Getting read for Spring – the swimming pool
Most swimming pool equipment built by reputable manufacturers comes with warranties so bear in mind that while you may often be able to troubleshoot minor repairs yourself, in some cases it's best to call in a pool professional. Some common pool problems you may encounter are:
The pool heater is not working - it's possible that one of the safety features has engaged to stop the heater operating. Extreme cold, cracking of filters etc can operate the trip that stops the heater. Call a pool professional to diagnose the problem.
The pool cover isn't working or has torn - anything mechanical, such as an automatic pool cover, occasionally needs maintenance, and when you put it on the pool for winter you should make sure you’ve oiled operating areas. If your pool cover isn't working, perhaps a safety feature on the motor has engaged, so service the pump before looking for other problems. Smaller pool cover rips can usually be fixed fairly easily. Check with your manual to see which is the best way to make repairs – often you’ll have received a patch kit with the cover, or you can use a bicycle repair kit to patch small areas. You may need to replace the cover, however, if the rip is larger.
The pool filtration system is not working properly - if the pool filtration system is not working you have a serious problem as this can lead to organisms developing in the water that threaten the health of swimmers. Most often this is caused a chemical imbalance in the water, so check the chemical levels.
The pool surface is flaking off or cracking - smaller pool surface cracks due to impact can be patched if you’re willing to empty the pool. A structural crack, however, signals a more serious problem. If this is the case, patching the crack will do nothing because it will crack again.
Swimming pool photograph by Tjeerd, used under a creative commons attribution licence
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