How to clean a pool without draining the water

1. Get to grips with the basics

What types of pollution are

Even indoor pools can't stay clean all the time, pro open and you don't have to speak. Leaves, dry grass, fluff, pollen and other small debris will inevitably fall into the water.

In the water itself, especially under intense sunlight and in hot weather, bacteria begin to develop. Water "blooms", green algae appear. Small insects and waterfowl will also not miss the chance to use your reservoir.

How to achieve crystal clear water

Pool care involves three steps - constant (ideally) circulation, debris removal and the use of chemicals to maintain water quality.

water circulation

A prerequisite is a filter pump that provides continuous circulation. It takes dirty water from the pool, drives it through itself, trapping debris, and returns clean water back.

It is best to use more expensive sand filters - the accumulated dirt from them can be easily washed out with a reverse flow of water by turning the handle. Membrane ones with polypropylene cartridges are more affordable, but the elements in them need to be periodically replaced with new ones. Although you can take it apart and wash it - it will work several times.

Also, some craftsmen use home-made options from a plastic eggplant stuffed with padding polyester with hoses embedded on both sides that are connected to the pool and to the pump inlet.

Mechanical cleaning of the pool

Everything is simple here: garbage from the water surface is collected with a net with a long handle. Or they use a skimmer that sucks everything that floats on the surface into itself - you just have to periodically shake out the dirt from the mesh.

The walls of the pool from plaque and mucus are cleaned with a bristled brush. For the bottom use manual vacuum cleaner, which is connected to the filter pump so that the collected dirt is immediately sucked in.

If the budget allows, then you can automate this dreary work with the help of robotic vacuum cleaners. They will drive along the bottom and collect garbage. Some models are able to clean not only the bottom, but also the walls, sticking to them.

Use of chemistry

If you do not want to completely change the water when it gets dirty, then chemicals must be used to prevent the development of microflora, algae blooms and maintain transparency. There are many of them, so we will talk about them in a little more detail below.

What are the reagents and what are their differences

All chemistry can be roughly divided into four main categories. Each has its own functions, but at the same time only all work together fully.

pH Balancers

These reagents are needed to reduce or increase the acid-base balance in order to maintain it in the range of 7.2–7.6 units. With a deviation, the effectiveness of disinfection decreases significantly. Due to the excess, the water becomes cloudy, plaque forms, and skin irritation appears. When lowered, irritation of the eyes and skin also occurs, as well as corrosion of metal parts.

Disinfectants

These are means for combating microorganisms and all “living creatures”. Most often they are based on chlorine, but there are also more expensive oxidizing agents with active oxygen, as well as folk compositions in the form of hydrogen peroxide, copper sulfate, "Whiteness".

Chlorine is the standard disinfectant for swimming pools worldwide and is perfectly safe when dosed. It happens quickly and slowly soluble. Contrary to popular belief, it has no smell. What is called "chlorine smell" is actually decay products, which, if the instructions are followed, are removed and do not harm in any way.

We recommend using disinfectants based on chlorine.

Algicides

Specialized bactericidal formulations that eliminate green algae, fungi, mold and prevent their formation. Depending on the concentration, they can be used for the so-called "shock", primary treatment of the pool, as well as for prevention throughout the season.

Coagulants and flocculants

Reagents to combat the smallest suspension, which makes the water cloudy - due to the microscopic size of the particles, they are simply not captured by filtration systems. Coagulants act on the charge of the elements, making them heavier and causing them to precipitate to the bottom, where they can be removed. vacuum cleaner almost without a trace. Flocculants, on the other hand, combine grains into flakes, which are easily and completely removed by the filter.

In addition, both types of preparations enhance the work of disinfectants, increasing the cleaning efficiency.

How to maintain water quality

The most important things to keep an eye on are pH and chlorine (or oxygen if using a disinfectant based on it). By regularly measuring and adjusting these indicators, you will easily achieve clean and crystal clear water.

pH level

Acid-base balance is the main criterion. For comfortable bathing and the effective operation of disinfectants, it should be neutral, that is, in the range from 7.2 to 7.6 units (ideally exactly 7.4). pH can change when rainwater enters the pool, algae develops, and simply during bathing of people. To adjust, special preparations are used, which are called: “pH minus” or “pH plus”.

Chlorine level

Chlorine in the pool is in two states - free (active), that is, not yet reacted with pollutants, and bound - already reacted and used. The sum of free and combined chlorine, in turn, is called total chlorine.

The concentration of free chlorine should be maintained within the range of 0.3–0.6 mg/l. A decrease will significantly reduce the effect of disinfection, and an increase will lead to irritation of the skin and mucous membranes. Combined chlorine must not exceed 0.2 mg/l.

The more correct name for combined chlorine is "chloramine", and it is he who has the very unpleasant odor. With timely maintenance of the pool, the smell is completely absent.

To reduce the concentration of free chlorine, you need to let the pool stand in the sun or replace some of the water with fresh water. To reduce combined chlorine, a shock dose of free chlorine should be added, which will quickly react and evaporate with chloramine.

How to measure water quality indicators

There are many ways to measure. The most accessible and simple, but inaccurate, are rapid tests in the form of strips that change color after immersion in water. Drip testers are not much different from the previous ones - the only difference is that the color of the water collected in the pool is compared with the reference scale, where the reagents from the kit are dripped.

Tablet testers with a beaker and a color scale are considered more convenient and accurate - into the collected water before each reagent tablets are added by measurement, after which the result is also compared with a scale for understanding concentration.

The most advanced are photometers - these electronic devices also need the addition of tablets reagents for measurement, but show the result immediately as a digital value and with an accuracy of 0.01. The main disadvantage is the high price.

2. Prepare everything you need

• Filter pump (if not already);
• net or skimmer;
• brush with pile;
• vacuum manual or robot vacuum cleaner;
• water tester or photometer;
• means for changing the pH;
• active disinfectant (shock);
• long-acting disinfectant;
• algicide;
• coagulant or flocculant;
• protective glasses;
• gloves.

3. Set up water circulation

Make sure that the pump has a capacity of ¼ or ⅕ of the capacity of the pool and runs at least 8, and preferably 10-12 hours a day. It is desirable that the entire volume of liquid completely pass through the filter two or three, or at least once a day.

It is convenient to run the filter at night on a timer, when electricity is cheaper and no one uses the pool.

Let's analyze all this using the example of a pool for 16 tons of water (16 m³). This would require a filtration system with a capacity of 4,000 l/h (16,000 / 4 = 4,000). Taking into account the fact that it pumps all the water in 4 hours (16,000 / 4,000 = 4), then the pump should work 8–12 hours a day (circulation will take place twice in 8 hours, and three times in 12).

Keep in mind that what hotter outdoors, the longer the device should be switched on - at the beginning and end of the season, you can reduce the operating time. Turbid water will be a sign of insufficient filtration.

What to buy

• Intex filter pump with cartridge 2,000 l/h, 2,802 rubles →
• Sand filter pump Intex 4,000 l / h with a timer, 14,451 rubles →
• Socket with Brennenstudel weekly timer, 1,164 rubles →

4. Remove debris from the surface

When commissioning a new pool, go directly to section 7.

If you don't have a skimmer installed yet, consider buying one. It will do most of the work, but you will only periodically shake the dirt out of it.

If a skimmer is not available, remove leaves, fluff and other debris from the surface with a pool net. Do this as daily as possible, or at least once a week.

Life hack: turn the nozzle of the supply nozzle at an angle to the wall of the pool so that the water flow swirls and all small debris immediately falls into the skimmer.

What to buy

• Net Kokido Classic 150 cm, 898 rubles →
• Skimmer Bestway for frame and inflatable pool, 1 665 rubles →

5. Clean the sides and bottom of the pool

Using a bristle brush, carefully clean all the walls of the pool, moving from top to bottom. If necessary, use special means against lime deposits and plaque. Completely clean sides should creak when you run your finger over them.

Clean the bottom with a vacuum cleaner. Connect it to a suction nozzle or skimmer with the hose fully submerged in water to release the air. Then slowly, so as not to raise the turbidity, move the brush over the surface, cleaning strip by strip.

In round pools, you can make things easier with this trick: walk in circles for a few minutes to swirl the water and create a whirlwind. Then all the garbage will gather in a pile in the middle, and you can easily remove it.

If you have a robot, completely submerge it with the hose in the water and connect it to the suction pipe or skimmer. Turn on the device, and it will do all the work for you - all that remains is to shake out the debris from the filter.

What to buy

• Brush for cleaning the pool Bestway, 1 469 rubles →
• Intex cleaning kit with brush and vacuum cleaner attachment, 1,598 rubles →
• Intex robot vacuum cleaner for cleaning the bottom of the pool, 7,530 rubles →
• Wireless robot vacuum cleaner Kokido Manga Plus, 38 509 rubles →

6. Normalize your pH

Measure your acid-base balance with a test. Usually, this is done by immersing it in water or pouring it into a beaker, and then adding drops or tablets and looking at the value in units. Here it is already better to check the instructions for your specific test.

If the result is between 7.2-7.6 pH, proceed to the next step. If not, then add the drug "pH minus" or "pH plus", measuring the amount according to the instructions. As a rule, freshly drawn water has a high level of acidity, and it needs to be lowered.

For example, there is a 16-cube pool, the pH of the water is 7.8. The instructions for chemistry say that to reduce by 0.1 units, you need to add 75 g per 1 m³ of liquid. In our case, this is 1.2 kg (16 × 75 = 1,200 g). To reduce the indicator to the ideal 7.4, that is, by 0.4 units, you will need 4.8 kg of the "pH minus" preparation.

After calculations, put on goggles and gloves, measure out the right amount, dissolve separately in a bucket of clean water, and then pour into the pool around the perimeter and turn on the circulation for 30 minutes.

If the pH is low, the dosage and procedure will usually remain the same, but "pH plus" should be used.

What to buy

• Strips for testing water Bestway 3 in 1, 612 rubles →
• Tablet water tester Lovibond 2 in 1, 1 358 rubles →
• Electronic photometer Lovibond Scuba 4 in 1, 18 865 rubles →
• pH regulator minus AstralPool 1.5 kg, 2,074 rubles →

7. Perform shock disinfection

When filling the pool for the first time and in case of heavy contamination during operation, a large dose of active disinfectant should be applied. This is also called "shock chlorination", "shock-chlorine", "shock sterilization". Such treatment will purify the water, destroy all bacteria and prevent their development.

Take the required amount of reagent, depending on the volume of the bowl according to the instructions, dissolve in a bucket of clean water and pour into the pool, evenly distributing it around the perimeter. Turn on the pump for 8-12 hours and do not swim during this time.

So, if the dosage is 20 g per 1 m³ of water, then for a 16-ton pool you will need 320 g (20 × 16 = 320).

What to buy

• Chlorine-based quick-acting disinfectant in tablets Aqua Doctor 1 kg, 1,237 rubles →

8. Shock treatment with an algaecide

8 hours after completion of shock disinfection new or a contaminated pool, bolster with an algaecide to kill algae and prevent their formation.

Following the instructions, dissolve the desired amount of concentrate in a bucket of water and pour into the pool around the perimeter. Run the filtration for 2-4 hours, you can not swim at this time.

For example, if the dosage is 20 ml per 1 m³, then for a 16-cc pool, 320 ml of reagent will be required (20 × 16 = 320).

What to buy

• Algicide Vommy non-foaming 1 kg, 505 rubles →
• Algicide AquaDoctor AC MIX 5 l, 814 rubles →

9. Add Slow Disinfectant

For regular preventive treatment, a long-acting disinfectant, the so-called "slow chlorine", should always be in the water. However, in addition to chlorine, these products also include a small amount of algicides and coagulants.

Just put such a tablet in a float dispenser or skimmer, and it will do its job. Start a new dose every 7-14 days as it dissolves. Keep in mind that the product will dissolve faster in the skimmer due to the flow of water.

What to buy

• Chlorine tablets for the pool "Longafor" 1 kg, 784 rubles →
• AquaDoctor slow-acting disinfectant 1 kg, 833 rubles →
• Disinfectant "Devon-Chlor" 1 kg, 910 rubles →

10. Add coagulant and flocculant

To improve the transparency of the water, add products with coagulants or flocculants that will help filter out suspended matter and small debris.

In the same way, dissolve the product in a bucket of clean water, observing the dosage, and pour it evenly over the pool. Start circulation for 2-4 hours, then let the water settle so that the impurities precipitate. Carefully collect them with a vacuum cleaner.

Be sure to check that the water has a normal pH, because the wrong level of acidity can also lead to cloudiness.

For example, let's take the same standard pool of 16 m³. If the instructions say to take 30 g of the product per 10 m³, then you will need about 50 g of the reagent (30 / 10 × 16 = 48).

What to buy

• Bestway coagulant for water purification in pools, 420 rubles →
• Coagulant AquDoctor in granules 5 kg, 1 240 rubles →
• Chemoform flocculant in 1 kg cartridges, 1,194 rubles →

11. Keep Clean

Once you achieve crystal clear water, follow the maintenance intervals to keep your pool in top condition at all times. To do this, just follow the plan.

1 per day

• Start circulation for 8-12 hours.
• Remove leaves and fluff from the surface with a net, and if you have a skimmer, clean its bin.

1-2 times a week

• Check the pH level and adjust it.
• Measure the free chlorine content and correct if necessary by adding an active disinfectant.
• Clean the walls and bottom of the pool with a brush and vacuum cleaner.

1 time per week

• Add a regular dose of active disinfectant.
• Renew the slow disinfectant tablets as they dissolve.
• Apply a regular dose of algicide for prevention.
• Use coagulants and flocculants.

1 time in two months

• Shock with an active disinfectant.
• Do the treatment with a loading dose of algaecide.