Introduction to a Swimming Pool

Are you new to owning a swimming pool or are unsure what goes into taking care of a pool? If the answer is yes, then you are in the right place. A swimming pool is a structure designed to hold water to enable swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built in the ground or built above ground. In-ground, pools are most commonly constructed from materials such as concrete, vinyl, or fiberglass. This can also be of a custom size and shape or built to a standard size. 

There are three main elements to maintaining clean water. 

1. Circulation
2. Filtration
3. Sanitization 

Circulation 

Diving into the first element, which is circulation. Circulation filters and cleans your water, it also works to disperse the chemicals and sanitizing agents throughout your pool. A stagnant pool can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria, algae, and other airborne hazards. This is why circulating your pool water is one of the biggest elements. The pump is the heart of the circulation system, it draws water from the main drain and the skimmer. While the skimmer pulls from the main surface about two feet from the weir door. Both the pump and skimmer have debris baskets to trap the debris before entering the filter. The baskets should be emptied frequently to maintain optimal pump and filtration. Full baskets will result in water overflow and an increase in energy costs. 

One of the best pumps on the market is Pentair's IntelliFlo3 Variable Speed and Flow (VSF). The IntelliFlo3 VSF 3HP with I/O board (011076) sets a new bar for performance with built-in sensorless flow control for effortless optimum flow and aids in keeping the pool crystal clear and inviting, no matter what it requires. 

Check out all the pumps we have to offer: Pumps 

Filtration 

The second main element is filtration, which is performed to secure healthy surroundings, and high sanitation standards, and prevent transmission of infectious waterborne viruses. There are three main types of filters: cartridge, sand, and D.E. The filter is installed after the pump and before the pool heater. The filter's job is to trap and filter the debris so only clean water is returned to the pool. The filtered water is returned to the pool by multiple return jets installed on the side of pool walls, the jets maximize circulation and help disperse chemicals. 

Pentair Clean & Clear Plus Cartridge Pool Filters have a corrosion-resistant, injection-molded, fiberglass-reinforced, polypropylene filter tank featuring superior strength and reliability. This 520 Clean and Clear Plus cartridge filter (EC160332) uses four nonwoven polyester cartridges which means there is no need for backwashing like the sand and D.E. filters. 

Check out all the filters we have to offer: Filters 

Sanitation 

The last main element is sanitation. Swimming pool sanitation is the process of ensuring healthy conditions in swimming pools. Proper sanitation is needed to maintain the visual clarity of water and to prevent the transmission of infectious waterborne diseases. There are various ways to sanitize your pool, one of the most common ways is adding chlorine. There are also saltwater chlorinators, UV pool systems, pool ozone systems, and bromine. Selecting the right sanitizer depends on several factors, including the type of pool you own and how often it is used. Sanitation water needs to be cycled through the filtration system a minimum of one full turn per day. 

The Pentair IntelliChlor (EC-520555) can safely, effectively, and automatically use common table salt that you would normally eat food with, to produce all the chlorine a pool would need. It can provide sanitation performance the same as harsh chlorine additives without any drawbacks. This will eliminate the need to buy, handle, and or store chemicals.

Check out what sanitizers we have to offer: Sanitizers

To determine how long a pump should run to achieve a full tune you will need to know a couple of things and do some math. First, you will need to know your volume of water and the gallons of water per minute (GPM). Once that is figured out, you will now need to multiply the GPM by 60 to get the gallons per hour. Next, you will divide that number by your volume of water and that will give you the hours of run time. Please see the example below. 

How long should the pump run to achieve a full turn:  

1. Volume of water 
2. Gallons of water per minute 

15,000 gallons of water (volume of water), 35 GPM (Gallons Per Minute) 

35 GPM x  60 minutes = 2,100 gallons per hour 

15,000 gallons of water  / 2,100 gallons per hour = 7 hours of run time 

In conclusion, a pool can be really simple once you figure out the main elements. Circulation is what helps keep the water constantly moving and to prevent your water from becoming infested with bacteria and other airborne hazards. Filtration prevents the tiny particles of debris to return in the water. Sanitization is the one step you do not want to ignore. This is what keeps the pool water clear and prevents waterborne diseases. 

If you have any questions about your pool system or are looking for certain products please contact us and we will help you to the best of our ability. 

Check out our YouTube channel to help you see what is in your boxes, how to install, and an overview of the products we sell.