The best way to clean a fiberglass pool is similar to any inground swimming pool, which includes regular brushing, skimming and vacuuming. However, the smooth, gel-coat surface requires less brushing and overall cleaning, performed with a much gentler touch.
A Common Gripe About Fiberglass Pools
One of the biggest gripes that we see have to do with the slippery surface of a fiberglass pool. The fact is, this material can be so slick that pool users can actually slip and fall. This can be a real problem for pool steps, where a slip-and-fall accident can be dangerous.
When you open the pool for spring, you may need to shock heavily or more than once. During the early and late swim season, I probably shock the pool on a monthly basis. When the weather gets hot and the pool is used more, I shock the pool every 2-3 weeks. Remember ABC as the reasons to shock the pool.
So, not only is shocking a saltwater pool okay, but it's actually important to your pool's health. Shocking is the process in which you overload your pool with chlorine (3-5 times the normal amount) to improve your pool's cleanliness and kill off organic matter.
Both stabilized and unstabilized chlorines can be used in outdoor fiberglass pools. It's important to maintain a stabilizer in your pool's water at 30-50 ppm. When stabilizer (CYA) levels are higher than 50 ppm, use unstabilized chlorine. When stabilizer levels are 30-50 ppm, use stabilized or unstabilized chlorine.
Fiberglass pools can craze or check crack from imprecise manufacturing or when the surface is not fully supported, like under the steps or areas where the backfill is eroded. Gelcoat can also crack during transport and installation if it gets bumped around too much.
Fiberglass pools are durable
Both the structure and the surface of a high-quality fiberglass pool can last as long as you want them to, provided you take good care of it. A well-made fiberglass pool can last at least 50 years, with less maintenance required to keep it useful and enjoyable decade after decade.
spotlight. Fiberglass swimming pools are very compatible with salt water systems. If you are using a vinyl liner pool, you must be careful as those pools tend to have metal parts or connections which salt will eat through and corrode.
As it turns out, you can pressure wash fiberglass as long as you're careful by positioning yourself at least three to four feet away from the fiberglass and by using a wide fan tip nozzle that doesn't have too much pressure.
Your Fiberglass Pool: Much more than a shell holding water
Not only does it look great, but it's going to be a little easier to vacuum and maintain a fiberglass pool. It's not maintenance-free, but it is the lowest maintenance and lowest maintenance cost pool option.
Ceramic tile or vinyl cleaner that is not too abrasive can effectively remove stains from fiberglass pools, especially if the pool has minor stains and is cleaned regularly, these cleaners can work well. Oxalic acid also helps to remove fiberglass pool stains.
Most fiberglass pools are known to last 25-30 years, but we take that to the next level. Our manufacturer, Narellan Pools, makes the best fiberglass pools around. Their unique fiberglass formula results in a pool that can last as long as 50 years! Plus, these pools are notoriously easy to maintain.
Fibreglass pools naturally insulate, and heat quicker compared to concrete pools, saving money on energy. If you purchase a high-quality fibreglass pool, you can expect them to last for more than 30 years. Unlike vinyl and concrete, they don't need replacing or resurfacing.
1. Calcium build-up on the pool surface. High pH levels will cause calcium carbonate in the water to precipitate or bond to the fibreglass surface. When this happens, it often leaves a white gritty layer that looks much worse when dry.
While they are easier to install, fiberglass pools are nowhere near as durable as a gunite inground pool. The inside surface of this type pool is a gel coat on which the fiberglass has been laminated. The walls of the pool are only ½ to ⅜ inch thick compared to the 8 to 10 inch thickness of a gunite pool.
Many people wonder if their fiberglass pools are strong enough to withstand the extremes of winter weather. The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Cold temperatures are not a problem for fiberglass pools, so long as you properly care for them.
Luckily, heating is not only an option for fiberglass pools, it's actually a wonderful idea for them. Fiberglass pools are both the easiest type of pool to heat and the least expensive.
Premature or uneven fading of the gelcoat surface of fiberglass pools is almost always due to improper care of the pool's water chemistry. This is especially true with salt water pools, as the chlorine generator often produces far more chlorine than needed.
While there are many myths about fiberglass pools, the one thing you should NEVER EVER do is DRAIN your fiberglass pool without professional help. Let me say that again, NEVER drain your fiberglass pool for any reason. In fact, we recommend NEVER letting the water level drop more than 2-3 inches below the skimmer!
Causes of Inorganic Stains in a Fiberglass Pool
Inorganic stains are stains caused by heavy metals including Copper, Iron, and Magnesium among others. Stains are formed especially when chlorine is added into the water or when pH level escalates, oxidizing these metals.
Dichlor, short for Dichloro-S- Triazinetrione, is one type of chlorine available for keeping pool water clean. Similar to trichlor, a different kind of chlorine, dichlor is usually granular but can also be found in tablets. You can buy dichlor in one-pound bags or in bulk.
Chlorine tablets such as dichlor and trichlor can damage vinyl liner pools if they come in contact with the liner. Chlorine tablets are often highly concentrated. As a result, they increase chlorine concentration which can bleach and weaken the liner's vinyl material, greatly reducing its life.