Should You Swim?
Should You Swim?
One of the best parts of being a swimming pool owner is that you can swim whenever you want. But, just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean you should. There are times when your pool may look not-so-clean. In these instances, you might wonder whether or not it’s safe or smart to enter the water. Fortunately, there are some pretty easy ways to tell whether you should swim or not.
If You Haven’t Tested the Water in a While . . .
Owning a pool means being responsible for that pool and its condition. And, in order to do that, you need to test your water regularly. This allows you to know when to add more chlorine or adjust other chemicals or water parameters.
How often you’ll need to test depends on many factors, such as the size of your pool, how frequently it gets used, and how many people use it. But, with that said, if you’ve gone a bit longer than usual between testings, you may want to put off swimming until you know that the water has all the right amounts of all the right things.
If the Water Looks Cloudy . . .
Before you dive into your pool, take a moment to look at the water. If you find that it looks a bit more cloudy than clear, you may want to postpone your splashing session. Cloudy water could indicate the presence of too many minerals or some other issue. Until you understand the cause of the cloudy water and its severity, it’s probably best not to swim.
If You Smell Something Strange . . .
A healthy swimming pool shouldn’t smell like much of anything. Thus, if you catch a whiff that’s a little odd, look before you leap. Strange smells might indicate inadequate chlorine levels, algae growth, or other issues, some of which can be serious. As such, try to figure out what the smell is and how to fix it before swimming.
When you swim, you deserve to feel safe. The same is true for your family members and invited guests. So, take good care of your pool at all times. And, if you notice something even the slightest bit “off,” you may want to skip the swimming until you’re sure everything is on the up and up.