Maintaining a swimming pool requires regular attention to ensure cleanliness, safety, and optimal functionality. The level of care required for a commercial swimming pool, however, goes far beyond that of a residential pool due to its size, higher bather loads, frequency of use, amount of specialised equipment and health and safety standards. For commercial pools, this necessitates frequent inspections, cleaning, servicing, and upkeep of components to protect the safety and health of swimmers as well as the longevity of the facility itself. This is where professional swimming pool maintenance can make a significant difference.
Neglecting this responsibility can lead to significant consequences, including unhealthy and unsanitary swimming conditions, structural issues, increased energy costs, frequent breakdowns, costly repairs, and even legal repercussions.
In this post, we dive into the advantages of professional commercial swimming pool maintenance and why it is highly recommended for the safety of the pool and its users, its employees and any other people on the premises.
Technical Expertise and Experience
Although automated filtration and chemical dosing systems can save time and remove the hassle of manual adjustments, they don’t eliminate the need for human oversight and intervention. And while general pool maintenance can be conducted by pool staff with a reasonable understanding of cleaning and inspecting a pool and its equipment, professional pool maintenance brings a level of expertise that extends well beyond this routine pool care.
Experienced pool engineers or pool technicians possess the expertise necessary to handle all aspects of pool maintenance. Their knowledge of water chemistry, filtration systems, equipment maintenance and repair surpass what most pool operators and pool staff know. They are trained and certified in these areas and understand how these various elements interact. And they can identify and address issues promptly to ensure proper upkeep.
Balanced Water Chemistry
Water quality is critical to both the safety and usability of a swimming pool. Maintaining the chemical balance of pool water is essential to ensure both. Key parameters to monitor and adjust include pH, total alkalinity, chlorine and calcium hardness. Regular testing and adjustments are necessary to keep these levels within the optimal ranges. Skilled professionals understand the intricacies involved in water chemistry.
The consequences of unbalanced pool water can be severe. Without it, the water may contain potentially hazardous high chlorine levels or become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, algae, and other microorganisms that can make swimming not only unpleasant but pose a risk to the health of those who use it. Improper chemical balance can also compromise pool equipment such as filters or the pump system and their functionality.
Proper Filtration and Circulation
In much the same way a human body’s kidneys filter and clean impurities from the blood, a swimming pool filtration system functions in a continuous cycle filtering water to trap and remove debris, impurities and contaminants from the pool. Proper filtration is vital to ensure a clean and healthy swimming environment. This process typically involves several components including overflow channels or skimmers, main drains, pumps, filter media, return lines and return jets, but which can all be monitored and inspected by professional pool maintenance technicians who can spot signs of wear or malfunction and perform necessary repairs.
Pool circulation is the lifeblood of your swimming pool with a pump at the heart of its circulation system drawing water from the pool, circulating it through the filtration system and back into the pool. This continuous and consistent movement of the water is vital for maintaining water quality ensuring even distribution of chemicals, preventing stagnation spots where bacteria and algae can grow, and reducing debris build-up. Maintaining a swimming pool pump is crucial to its efficient operation. While regular maintenance tasks can be effective for minor issues, more complex problems require professional expertise. A professional can perform a comprehensive inspection, check for any hidden issues and undertake any complex pool pump repairs such as motor failure or other electrical issues.
Optimal Temperature and Humidity Levels
While good water quality and clarity is the result of proper filtration, circulation, and water chemistry, maintaining correct temperature and humidity levels is crucial for swimming pool comfort, safety, and structural integrity. This is especially so for in indoor pools which are naturally prone to high humidity levels due to constant water evaporation. When the temperature or humidity are not properly regulated it can lead to condensation, mould growth and corrosion. Moreover, excessively humid air creates an uncomfortable and unhealthy environment for pool users, making them more likely to avoid the pool.
Swimming pools, especially indoor ones, commonly install ventilation systems at the heart of which lies an air handling unit. Designed to manage humidity, temperature and air quality, air handling units remove excess moisture from the air, minimise the presence of chloramines and other harmful particles in the atmosphere and keep indoor facilities ventilated with fresh, dry and clean air.
Heat recovery systems which use the heat from the space to warm up the incoming fresh air, can also be installed, while heat exchangers are typically used in pools to control water temperature by transferring heat energy from a hot water source to the cooler pool water, without the two fluids ever coming in direct contact with each other. These systems work together to maintain a comfortable and healthy environment for both the surrounding pool area and the pool water, and professional pool maintenance will ensure the proper functioning and maximum performance of these mechanisms.
Costly Repair Prevention and Cost Savings in the Long Run
Regular servicing and professional maintenance will ensure equipment functions correctly, safely and reliably, ultimately contributing to operational efficiency and cost savings. It can also prolong the life of a pool and its equipment, making it a cost-effective practice in the long run. Regular inspections can catch potential problems early helping prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. And the cost of regular maintenance is often less than the cost of major repairs or equipment replacement that can occur due to neglect or improper maintenance practices.
Compliance With Health and Safety
Although there are no swimming pool specific health and safety laws in the UK, the industry generally follows the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group Code of Practice, a detailed plan provided to pool and spa operators to ensure their water meets quality standards that provide a healthy experience for swimmers and bathers.
Pool Repairs and Renovations Addressed
As well as keeping an eye out for any worn-out parts of your pool system, periodically inspecting a pool for any signs of damage or defects such as cracks, leaks, missing tiles or grouting, torn liners and broken pool lights will help identify any issues early on. This enables remedial action to be taken where necessary to safeguard the structure and restore the pool to its proper working condition.
Customised Maintenance Plans
Professional pool maintenance plans offer tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of individual pools, schedules, and budgets.
Peace of Mind and Enhanced Guest Satisfaction
A clean, safe and well-maintained pool not only enhances its aesthetic appeal with a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere but also safeguards the health and safety of its users. This can lead to increased guest satisfaction, positive reviews, and repeat visits. And by providing a positive pool experience, operators can differentiate themselves from competitors and build a strong reputation.
Topline Professional Pool Maintenance Services
Topline Pools and Wellness provide professional and dependable UK-wide commercial and domestic swimming pool maintenance services, repairs and upgrades, taking care of all maintenance needs to keep pool installations in pristine condition and achieving exceptional water quality and peak operational efficiency. We are also one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of swimming pool automatic chemical dosing systems. And our TEC range of dosing units are found in leisure facilities, health clubs, hotels and homes across the country, ensuring both the safety and usability of their swimming pools and spa pools. Contact us to learn more about our UK-wide commercial swimming pool maintenance services.
