Pool owners in Sydney must abide by the state government's safety regulations and guidelines for swimming pools. A pool inspection can determine whether or not your pool is in compliance with these regulations and guidelines.
Swimworx provide professional expert pool inspections in to help keep you safe when swimming, provide peace of mind that your pool meets legal requirements, and reduce risk of liability to you or your family.
Our team can provide pool inspections for both public pools and private pool owners. We are experienced and have provided inspections across a range of industries, working with hotels, apartments, recreation centres and schools.
There are three objectives that need to be achieved in a daily or weekly chemical treatment procedure, once correct water balance has been established. They will address the primary goal of ensuring a healthy environment for family recreation. These steps should form an integral part of an established maintenance routine.
SANITATION: The objective of sanitation is to achieve a consistent and effective bacteria kill, irrespective of the sanitation process being applied. Regular testing and maintenance of 2 to 5.0ppm of chlorine or the equivalent of an alternative sanitiser will be essential. Note: Changing weather conditions, bathing load or heavy contamination will increase chlorine demand, necessitating a higher chlorine input.
OXIDATION: Regular shock dosing or oxidation of organic contamination and swimmer waste is recommended to prevent pool water problems. It should supplement an established sanitation programme to ensure the sanitiser is not diverted from its important role of keeping water safe and healthy on a daily basis.
Oxidisers and shock treatments are pre-packed for convenience, are fully soluble, and designed for use regularly or weekly.
ALGAE TREATMENT: A single glass of water contains millions of algae spores, invisible to the naked eye, but able to proliferate at an extraordinary rate when exposed to sunlight and a suitable food source, being able to mutate into common green, black and mustard strains seen in pools today.
Heavy chlorine dosage might eliminate common algae forms by bleaching and burning them into submission, but generally it will require a specially formulated algaecide to achieve long lasting eradication and control of more resistant strains.
Algaecides penetrate the algae cell structure, starving it of nutrients, accomplishing a kill that is long lasting and controllable.
Different algaecides are available to suit individual algae strains, and should be used as recommended. Chlorine and algaecides used jointly will achieve best treatment results.
The primary role of a filter is to remove solids and greases from pool water. Normal cleaning processes such as backwashing or hosing are designed to remove those contaminants, however chemical cleaning of the filter sand bed, cartridge or DE septum, is recommended at least twice per year to ensure optimum filter performance.
Greases and oils attach to the individual grains of sand or woven fabric, are difficult to backwash or hose away and require a strong alkaline compound to dissolve and remove them. Special cleaning compounds suitable for all types of filters are available and recommended for this maintenance procedure.
The skimmer box is designed to remove floating debris from the pool and is the main vacuum point from which water is drawn by the pool pump. Water level should be maintained at approximately ¾ height of the skimmer entrance with the weir door providing an efficient skimming action
The pool pump is the heart of a swimming pool, drawing water through the skimmer basket to remove leaves and large debris, before collecting smaller debris within the pump basket. It does this continuously, circulating filtered water throughout the pool ensuring efficient chemical distribution and cleaner operation.
Pump and skimmer baskets should be cleaned regularly to ensure full water flow at all times. Blocked baskets split easily under strong vacuum pressure, causing leaves to clog within suction lines or pump impellors, necessitating onsite service.
Lubricate pump lid “o” ring with silicone grease as part of regular routine maintenance. Do not use vaseline.
Leaking of water below the pump body will indicate a faulty mechanical seal or body gasket, which could cause pump or motor damage. A high pitch whine within the motor would generally indicate bearing failure - both of these complaints should be repaired immediately by a pool service professional
A filter backwash valve contains a multi port gasket, which directs water flow to perform the various filter functions. It has an expected life of several years, but can perish or loosen with age, causing leakage through the waste line, or return of unfiltered water back to the pool. Lack of lubrication of the valve shaft “o” ring, situated within the top seal plate of the valve, can cause similar problems.
Valve maintenance should be carried out by a pool service professional.
Cleaning of the cartridge will be necessary once the pressure gauge reaches 50 kpa above normal start up pressure, or a maximum of 110 kpa.
Hot water conditions and heavy bathing loads will necessitate more frequent cleaning of filter cartridges.
NOTE: Cartridges should be chemically cleaned every 6 months to remove oils, grease and scale from fabric. This will extend cartridge life. Filter cleaning compounds are available for this procedure.
WARNING: Cartridge filters are pressure vessels, exercise care in fitting lid and clamp securely.
Powerful alkaline cleaning compounds are available for dissolving and removing grease, oils, suntan cream and body fats from a sand filter, thereby extending media life and efficiency.These products are also excellent for soaking filter cartridge sand Diatomaceous Earth septums.
For safety sake, wear eye protection and gloves when handling these products, and avoid breathing its dust. Keep out of reach of children.
Do not mix with chlorine or other chemicals.
Note: If filter is installed below water level, ensure pump inlet valve is open for first backwash - closed for treatment and reopened for second backwash before returning to normal filter operation.
Filter cleaning is recommended twice yearly for optimum filter performance
NOTE: Filters should be chemically cleaned every 6 months to remove oils, grease and scale from fabric. This will extend filter life.
WARNING: Cartridge filters are pressure vessels, exercise care in fitting lid and clamp securely.
Hot water conditions and heavy bathing loads will necessitate more frequent cleaning of filter cartridges.
NOTE: Cartridges should be chemically cleaned every 6 months to remove oils, grease and scale from fabric. This will extend cartridge life. Filter cleaning compounds are available for this procedure.
Seek professional advice if unsure of cleaning procedure.
Powerful alkaline cleaning compounds are available for dissolving and removing grease, oils, suntan cream and body fats from a sand filter, thereby extending media life and efficiency.
These products are also excellent for soaking filter cartridge sand Diatomaceous Earth septums.
For safety sake, wear eye protection and gloves when handling these products, and avoid breathing its dust. Keep out of reach of children.
Do not mix with chlorine or other chemicals.
PLEASE NOTE: Cleaning of filter will be necessary when pressure gauge reaches 50 kpa above clean start up pressure, or a maximum of 110 kpa.
Pump and skimmer baskets should be cleaned and salt chlorinator switched off before backwashing. Check water level after backwash and top pool up if level is low.
To select each valve function depress handle and rotate.
For sand filters do the following additional steps:
For D.E. filters do the following additional steps:
Allows water to be returned to pool without passing through filter.
Allows water to be pumped directly to drain without passing through filter and is suitable for reducing water level or for vacuuming dirt or debris from pool.
Vacuuming to waste reduces water level quickly. Pool may require topping up after this operation.
For maintenance purposes only, pump must not be switched on in this position.
Multi port valve will require service when handle is stiff and difficult to move or if water is being lost through backwash line during normal filter operation.
A silicone based lubricant must be used for all filter “O” rings as vaseline will cause the rubber to perish.
Salt chlorination is the most popular automatic means of sanitising pool water today. Whilst it simplifies the sanitation process, it is necessary to service and clean the cell plates of a manual system regularly.
Salt cells come in a variety of configurations, and depending on the make, may need to be removed as a total unit from the cell housing for immersion in a separate cleaning container. Alternatively, the complete cell may have to be removed, by undoing barrel union nuts or hose clamps. Cap the cell at one end so that the cleaning fluid may be retained within the cell body for the cleaning process to take place.
Calcium is present in all pool water to varying degrees and through a process of electrolysis will form as a hard crystalline deposit on cell plates.
Failure to remove scale will cause chlorinator to produce less chlorine as the scale builds up, and can impair water flow through the cell housing. Age of the cell may also have an influence on the scale build up and production capability.
Cell cleaning compounds such as saf-t-cell are recommended. They are a blend of select acids and buffers allowing for the efficient but safe removal of scale from cell plates. An addition of Aquashield 3 at the rate of 1litre per 50,000 litres of pool water will assist in reducing the severity of the calcium scale.
Clean Cell Regularly For Maximum Chlorinator Performance.
Successful spa control is achieved when water balance, sanitation and filtration are monitored and adjusted to suit the bathing load, contamination, and temperature settings of the spa.
Each component of the treatment programme will support the others in ensuring a clean healthy bathing environment. Working together, they can prevent the transfer of bacteria or viruses between spa users, and make hydrotherapy a beneficial and relaxing pastime for the whole family.
It is essential to adopt a regular maintenance routine for optimum water quality and sanitation effect. Testing with a reliable kit will ensure correct parameters are achieved. The levels recommended will remain constant for most spa water conditions.
Establishes the correct parameters of pH, Alkalinity and Hardness, and is the measure of the amount, or activity of minerals in the spa water. Use a suitable measuring device for all chemical additions and be careful to avoid over dosing.
125ppm.to150ppm. - This will buffer pH and is the measure of Bicarbonate salts present.
7.4 to 7.6 - Slightly alkaline to maximise sanitiser effect and comfort of bathers.
150ppm. - Prevents corrosion or scale formation and is the measure of calcium salts present.
Measure the available free chlorine or bromine in the water to ensure consistent bacteria kill and oxidation of bather contamination. Recommended sanitation levels Chlorine 2.0 to 5.0 ppm and Bromine: 4.0 to 6.0 ppm
Cycle will depend upon the need to recover water clarity and maintain temperature settings, with a minimum of three hours of maintenance filtration required daily. Substantially longer cycles may be necessary because of prevailing conditions or bather use. Water should be visually clear, free of odour, and shouldn't cause skin irritation if treated and maintained correctly.
WARNING: All spa chemicals can be reactive when mixed or contaminated. For the safety of persons adding or making adjustments, it is recommended that only clean measuring devices be used. Dosage rates specified are recommendations only. Test after each chemical addition to establish if correct adjustment is achieved.
Add Alkalinity and pH increaser at the rate of 18 grams per 1000 litres of spa water to raise alkalinity 10 ppm
Partly empty spa and dilute with water with a lower total alkalinity. Alternatively, add a maximum of 10 grams of Dry Acid per 1000 litres of spa water to lower Alkalinity 10 ppm.
Alkalinity and pH increaser has a pH of 8.3 and will raise pH when added. Add at the rate of 18 grams per 1000 litres of spa water. Test after each addition. Alkalinity will be raised correspondingly.
Add Dry Acid at a maximum rate of 10 grams per 1000 litres of spa water per addition. Filter for 1 hour and re-test before making further additions.
Add 10 grams of Hardness Increaser per 1000 litres of spa water to raise hardness 10 ppm.
Dilute with fresh water or empty spa and refill with water that has lower calcium hardness.
A wide range of speciality chemicals and accessories are available for enhancing bather comfort and maintenance of spa pool equipment.
Are you looking for a great pool service company? Look no further! We’ve served the pool needs of 1000s of customers in the last decade.
.png){kind=small}
