Swimming pool mechanical system - very basic.

It's likely that most swimming pools exist to invite people to use them. Which means we have to keep them safe and enjoyable. Whether it's a backyard pool for our family, friends and neighbors, or a public pool built specifically to invite the whole community. If you've never taken care of one, it can intimidating. However, I'm convinced that once you 'get it' you'll understand how easy it can be. You just have to start with understanding how the mechanical system works.

Amounts of care, usage and environmental influence (sometimes in that order) dictate how difficult or easy it will be to keep the water clean. Consistent care is how we keep up with varying use and environment and it's the one item we have the most control of. There are two ways we ensure consistent care: mechanically (water filtration and our labor - discussed here) and chemically (discussed in coming posts).

It can be easy to think of a swimming pool as just a large bucket of water that stays clear on its own somehow - just sitting there. Until suddenly we become the person responsible to maintain it. One of our main jobs becomes to take debris out of it. The mechanical system does a good portion on this 'automatically', either running on a schedule or constantly.

How does the mechanical system help maintain clear, safe swimming pool water?

All swimming pool mechanical equipment systems should be designed to (simultaneously):
1. Take the water out of the pool (usually from a few places)
2. Filter it (likely just one of several ways)
3. Heat it (optional)
4. (Possibly chemically treat it) (or you add chemicals by hand, at the pool)
5. Return it back into the pool

The differences in types of equipment used can be confusing, but these basics are a must.

Here is a diagram made to show the minimum requirements of a basic swimming pool mechanical system.