A fiberglass pool is one of the most luxurious things to have and when the heat of summer hits, can be the envy of your neighborhood. However, maintaining this luxury can be burdensome just because you don't know how to care for a fiberglass pool.
Fiberglass is one of the tops of the line in swimming pools and will provide you and your family with countless hours of pool fun.
Fiberglass swimming pools come in different sizes and shapes that you can install in a special hole that's carved into your backyard or lawn. They are installed into the ground together with hard concrete that keeps everything in place, which makes them easier to clean and maintain. In comparison to other pool kinds, fiberglass pools have a non-porous gel-coat surface that requires less regular maintenance. Cleaning and maintaining proper water chemistry, surfaces, and water levels are all part of basic fiberglass pool maintenance.
How to Maintain a Fiberglass Pool?
First thing first before engaging in any activity in a fiberglass pool, water chemistry maintenance must be considered.
Though, a fiberglass pool has an inert surface, which makes it require less water chemistry modifications. The most critical aspect of fiberglass pool maintenance, though, is testing and maintaining your water. Maintain optimum water chemistry to assure bather safety and equipment longevity by:
Tips on Cleaning a Fiberglass Pool
Surface Maintenance
Cleaning the surface of the pool is crucial. Many pools develop a dirt ring around the pool wall, which is mainly caused by body oils, suntan lotions, and some other contaminants. This ring can be easily removed from fiberglass surfaces with a sponge or soft rag and a non-abrasive cleaner.
Avoid using harsh cleaners, metal scrapers or brushes, steel wool, or other abrasive products to avoid scratching or permanently ruining the gel coat. If you scratch the surface, the scratches are usually minor and may be polished out. Over time, the surface may grow dull, especially if it is not well maintained. Professional pool cleaners utilize specialized buffing equipment to rejuvenate surfaces, which should only be done every 15 to 20 years. Hairline cracks may also appear, which can be repaired with an epoxy filler or a reapplication of gel-coating.
Maintaining Water Level
Keep the water level in your pool at the center of the skimmer plate for best results. If your water level falls too low, your pump may lose prime and suffer damage. Alternatively, too much water lowers the efficacy of your skimmer. Never drain your fiberglass pool without the help of a professional. When drained without sufficient precautions, most fiberglass pools can be damaged by ground pressure. Buckling, bulging, or cracking in the walls or floor are examples of this.
Always remember that; testing, cleaning, and maintaining your water is a crucial part of fiberglass pool care.
A fiberglass pool does not need a liner like a regular swimming pool, because it comes with a sprayed special coating on its shell. Fiberglass swimming pools come in assorted colors, shapes, and sizes, where there are several reasons why someone would want to choose a fiberglass pool; the first one is because of its low maintenance cost. Aside from the fact that you will not need to replace any liner, you will also not need to spend too much on chemicals for cleaning.
Avoid using harmful cleaners and tools, as they can cause huge damage to the coating of your fiberglass swimming pool.
Conclusion
Maintaining the fiberglass swimming pools is also very less hectic. You do not have much to bother while maintaining the fiberglass swimming pools. (Related: What Are The Different Types Of Inground Pools And How Much Do They Cost?) However, some care is required by the fiberglass pools, so that they do not get damaged. If you properly maintain your fiberglass pools, then no need for larger repairs would ever arise. The fiberglass pools are dissimilar to other pools, so you must keep them crammed with water so that no damage would take place in its structure. Else, there would be problems like buckling and cracking. If there is no proper drainage, then ground pressure would occur and damage your fiberglass pool.
Lastly, just like any other type of pool choice out there, there are more advantages than disadvantages to owning a fiberglass swimming pool, one big disadvantage is that water must always remain in the pool. If it needs draining and is not done correctly it could cause the structure to crack or buckle because of the pressure from the ground. If it needs draining you should contact the pool installer or professional to do it or get the directions on how to correctly do it yourself.