6 Common Pool Repairs You Can DIY
Having a pool is fun since it offers you a summer haven. It’s where you bask in the sun, cool off when it’s hot, hang around with friends and family when hosting BBQs, as well as where you train your children to swim. However, owning a swimming pool comes with its share of work in maintenance. Occasional tear and wear can damage the pool shell, hence needing patching. Like cars, swimming pools have parts that only last for a while, necessitating their repair. Some DIY pool repairs can be done with ease, while others require professional assistance. Patching up requires a pool patch kit to perform these repairs.
Among these swimming pool repairs, here are some DIY pool repairs that you can do yourself:
1. Concrete Or Gunite Cracks
More minor cracks can be an easy task to repair. However, it can get tricky as the cracks get more extensive since it requires you to resurface the pool. All you need is a pair of swimming goggles and a screwdriver. Your job would be to widen the cracks using the screwdriver to eliminate debris, then cover them using pool putty. Fixing more significant cracks requires experience as you’ll need to drain the pool then use a grinder and elbow grease. Unless you know about operating a drill, it would be better to call in a professional for this task.
2. Pool Light Failure
Pool lights are crucial in the illumination of the pool while hanging out or even maintaining the swimming pool. Lights that are not turning on can be replaced in minutes with the correct information. Also, getting a floating light swan can be a great option. You can check the circuit breaker and the GFCI outlet and reset if need be. Replacing the power relay can also be done if the light is tied to a computer system. If the bulb is old or malfunctioning, you can visit various online sites to learn how to replace a pool light.
3. Grout
Soft water can dissolve calcium in the grouting. This is common in tiled pools as they lose grout with time. You need to identify the tiles that need re-grouting between them, then cut the grout with a grout saw. A grout scraper is then used to remove the remaining grout. Mix equal portions of water and vinegar, then wash that area that requires re-grouting and vacuum the debris. Finally, use a waterproof epoxy grout made explicitly for swimming pools to fill the joints between tiles. A swimming pool sealant is used to seal it after it dries.
4. Cloudy Water
Over time, your pool water might look cloudy or muddy. This can be due to factors such as pool algae, trees, your filter system, or pool chemicals. You can try several methods to remove the cloudy effect in pool water. A pool water clarifier assembles the small particles into larger masses that can get sucked up as your filter the water. Swimming or using a pool brush to stir the water would also move the particles settling at the bottom to the top, and turning bottom drains on would get you similar results. Using a flocculant can be a quick fix. Flocculant chemicals work by gathering the particles that cloud your water to the bottom, where you can easily vacuum them up with a pool pump.
5. Pump Related Problems
The pump can bring about issues when it starts letting the air into the system, thereby losing power to move water. Such problems can cause a pump to overheat and burn. You can fix leakage in a pump by removing the O-ring, cleaning it, then reseating it. Leakages can as well be due to not securing the pump lid. The pressure side could be closed if the pump motor becomes overly loud. Checking for valves and their proper settings could help fix this issue. If these factors do not assist in restoring your pump, then it would be better to call in a professional to check it out.
6. Filter Leakage
Fixing a leak in your filter would require you to try tightening the air relief valve or even replacing it. If this fix fails to work, calling in a professional would be better since the O-ring could be damaged, or there might be a complex leak in the plumbing that requires repairing.
The Conclusion to DIY Pool Repairs
Owning a swimming pool can be fun. However, without proper maintenance, your swimming pool might end up being worn out and malfunctioning. Repairing it requires experience. However, you could try out the outlined DIY pool repairs if you experience the said issues. Bigger tasks, like replastering your concrete pool, may require some professional help though.
