Owning a home with a swimming pool is sure to make you popular come summer, but with the prestige comes a little maintenance. The average homeowner is capable of performing some pool maintenance projects on his or her own; other projects, however, are best left to a professional. The below steps are what a swimming pool maintenance contractor would do.If you have a pool, pool maintenance is an absolute requirement. Neglected pools are quick to become what’s known as “frog ponds” — pools fraught with algae buildup, mosquito nests, and other health and aesthetic issues. Fortunately, proper pool maintenance is relatively easy when you keep a regular schedule.If you can't maintain your pool, hire a pool maintenance service. Pool services will handle everything from regular treatments to closing and opening your pool for the seasons. Most pool maintenance services cost about $75 to $100 per hour. Some services may cost extra.The majority of pool maintenance projects can be completed DIY.

All it takes is the right materials and the ability to follow simple written directions.Maintaining your pool yourself will take less than two hours if so long as you do it regularly. Routine maintenance not only keeps your pool clean for use, but it also allows you to spot problems early on — before they become big, costly repairs. Spending a few dollars in treatment chemicals, for example, will prevent you from having to a hire a professional to clean a “frog pond” pool to the tune of $55 to $124 an hour.las vegas pool parties 2013 augustContact a Professional Pool ServiceNo matter how well you maintain your pool, it’s going to need repairs from time to time. top carpet cleaners in atlanta gaWhen this happens, it’s best to call a professional. steam cleaners for carpets hire

Leaving pool repairs up to professionals helps keep simple repairs from snowballing into major catastrophes.The pool component most commonly in need of repair is the pump motor. Apart from the cover, the pump affects every aspect of your pool. It is the system with the most moving parts and is thus the most prone to failure. When the pump motor fails, water can’t circulate, heat or filter. Check your pump motor regularly and address problems as early as possible. The cost to repair a pump depends on what has failed. Replacing the pump motor altogether can run from $185 for a .75hp motor to $350 for a 2.5hp motor.If you maintain your filter, you probably won’t have to worry much about replacing the cartridges. But if your filter requires increasingly frequent cleaning, it’s probably trapping oils that will be difficult to remove. A properly sized cartridge should go three to five weeks before needing a cleaning. A new cartridge costs between $13 and $75, depending on its size.Sand filters are equipped with a pressure gauge.

If the pressure in your pool gets too high, your filter isn’t working properly. And if the pressure is too great, it can cause a catastrophic failure and can cause the tank to rupture. If the pressure is fine but your pool requires increasingly frequent cleaning, you may need to replace the sand in the filter. New sand particles are particularly rough, which helps them trap particles. Over time, the water can wear them smooth and reduce their efficiency. Sand costs about $12 a bag. Replacing a sand filter system costs from $150 to over $500.A diatomaceous earth (DE) filter may fail similarly to a sand filter. Further, failing DE filters can pump DE powder back into your pool. In this case, a professional can tell you whether you need to replace an o-ring or address a failing valve. Stainless steel tanks can also spring pinhole leaks over time. When this happens, the tank should be replaced (any patches will be temporary). Replacing a DE filter system costs around $600 to $700.Determining whether you have a leak is relatively easy when compared to actually fixing a leak.

A pool repair professional can help you determine whether the leak starts at the filter or in the pool itself. You can patch a vinyl liner for as little as $20.00 with a DIY patch kit, or you can hire a professional to do the job for around $200. A fiberglass liner should be repaired by a professional. This typically costs around $300. Concrete or gunite pools usually need to be drained and sanded to be properly repaired. This can cost from $800 to $1,550.As water courses through the heating tubes and back out into your pool, minerals build up in tubes and create blockages. Also, insects crawl in and around the system and can affect the functions of the various smaller systems of your heater. The average cost to repair a pool heater is around $394. However, left unattended, a pool heater repair can easily climb to $1,200. We do not recommend that you attempt to repair a pool heater on your own.If you need professional help, contact a swimming pool pro.Find a Local Pool Maintenance ServiceMany people welcome a swimming pool despite the associated routine maintenance costs.

With regular cleaning and maintenance, a pool is a great recreation feature that will provide years of enjoyment.Refer a Pro who does this service and receive an Amazon Gift Card!Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe's reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted.Swimming pool cleaner poisoning Swimming pool cleaner poisoning occurs when someone swallows this type of cleaner, touches it, or breathes in its fumes. These cleaners contain chlorine and acids. Chlorine is more likely than the acids to cause serious poisoning.This article is for information only. Do NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.The harmful substances in swimming pool cleaner are:BromineCalcium chlorideCalcium hypochloriteChelated copperChlorineSoda ashSodium bicarbonateVarious mild acidsVarious swimming pool cleaners contain these substances.

Below are symptoms of swimming pool cleaner poisoning in different parts of the body.EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROATLoss of visionSevere pain in the throatSevere pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongueSTOMACH AND INTESTINESBlood in the stoolBurns of the food pipe (esophagus)Severe abdominal painNauseaVomiting (may contain blood)HEART AND BLOODCollapseLow blood pressure that develops rapidlyToo much or too little acid in the blood -- leads to organ damageLUNGS AND AIRWAYSBreathing difficulty (from breathing in the substance)Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty)SKINBurnHoles in the skin or tissues under the skinIrritationGet medical help right away. Do NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. If the cleaner is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.If the person swallowed the cleaner, give them water or milk right away, if a provider tells you to do so. Do NOT give anything to drink if the person has symptoms that make it hard to swallow.

These include vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness. If the person breathed in fumes of the cleaner, move them to fresh air right away.Have this information ready:Person's age, weight, and conditionName of the product (and ingredients, if known)Time it was swallowedAmount swallowedYour local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

Symptoms will be treated.The person may receive:Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs, and breathing machine (ventilator)Bronchoscopy: camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungsChest x-rayEKG (electrocardiogram), or heart tracingEndoscopy: camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomachFluids through a vein (by IV)Surgery to remove burned skinTube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several daysHow well someone does depends on how severe their poisoning is and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery. High doses of chlorine and swimming pool cleaning acids can be very poisonous. Serious damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach is possible. The outcome will depend on the extent of this damage.Opening a large bucket of chlorine tablets can expose you to a powerful chlorine gas that can be very poisonous.

Always open the container outdoors. Keep your face as far away from the open container as possible.Kleinschmidt K, Schwarz E. Toxic inhalants. In: Vincent J-L, Abraham E, Moore FA, Kochanek PM, Fink MP, eds. Textbook of Critical Care. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 187.Nelson LS, Hoffman RS. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 159.Wax PM, Yarema M. Corrosives. In: Shannon MW, Borron SW, Burns MJ, eds. Haddad and Winchester's Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; General approach to the poisoned patient. In: Adams JG, ed. Emergency Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Attending Physician at FDR Medical Services/Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Buffalo, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.