The Dangers Of Not Maintaining Your Swimming Pool

Pool maintenance can be a significant hassle for some homeowners, and as summer rolls around, you may be tempted to take some shortcuts when it comes to maintaining your swimming pool. However, there are some compelling reasons to keep your pool in top shape whether you are using it or not.

What Happens If You Leave Your Pool Unmaintained

Here is a look at what can happen if you do not maintain your pool properly.

Possibility Of Recreational Water Illnesses

One of the biggest dangers of a poorly maintained pool is the potential for illness. There are some types of infections that can be caused by germs that grow or survive in swimming pools.

Illnesses can be spread by swallowing water that contains germs, coming into contact with the water, or breathing in the aerosolized mist of water containing the germs, depending on the illness. It is not just your swimming pool where this can be an issue; these illnesses can also be spread in hot tubs, lakes, rivers, oceans and water parks.

These illnesses are typically caused when a person who is ill carries germs into a pool and contaminates the water. In some cases, it could be due to germs that naturally live in water growing to levels that lead to infections.

Some common recreational water illnesses include skin infections, diarrheal infections, swimmer’s ear, and respiratory infections from breathing in the mist of germs. Diarrheal illnesses are the most commonly reported recreational water illness type and are often caused by germs such as cryptosporidium, norovirus and E. coli.

Once a person who has a diarrheal illness gets into the water of your pool, they can contaminate the entire pool. Swallowing even a small amount of contaminated water can make a person ill.

Changes In Chlorine Levels And pH

These illnesses are far less likely to spread if your pool is maintained properly. Regularly checking your pool’s pH and chlorine levels is essential for preventing illness, particularly in the peak of summer when your pool is getting a lot of use.

Chlorine is effective because it can kill many types of germs when it is mixed with water, with the CDC recommending a free chlorine level of 1 ppm for swimming pools.

Keep in mind that other factors can affect how effective chlorine is. Sweat, dirt and human waste in pool water are broken down by chlorine. This has the effect of using up the chlorine, reducing its overall level in your pool. Meanwhile, sunlight and water features can also use up chlorine.

It is also important to monitor the swimming pool’s pH; a pH that is above 8 means chlorine will be much less effective when it comes to killing germs, while a pH below 7 can lead to pipe corrosion. The optimum range for a pool’s pH as recommended by the CDC is between 7.2 and 7.8.

Growth Of Algae & Other Vegetation

It is not just illnesses that you have to worry about if you neglect pool maintenance. Leaving a pool untreated for just two weeks is enough for it to start to turn green thanks to algae, which can quickly breed and provide the optimum environment for dangerous bacteria like E. coli to proliferate. In addition to making swimming unsafe, algae can cause serious damage to the finish of your pool.

It is also the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, who may lay their eggs in the water and proliferate, potentially transmitting mosquito-borne viruses to your family and those who live nearby. Pink and white slimy mold can also form and clog the filter of the pool, reducing its performance and leading to more bacteria.

Damage To The Pool

In addition, a failure to properly maintain your pool can damage the pool itself. Pool liners can crack if a proper water balance is not maintained over time, while a low pH can lead to higher acidity that results in etching, delaminating and pitting in fiberglass pools.

For example, when your pool’s chemistry is off and an object creates a minor scratch against the bottom of the pool, it can compromise the finish of the pool and lead to expensive damage. Any metal fixtures, such as screws and ladders, could corrode, and pool tiles can crack when subjected to the wrong balance of chemicals.

A damaged swimming pool can have a negative impact on your home’s resale value while continuing to pose a risk for those who use the yard. So as long as you have a pool, it is essential to maintain it whether you are using it or not

Swimming pools have many components and parts that must work together and be kept in good condition to keep the system healthy overall. Pumps, chlorine, filters and consistent pool service all play a role in ensuring that your pool is safe to use and remains in good condition.

Consider Removing Your Pool

If you feel that maintenance is too expensive or time-consuming or simply not worth it because you are not using your pool very often, it may be time to consider having the pool removed altogether.

Several methods can be used to remove an unwanted swimming pool from your property and leave you with a large usable space in your yard that you can devote to something else, whether you would like to build a deck for entertaining and relaxing, set up a garden to grow to produce or flowers, use the yard for your children to play, or build a patio for enjoying the great outdoors.

Get In Touch With The Northern Virginia Pool Removal Experts

If you are ready to say goodbye to maintaining your swimming pool, reach out to the Northern Virginia pool removal professionals at Dirt Connections. With more than three decades of experience in pool removal, we have built a reputation for providing high-quality residential construction services with top-notch customer service.

Our professional inground pool removal services can safely and efficiently remove your unwanted pool, haul away the debris that results from the removal, backfill the area with dirt, and leave your yard in the optimum condition for however you plan to use it in the future.