Essential Maintenance Tips for Pool Waterfalls
There are many ways to approach outdoor living upgrades, but few are as exciting as adding a water feature to your swimming pool. Among the most visually striking are pool waterfalls or a fountain. They’re both gorgeous and practical, giving your space a focal point and improving water circulation.
You may wonder, though, how you can keep your pool waterfall healthy and beautiful for the long term. Whether you’re considering adding a pool waterfall to your backyard oasis for the first time or already have one installed, it’s essential to know how to properly care for this timeless feature.
The Basics for Maintaining Your Pool Waterfall
Waterfalls and fountains are unique outdoor living upgrades that immediately add something special to your pool. Keeping these features looking their best requires first understanding water maintenance. This includes tasks like maintaining water quality and preventing algae growth.
With the right know-how, you can handle your waterfall maintenance with ease. It’s important to start by familiarizing yourself with the basics, like ideal thresholds for chemicals.
Balancing and Maintaining Water Chemicals
Pool water chemistry is all about creating balance. A healthy pool’s pH ranges between 7.2 and 7.8. The only way to know if your pool is within this threshold is to test the water. Once you know your water’s pH, you can use chemicals to tip back the balance.
Properly balanced chemicals matter for every component of your pool, including water features like waterfalls. High or low pH levels can scale or corrode the waterfall equipment, causing it to break down faster over time. This corrosion is not only unattractive, but it also compromises the structure of your equipment.
Maintaining proper chlorine and alkalinity levels are key as well. Chlorine helps keep the pool algae-free. Algae isn’t good for the water, the pool equipment, or the swimmers. Your once-healthy pool becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, making it harder for your chemicals to keep the water clean and potentially staining equipment.
Navigating the Anatomy of a Pool Waterfall
Most waterfall systems have at least three components: a pump, a filtration system, and a water source. There’s also the structure of the waterfall itself, which could be made of anything from natural stone to artificial materials.
Maintaining the outside of the waterfall will rely heavily on understanding the materials, as different types of materials have different needs. A good rule of thumb is to get as much information as you can from the manufacturer, whether through product manuals or by contacting them directly. This way, it’ll be clear how to maintain and clean each of the waterfall’s elements without having to worry about damaging them by accident.
Cleaning Your Waterfall
Once you know how to keep your water chemically balanced and care for the different materials your waterfall is made of, you can focus on overall maintenance. Here are some helpful pool cleaning steps you’ll want to take to keep your pool and waterfall sparkling all year round.
Remove Debris
Everything from leaves and twigs to wrappers or paper can find its way into your waterfall. Even if you don’t have anything around it, high winds or storms can carry debris directly into the area surrounding a water feature.
Not cleaning waterfall debris could lead to clogs and distract from your waterfall’s natural beauty. Inspect your waterfall for debris regularly, and remove it with a skimmer net when you see it.
Keep the Pump Clear
The pump is a crucial piece of the pool waterfall puzzle. It’s responsible for pumping enough water to create the falling effect, so keep it clean. Your cleaning frequency will vary based on how often you use your waterfall and how clean you keep the area around it.
When it’s time to clean the pump, turn it off and check the filter. You should clean or replace the pump filter according to the manufacturer’s directions. Those directions will likely outline both how to properly clean your particular pump and how often to do so.
Flush the System
Waterfalls are among the outdoor living upgrades that generally don’t see use 365 days a year. This lapse in use can be helpful because it gives you time for some heavy-duty maintenance, like full-system flushes.
Most pool professionals suggest flushing a water feature at least once per season. This includes draining all the water, cleaning out the basin, and getting any dirt or buildup off the components.
It’s also an excellent opportunity to clean the material on the outside of the waterfall. You can do this either before or after the swim season, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to do it both times.
Inspect Your Waterfall for Damage
Whenever you’re performing a quick inspection to ensure your pool is healthy, don’t forget about your waterfall. Check the structure for damage, as even the smallest cracks can lead to leaks and even more damage.
Don’t Forget Seasonal Maintenance
Aside from flushing the system, there are a few other tasks that most Florida homeowners only need to do once or twice a season. The first is to winterize your pump. Some pool owners won’t need to do this, but it’s still good to know how for those occasional surprise cold snaps.
Consider insulating your pipes, especially if they’re exposed. If you drained your waterfall and pool over winter and covered it, you’ll need to prepare it for use for the season. Early to mid spring is usually when Tampa Bay homeowners reset their pools, which includes tasks like:
- Removing the tarp
- Refilling the water
- Checking and cleaning the pump
- Calling a pool professional for servicing and maintenance
- Landscaping the surrounding area to keep it tidy
Florida is one location where you could feasibly leave your pool open year-round. But if you prefer not to or the weather doesn’t permit it, keep these tasks that can make or break a water feature in mind.
Creating Custom Outdoor Living Upgrades With Tampa Bay Pools
Are you ready to fall in love with a new waterfall? Turn to the experienced team at Tampa Bay Pools. We can help you design and build a water feature your family can enjoy for years to come. Contact us to learn more about our pool-building options and get a quote for your dream project today.