Low Water = Big Problems

Low water levels in the pool can lead to many frustrating and potentially expensive problems, including cloudy water and damaged equipment. In most pools, a loss of only a few inches can lead to disaster. All the chemicals in the world and the best expert pool care is of little value if the pool water is not effectively being filtered and circulated. The correct water level is usually at half of your tile line or skimmer height.

Q: How often should water be added to the pool?

Consider the following factors…

Heavy Usage: Planning a pool party? Got Kids? Remember “cannonball” contests and splashing people on the deck who are dry? It’s estimated that every time a teenager gets in and out of the pool you lose 1 gallon of water. If your dog is a swimmer, then you may be surprised at how much water can be lost in a single afternoon. Ironically it’s during these times that you may want to increase filtering and circulation! Talk to your service tech to see if it’s possible to shut off your skimmer drains to prevent them from sucking air, or you may have to turn off your filter pump during usage until the water level can be brought back to normal. It’s a good idea to add water before, during, and after any heavy usage.

Evaporation: vary from pool to pool based on several factors such as water temp, pool surface area, and wind exposure. During the summer months with temperatures over/around 90*, a simple rule of thumb is ¼ to 1 inch per week. In most cases an auto-fill can maintain the water level against the slow loss of evaporation. If your pool does not have an auto water leveler one can be purchased through us.

Leaks: in the equipment area are easy to spot and usually repairable during your normally scheduled service visit. in the pool shell or under the deck may not be as simple to diagnose and may require a specialist in leak detection. If you suspect that you have a leak, please give us a call for consultations on leak detection. 

Backwashing: Sand filters and D.E. filters require regular backwashing towork at peak efficiency. If your dirty water goes to waste, then you will always want to add water to the pool when you are finished cleaning.

A: Before it gets too low.