| 1. Always
maintain your swimming pool water at the proper
levels of: |
|
| a) PH (between 7.2 and 7.6) |
| b) Total Alkalinity (about 100 ppm) |
| c) Calcium hardness (100 ppm minimum) |
| d) Free chlorine residual (between
1.0 and 1.5 ppm) |
|
Never let the water in your pool
turn green. This signals the growth of algae and
bacteria. These organisms can cause staining of
your vinyl liner.
|
| 2.
Don't let the PH of the water drop below 7.0.
A low PH level can cause the liner to form wrinkles.
For this reason, you should routinely stabilize
your pool water with cyanuric acid and maintain
the level of this acid at a minimum of 25 ppm.
|
| 3.
You should avoid using hydrochloric (muriatic)
acid to adjust the PH. You may use this acid in
extreme cases for total alkalinity reduction but
only if it is recommended by your pool dealer.
This acid can attack the printed pattern on your
vinyl liner and may make the liner more susceptible
to wear from abrasion.
|
| 4.
You should test your pool water for the presence
of dissolved metals. Dissolved metals can cause
staining of the walls and bottom of your pool
liner. They may also combine with calcium in hard
water to form discolored deposits on the liner.
Follow your dealer's recommendation concerning
the use of special chelating materials to deactivate
dissolved metals.
|
| 5.
Don't mix chemicals and add them to the pool water
at the same time. Combinations of chemicals that
alone would have no affect on your liner can cause
bleaching of the color or pattern if you allow
the concentration of chemicals to remain high
near the pool liner walls or bottom. Always allow
one chemical to mix thoroughly with the pool water
by using the water circulation system before adding
a second chemical.
|
| 6.
Don't close your pool for the season without letting
the water circulate for several hours after the
final addition of chemicals. Even liquid chlorine
can become concentrated in the water at the deep
end of your pool and this can cause bleaching
of the liner's color.
|
| 7.
Always use a proper size winter pool cover that
is tightly sealed around the entire edge of the
pool to prevent the accumulation of debris such
as insects, worms, or leaves and other plant materials
while the pool is closed. Decaying organic matter
can cause staining and/or bleaching of your vinyl
liner. A solid vinyl pool cover is preferable
to a mesh cover. Solid covers will do more to
discourage the growth of algae and bacteria which
will attack the inks used in the pattern of your
liner. Don't use cinder blocks or other sharp
edged heavy materials to seal the pool cover.
Water accumulation on the cover will drag these
objects in the pool causing cuts or tears in the
liner.
|
| 8.
Don't use abrasive cleaners or cleaning tools
such as scouring powder, steel wool pads or sharp
bristled brushes on your vinyl liner. Use only
a recommended cleaner to remove soil which may
accumulate at the water line or to clean any other
soiled areas.
|
9. And last but not
least, NEVER LEAVE your vinyl lined pool EMPTY.
|
