circulation
There is a joke about the difference between a swimming pool and a pond. While the pool has water circulating, the pond doesn’t have it. The joke may not have made you laugh, but this is a fact that can’t be ignored. The difference between any water body and a swimming pool is the circulation of water and a filtration system. Without proper circulation, your swimming pool is likely to become dirty. The water may become unsafe to use causing various problems. This is why you need to take care of the circulation in your pool.
Importance Of Swimming Pool Circulation
To understand the importance of swimming pool circulation, you need to imagine what happens if there is no circulation of water in your pool. The water becomes dirty. Your pool will become a haven for algae and bacteria. This turns water cloudy and makes your pool unfit for use. If you do use such a pool, you risk infection from microbes in the pool. Without circulation, dirt and other debris accumulate in your pool. This again ruins your pool.
The pH level of water in your pool will change due to this. This again makes the pool unfit for use. It can even be harmful. Chemicals do not spread evenly in the pool, and some areas can have concentrated chemical content. People with sensitive skin are likely to face problems if the circulation of the pool does not work well. When people swim in the pool, dirt and oil from their bodies enter the pool. This can accumulate and spoil the water. Without proper circulation, the pool becomes unfit for use. This is why you need to have a good system to ensure pool circulation. You also need to focus on improving the pool circulation.
What Do You Need For Pool Circulation?
For the swimming pool circulation to work well, you need a good pump. The pump needs to be chosen based on the type of pool you have and the size of the pool. If there is more volume of water in the pool, you need a pump of higher capacity. Getting a pump of lower capacity can make the pool circulation weak and even ineffective. The pump does the work of circulation water. It takes out water from the pool, sends it to the filter system, where it is cleaned. The filtered water then re-enters the pool.
How It Works?
The pump will be connected to a hose connected to the skimmer in your pool. The top of the pump has another hose that is connected to the filtration system. It is a filtration system that cleans water, purifies it, and make it fit for use. The filter removes microbes, dust, and minute particles in the water. This makes it clean and suitable for people to swim in it. From the filtration system, there is another hose back to the pump. This sends out filtered water back into the pool.
As and when you switch on the pump, the system works and water is circulated. This ensures you have clean water in the pool that is safe to swim in. When you add chemicals to the pool, the circulation is what distributes the chemicals throughout the pool evenly. Circulation ensures that chemicals do not accumulate in one place and are present throughout the pool. In case you do not have a circulation system, then the only solution is to drain out all the water from the pool. Do this and then pump back clean water. You may need to do this once every week.
Improving Pool Circulation
There are different ways of improving pool circulation. There are certain common problems that can affect pool circulation. Fixing these problems will ensure proper circulation. The following are some effective tips to help you improve your pool circulation:
- To ensure proper circulation, you need to switch on the pump for at least 8 hours a day. This ensures the pool circulation is effective.
- Make sure you size the pump, i.e: get a pump according to your pool volume. If your pool capacity is 10,000 gallons, then you need to divide 10,000 by 480 (8 hours x 60 minutes). This gives you 20.8. So you need a pump that has an output of 20.8 gallons per minute.
- Just as you clean the pool, you also need to clean the pump and the filtration system. Doing this routinely ensures your pump and filters are in good condition. This ensures good circulation. The filter needs to be cleaned at least once a week. If it clogs up, it can affect water circulation.
- Your pool may have a cartridge filter. These need to be sprayed to clean it and get rid of any debris in the filter. The filter may have to be replaced once in three weeks or as per the manufacturer’s instructions. During peak season, when the pool is used daily, you may need to replace the filter earlier. Check with your vendor. This is very important since a clogged filter will affect the circulation of water.
- Backwashing the filter system is a good idea. This makes water go in the opposite direction as compared to during regular pumping of water. This is helpful in removing any debris that is clogging up the filter. You must ensure that the backwashed water is sent to the drainage port.
- You can have dead areas in your pool where circulation is poor. Generally, the area behind pool steps, beneath the skimmer, and behind the ladder tends to be dirty. You may need to manually clean these areas to avoid build-up of algae and bacteria. You can even use a robotic cleaner to do the work for you.
- Your pool must have water up to the half way mark of the skimmer. Ideally, it should be at two-thirds level. If water is below the skimmer, then the pump will run dry. This can damage the pump leading to expensive repairs. Check your pool levels regularly, especially during the summer. This is when the risk of a dry pump is more.
- The return jets should be pointed in such a way that water in the pool will spin. Point it down at a 45-degree angle. This ensures proper mixing of water and improved circulation. Some people point it upwards. Doing so ensures the surface area always has clean water. For proper circulation, point it down. This also ensures the surface water is calm. This ensures proper skimming. If you have more than one return jets, point them in the same direction, so the circulation is consistent.
- Avoiding keeping any toys and accessories in the pool when it is not used. This prevents debris from collecting. The toys can block the skimmer and affect circulation. These toys can be stuck in the ladder or other areas, affecting smooth circulation. So, ensure you remove these accessories when not used.
- A pool cover will help you improve circulation. The cover keeps out debris and dirt. This reduces the load on your filtration system, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.
Good pool circulation is the key to a clean swimming pool that is suitable for use. Following the steps given in this article can help you improve pool circulation.
