How are Swimming Pools Cleaned? The Complete Process Explained

Swimming pools have been around for over 1000 years ago in the form of bathhouses. Most swimming pools today use chemicals instead of natural ways to clean swimming pools such as sunlight and plants. Pools need constant care and maintenance otherwise they can become green and cloudy due to algae growth.

There are 3 ways swimming pools are cleaned.

1) By passing water through them

2) With chemicals

3) Filters

How are Swimming Pools cleaned with Water?

The swimming pool is filled with fresh water and drained out, which means all the dirty or contaminated water is taken out and replaced with a clean one.

After the swimming pool has been drained, it is either refilled naturally by rainwater or by machine if no rain happens to come; this depends on the geographical location of the swimming pool.

To make sure there is enough chlorine in the swimming pool, people can add chlorine tablets directly into the swimming pool or wait until they dissolve naturally on their own, this process may take up to eight hours depending on the amount of chlorine needed in the swimming pool.

Then the swimming pool is ready again for swimming.

How are Swimming Pools cleaned with Chemicals?

Chemicals are added that kill germs, algae, and bacteria to the swimming pool; chlorine is the most common chemical used to clean swimming pools.

Chemicals can be put in various ways: directly into the swimming pool by using an automatic floater or by adding it manually through a skimmer when water circulates around the swimming pool or backwash line when dirty water comes out of the filter.

The last way is putting chlorine tablets into a skimmer basket which puts them in the water automatically at regular intervals. Other chemicals like algaecide, clarifier, phosphate reducer and a sequestering agent will maintain swimming pools clean and clear.

Then the swimming pool is ready again for swimming.

How are Swimming Pools cleaned with Filters?

Filters used in swimming pools are sand filter and cartridge type of filtration system; these two systems can be added as part of swimming pool equipment or as separate items to the swimming pool.

Sand filters work by passing water through sand and trapping dirt particles inside the sand, it is recommended to use a sand filter because it is cheap and easy to maintain. Cartridge type of swimming pool filtration system works by trapping dirt particles inside the cartridge, which must be replaced often depending on the size of the swimming pool; cartridges can also trap some chemicals that are added to the swimming pool too.

Then the swimming pool is ready again for swimming.

How are Swimming Pools Drained?

A swimming pool needs to be drained when it needs maintenance; swimming pools are drained by pumping out water instead of draining it manually because they can take a long time to drain. Pumps used in swimming pools are usually electric pumps, but gas-powered pressure washers can also be used if electricity is not available which pumps around 90 gallons (340 litres) per minute. The swimming pool gets emptied within a few hours depending on its size. Some of the larger swimming pools will need more than one day to get completely drained.

These days swimming pool vacuums are getting popular because they take a little amount of time and little amount of energy to use, these machines suck up all the debris found in the swimming pool floor hence making the swimming pool sparkling clean.

How are Swimming Pools Refilled?

The swimming pool is refilled using either rainwater or tap water. Before the swimming pool is filled with new water, chlorine level and pH value must be checked to make sure the swimming pool is clean and safe for swimming.

If swimming pools need to be refilled fast, which means the time taken to refill swimming pools isn’t enough, it will need more chlorine because they can break down rapidly; another way of adding chlorine fast is by putting in shock treatment (chlorine tablet) directly into skimmer basket or floater as they dissolve naturally within few hours depending on the amount of chlorine needed in swimming pool.

How are Swimming Pools Tested again after being Cleaned?

After the swimming pool has been emptied and refilled, the swimming pool needs to be cleaned again before swimming.

A swimming pool can be tested using chlorine or pH test kit depending on what it is being tested, swimming pool should have a level of 1-3 ppm for chlorine and 7.2-7.8 for pH. The pH level of swimming pools is important because it determines how swimming pool water would feel.

How are Swimming Pools Drained Manually?

In swimming pools where there is no electricity to run pumps, swimming pools are drained manually which takes a lot of time and energy.

The swimming pool gets emptied by using buckets or a hose connected to a faucet.

Another way of draining the swimming pool manually is by using a siphon to pump out dirt and debris from the swimming pool.

Swimming pools that are drained manually need a lot of time to be emptied, they also need a lot of energy because swimming pools have to be moved around in order for water to drain out.

How are Swimming Pools drained automatically?

Automatic swimming pool filters work by trapping dirt particles inside filter cartridges which later on get replaced when full, these filters also trap some chemicals that are added to the swimming pool too which can later get filtered before getting back into the swimming pool.

These pools need less time to be refilled because they are smaller than manual swimming pools, automatic swimming pools use pumps that automatically drain water out of swimming pools which means the swimming pool doesn’t have to be moved around for it to empty its contents.