How Pool Equipment Works: This is a common question
The best part of a swimming pool is that every single one works the same way. It doesn’t matter what size, added features, or shape you choose; they all include a combination of a chemical treatment and filtration system to consistently keep your water healthy and clean.
However, many people wonder: how does a swimming pool work? As a pool owner, you may not fully understand the inner workings of the pool yet, and that’s normal.
There are two primary pool types: inground and above-ground. Above-ground pools have the cheapest construction possible and are easy to install. They’re often made using pre-fabricated kits, and a pool professional can set them up quickly.
Inground pools, on the other hand, are often made from vinyl liners, fiberglass, concrete, or gunite.
Though the design for each pool type is different, they all rely on a similar plumbing and filter system. Let’s learn more!
The Flow of Water in Your Pool System
The water in the swimming pool uses a circulation system to remove debris and dirt. During normal operation, the water flows through a filter system and through a main drain or two at the bottom. There are many skimmer baskets around the pool’s top, as well.
In your pool, that water gets pulled through the skimmer, the main drain, and the vacuum port. These skimmers collect the water by propelling it through so that the filtration system removes debris. Therefore, you have an evenly heated pool with a uniform chemical treatment.
Then, the water goes through the pump, filter, and heater to get returned back to your pool through its return nozzles. You might require another pump if you have jets and waterfalls. However, the filtered water makes the pool safe to use all year long.
Pump and Filter System
Your swimming pool requires a working pool filter if you want to keep it from producing harmful contaminants and algae. However, without the pool pump, the circulation system wouldn’t work, and the pool would be too dirty to use.
Pool Pump
The heart of your pool system is your pump. There is an electric motor on the pool pump that spins an impeller inside its housing. This drives the water from various drains.
When the water gets pulled through the skimmers, it will flow through the wet portion of the pump. That wet-end area includes the shaft seal, impeller, diffuser, strainer basket, strainer o-ring, and strainer lid. Then, the water passes through that pump, out of the discharge area, and into the basket-like pre-filter.
Pool Filter
During the pool filter operation, dirty water from your pool goes through the inlet pipe and to the water distribution head within the tank. Gravity will then pull the water down. Depending on your pool filters, diatomaceous earth, cartridges, or fine sand filter the water, catching debris and dirt.
The sand filter is a tank full of sand. It features slotted lateral pipes toward the bottom to move water evenly to catch leaves and other debris. Regardless of the filter you choose, the particles will trap even very fine particles and allow water to come through the other side. That sparkling clean filtered water comes back into the pool through your outlet pipe.
Generally, this system works well, but you may have to change the filters or clean them after a while. There should be pressure gauges at the outlet and inlet to help you see how much blockage the filter has at that time. If there’s more pressure on that inlet pipe, this indicates it has collected too much debris.
Balancing the Pool Water
While the filter system works to keep your pool water healthy and clean, that’s not the only thing you need. Water chemistry deals with the fine touches. You require a healthy chemical balance to keep the pool clean, but it also benefits the rest of the pool equipment.
If you have a pool that is filled with untreated water, it’s the perfect harvesting place for various disease-carrying microorganisms and pathogens. Likewise, a pool with the wrong chemical balance might damage other pool parts, cause grey or cloudy water, or irritate your eyes and skin. Overall, that leads to a rather unpleasant pool experience!
Chlorine
One of the most popular disinfectants is chlorine. When it’s added to the water, it will react with it to form other chemicals. In fact, chlorine is usually prepared in tablet, powder, or liquid form.
Pool experts often recommend that you add chlorine right after the filtering process with a chemical feeder. If you add the chlorine directly to your pool, it might become too concentrated in some areas, meaning it doesn’t get evenly distributed.
Whenever chlorine reacts with your water, it produces a notable chemical reaction called hypochlorous acid. Overall, there’s a problem with that; it’s very unstable. In fact, it can degrade once exposed to sunlight, but it can combine with other chemicals in the pool and form new compounds.
Therefore, chlorinators for pools often feature a stabilizing agent, which includes cyanuric acid. This will form a compound that’s more stable once it has reacted with the chlorine in the pool.
Heating the Pool
No one wants to swim in a dirty pool, but you also have to think about cold water. Pool heaters are becoming increasingly popular for those in Perth. In fact, a pool heater is a must-have for most pools because you can set it to a temperature you prefer.
There are various pool heater methods available to heat the pool, including solar covers, solar panels, heat pumps, and heaters. Most people use a combination of those to reach their maximum heat potential without using too much energy.
However, pool heaters are generally the most popular. You can find natural gas and propane options, which are great for heating pools quickly. Plus, they maintain a consistent water temperature throughout the day. Let’s learn more about them!
Pool Heater Pump
Your pool heat pumps are more efficient and environmentally friendly when you wish to heat a pool. In fact, it could save the pool owner a lot of money in regard to operating costs. However, the effectiveness of the heat pump depends on the water, which doesn’t happen with gas heaters.
This style operates by getting heat from the air around it and then increasing that heat with a compressor. Finally, it delivers the warmth to the water. When the temperature of the space is less than 7.2 degrees Celsius, the heat pump can’t function. Therefore, this option might not be best for you, depending on your area’s average temperature.
Gas Heater
Gas heaters will create a flame on the gas burner, which heats its metal heat exchanger. Once the pool water flows through its filter, it goes to the heater next. The gas will burn in a combustion chamber, which heats the water while it passes through. With time, that circulated pool water warms up and stays at a constant temperature.
Pool owners often like this style, but they might pair it with solar and other options. It all depends on how warm they want their water and the average temperature in their region.
Conclusion
The longevity of the pool equipment will vary based on your location, the water chemistry of the pool, and how often you run the systems. Generally, pool owners turn to an expert when they need assistance. Overall, 1poolcare can help those with swimming pools keep their systems running smoothly.