Weekly Pool Maintenance

Mr. Pool
1810 E. Kansas Ave.
Garden City, KS 67846
(620)-275-2252

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Completely backwash filter (How to Backwash a Sand Filter).
Test water for Chlorine, pH and Alkalinity.
Adjust pH and Alkalinity as needed.
Add Chlorine to pool (see Daily Pool Operation).
Vacuum pool floor and walls if needed.
Shock pool and add Algaecide.
Check and adjust water level as needed. Water should be half way up the skimmers.

Daily Pool Operation

Pool Filter should run at least 12 hours per day. Set your pool timer or remember to run the pool manually if you don’t have a timer. If you are not running your pool 24 hours per day, it is best to have it running during the daylight hours (instead of night).

Make sure your skimmer baskets are empty and clear of leaves or other debris.

Chlorine must be added to the pool daily in one of the following ways:

	Best method is to place 3 Inch Slow Dissolving Stabilized Chlorine Tablets in the skimmers once per week (4-6 tablets are normal for 16x32 pool).
	Next best method is to use an Automatic Chlorinator. Make sure the unit is full and that the dial is set to a level that gives you a good daily chlorine reading depending on how long you run your system.
	Next best method is to use a Chlorine Floater with Slow Dissolving Chlorine Tabs inside it. Keep Floater in pool at all times and refill it weekly or as needed.
	Next best method is to manually add either Granular Chlorine or Quick Chlorine Tabs to pool skimmer every day. Don’t forget !!!

How to Backwash a Sand Filter
(always turn multiport valve clockwise)

	Turn pump off.
	Turn multiport valve to backwash position.
	Open backwash gate valve ( if any ).
	Turn pump on and run it for 2 minutes.
	Turn pump off.
	Turn multiport to rinse position.
	Turn pump on and run it for 30 to 60 seconds.
	Turn pump off.
	Turn multiport valve to filter position.
	Close backwash gate valve (if any) & turn pump on.
	Check pool water level after backwashing - add more water if necessary !

Vacuuming Procedures

Vacuum Pool as necessary: When vacuuming, your pool filters multi-port valve, (mpv.), should be set to the filter/vacuum to pool position for ordinary cleaning. If the pool has a large amount of fine debris, such as when vacuuming a freshly opened pool that had a mesh safety winter cover, set the mpv. to the drain/vacuum to waste position. This allows you to quickly remove fine debris without having to constantly backwash the filter; you must realize that when the mpv. is set in the drain/vacuum to waste position you have a finite amount of time to vacuum before the water level falls too low to continue vacuuming, at which point you need to add more water to the pool before continuing.

a.) close all suction lines, (main drain, second skimmer, deep water outlet, etc.), except for the skimmer you will use to vacuum.

b.) attach vacuum head to vacuum pole, attach swiveling end of vacuum hose to vacuum head, connect other end of vacuum hose to vacuum plate.

c.) Place the vacuum head into the pool and fill the vacuum hose with water by either holding the hose end with vacuum plate over a return inlet or by feeding the vacuum hose down into the pool starting with the vacuum head until you get to the vacuum plate, (you should see water come up through the hose if done properly).

d.) In a swift motion take the end of the hose with the vacuum plate on and place it down into the skimmer through the lid opening; be sure to position the vacuum plate so that it is centered over the skimmer basket. Never vacuum the pool without the skimmer basket in place; it is necessary to catch leaves and other large debris to avoid a potential plugged circulation line.

e.) Begin vacuuming the pool in a smooth steady motion. Begin in the shallowest portion of the pool and work methodically towards the deepest area. If during the vacuuming process the vacuum rate begins to slow, (i.e. you are having trouble picking up debris), this is a sign that the filter may be getting plugged. Check the filter pressure and if necessary clean the filter; otherwise look for an obstruction in the vacuum head, hose, skimmer basket, or pump trap basket and remove it. Do not lift the vacuum head out of the water while vacuuming as this will allow air to be drawn into the pool pump causing it to lose its prime.

f.) When finished, turn off the pool pump, remove vacuum hose and plate from the skimmer, empty skimmer basket and pump trap basket if necessary, backwash or clean filter if necessary, otherwise turn pump back on leaving the mpv. set in the filter/vacuum to pool position.