Plenty of things can go wrong with your pool, but some problems can’t wait for a scheduled cleaning or maintenance check. There are genuine emergencies that require immediate attention to avoid serious property damage, personal injury, or even death.
Your Water Level Is Suddenly and Rapidly Dropping
It’s normal for your pool’s water level to go down slowly because of splashing or evaporation. The latter is especially problematic on hot, sunny days. But if it’s dropping an inch a day or more without visible cause, then you have a major leak somewhere. That can mean a loss of as much as 500 gallons a day in large pools. If you have one, your auto-filler is working overtime, and that means a hefty water bill. If you leave the leak unfixed, your filter will run dangerously low and burn up.
The Pump Goes Silent
Pumps cycle on and off, but if your pool pump just goes completely dead, you’re in a race against time. Warm, unfiltered pool water will start developing algae blooms within 24-48 hours. Bacteria start to flourish, mosquitoes find a new home, and your pool goes from summer fun to a stench-filled water pit in no time.
Before doing anything else, reset your pool’s circuit breaker to rule out an electrical fault. Once that’s safely eliminated, check to see if your filter’s full or if you have closed valves. If you fix those problems and the pump still won’t run, triple the amount of chlorine to buy time, brush the sides thoroughly, and bring in a professional pool technician.
Electrical Issues AKA the Worst Case Scenario
If your pool’s breaker repeatedly trips, you have an electrical problem. The same goes for visible burn marks on the equipment pads, burning smells coming from the pump, heater, or electrical panel or subpanel, and, worst of all, a tingling or shock from touching a guardrail or the water itself. Do not, under any circumstances, go into the water.
Shut off power at the main panel that powers the pool, not just the sub-breaker. Contact an emergency pool repair service and an electrician immediately. Finally, if you or anyone else has already suffered electrocution, dial 911 immediately.
Leaks, pump failures, and electrical failures are the three worst things that can happen to your pool. Repairing them isn’t just a polite suggestion, and these jobs aren’t something you can do on your own. Only a professional pool technician knows how to fix the problems and get your pool back to normal. When you need pool repair services in Tallahassee, FL, contact Terry’s Pool Service.