Proper Maintenance of your Fiberglass Pool

You’ve done it.

You finally found the right contractor and now you've had the world’s most glamorous and stylish Aviva composite fiberglass swimming pools installed your backyard. 

But now what? How can you ensure this investment you’ve made to create memories with your loves ones lasts a lifetime?

The short answer is to maintain a proper chemical balance in your pool’s water and to keep it free and clear of dirt and debris. But there’s a lot more to ensuring proper maintenance of your fiberglass pool, which we'll discuss further in this editorial.

Fiberglass Pool Care means LOW Maintenance

not... NO Maintenance

While a composite fiberglass swimming pool requires less maintenance than a gunite or vinyl liner pool, it still requires some attention. Much like changing the oil and rotating the tires on your car to ensure it remains in excellent mechanical condition, fiberglass swimming pools need a certain level of upkeep to stay in good shape.

Just like any other part of your home, your pool always finds a way to get dirty on it's own. You'll notice leaves, insects, and other debris in the water. Brushing down the sides of the pool and running a robotic vacuum will handle most of these issues.

What is not as easily visible are the traces of body oils, hairs, skin/ hair products, dead skin, and other by products of us spending hours soaking up the sunlight in the pool. To clean up this type of mess, you'll use a sanitizer to cleanse the water. The combined effort of all these chemicals working together establishes the ideal environment for your pool to be ready for guests.

For many families, that means investing in a chlorine system to sanitize their pool.  And though there is a growing audience for salt-systems, is actually just a form of chlorine – produced in a different manner and in a smaller quantity.

FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE

The water in your pool functions as a living, breathing ecosystem, meaning it needs continuous attention to remain in optimal health.

This holds true even if your pool remains unused or "winterized" at times throughout the year. Your water chemistry can become out of balance in various ways, even if it seems inactive. At a minimum, you should conduct weekly tests and make necessary adjustments.

Ensure you collect your water samples from a depth of at least 18-20 inches below the surface, away from any returns or water jets. We suggest keeping a record of your weekly tests to identify any patterns when the balance is disrupted.

The majority of service technicians and pool service companies adhere to a "generic" standard for water chemistry levels. This was sufficient when all pools were similar, but fiberglass pools differ from the "standard" gunite and vinyl liner pools.

Therefore, it's essential to consider water chemistry levels that are better suited for fiberglass swimming pools. We recommend the following:

• pH = 7.2 – 7.4

• Chlorine = 1.0 – 3.0 ppm

• Total Alkalinity = 80 – 120 ppm

• Calcium Hardness = 80 – 120

• Cyanuric Acid: 25 – 50 ppm

• Total Dissolved Solids = 500 – 5000 ppm

THE BIGGEST CONCERN OF

fiberglass pool owners

The primary issue we observe with our clients' fiberglass swimming pools is the presumed fading of the pools' gelcoat color. Customers often think their pools are losing color or "turning white." In reality, many pool owners are neglecting to maintain balanced water chemistry, which frequently results in elevated calcium levels in their pools. Rather than the pool "losing color," it is actually accumulating calcium. These chemicals accumulate on the pool walls, thereby concealing the pool's true color.

We advise pool owners to clean their pool's surface on a monthly basis at minimum. This can be easily accomplished by running a brush down the sides of the pool and leaving a robotic vacuum inside the pool. Maintaining a manufacture's recommended level of stain & scale product in your water is also helpful. Avoid using harsh cleaners, metal scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sandpaper, as these can damage the pool's surface and void the gelcoat warranty.

However, even if some scratches are ever made on the surface of your pool, they can be buffed out if needed. Consult your pool dealer or the Aviva Pools Warranty Department to determine the appropriate course of action.

Calcium deposits and hardness can be remedied if addressed early in their development. This requires a re-balancing of the water chemistry and can take a bit of time, but it is reversible. But if left unattended for too long, it will need to be buffed out. In extreme cases, this might necessitate refinishing your pool, which could cost upwards of $10,000. In short, a little care and attention to your pool can ensure long-term satisfaction and avoid headaches down the road.

CONSIDER A PROFESSIONAL

cleaning service

Installing a swimming pool is a significant investment that needs protection. By adhering to the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule and following basic care procedures, you can enjoy a lifetime of wonderful memories with your Aviva pool and/or spa. Many families find greater comfort and assurance by hiring an external service to maintain their pool. This ensures regular care and prevents anything from being overlooked. With their expertise and knowledge, they can prevent major issues, identify potential concerns, and make it easier for you and your family to fully enjoy your pool with less stress and more joy.

Ask your builder at Southern Pool Solutions about hiring our partner "My Pool Guy 865" to regularly service your pool after we have completed your installation.

BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS

backed by the best warranty

Aviva Pools is proud to not only offer the world’s best designs but also the world’s best swimming pool warranties.  This includes a Lifetime Structural Warranty, assuring families that their pools are structurally sound as well as a Lifetime Structural Osmosis Warranty, providing assurances that their pools are protected against water penetration between the primary layers of production.

The major reason Aviva Pools can offer these warranties is because of the high-quality raw materials used in the production of their fiberglass swimming pools.  It all starts with the use of premium vinyl ester resin throughout the layers of fiberglass production.  Layer upon layer upon layer relies on this high-quality application which not only sets the standard for the pool’s structure but also provides the best protection against water penetration.  There are many fiberglass pool companies that fail to use premium vinyl ester resin in more than one application which significantly increases the risk of osmosis and “bubbling” within their pools many years after installation.