The swimming pool service contractors from Best Pro Pool Service in Atwater, California answer the question, “why check the pool pressure gauges?” from their customers regularly. They also recommend that pool owners check the pressure gauges between pool service visits just as they recommend pool owners test the water chemistry between pool service visits.
Why check the pool pressure gauges?
When you know what the numbers on the pool filter pressure gauge means, and if you’re reading the numbers correctly, you may be on the way to saving money and time when it comes to pool maintenance.
Your swimming pool filter — as most all pool filters, do — has a pressure gauge. The gauge is the indication of the pressure inside the filter. The readings on the filter will let you know, and show you immediately, whether the pool water is safe and clean enough for swimming. If the pressure is too high or too low — water quality suffers as can the equipment itself.
We will check the pressure gauge when we pay a service visit. We also recommend you check the pressure readings between visits. We also recommend keeping a notebook that you can write the date and the pressure reading in each time you check it. We will can also make note of the readings when we pay a service visit so you have a running track record of the pressure reading.
When you notice an increase or a decrease in the pressure you will want to let us know and we can either make an additional service visit or advise you on what to look for and do to assure the equipment is operating as it should.
The pressure gauge for most pool filters is on the top of the filter and is a round gauge with numbers and a “pointer” that will indicate the pressure within the filter. The numbers on the pressure gauge represent how quickly and at what force the water is flowing through the filter; the numbers indicate pounds per square inch (PSI). We can let you know what the normal or typical PSI for your filter and pool are. We can even draw a line with a permanent marker on the normal PSI reading so you can easily recognize if it’s not where it should be.
If you notice an increase in pressure by ten, above the regular reading, this means the filter needs to be cleaned. When the pressure increases, the filter is having to work harder to keep the water clean and the water cleanliness and quality can suffer if the filter is not cleaned. Ask us for the typical reading when we pay a service visit, grab your notebook, and track it between our visits.