Check pool equipment parts before they fail

This guide from Sullivan's Pool Service summarizes the cited guidance. Pool equipment parts are worth checking before they fail. Look for leaks in tubing, and replace that tubing on a regular schedule rather than waiting for a problem. Check clamps and valves as part of the same routine. Catching worn parts early keeps water moving and treated, and it helps avoid a shutdown that closes the pool to swimmers.

By Ryan Sullivan · Published October 5, 2026

Drafted with AI assistance from its cited sources and checked automatically before publication: every figure must appear in those sources. How our guidance is prepared.

Why checking parts beats waiting for symptoms

Waiting until something breaks usually costs more and takes longer than replacing a part while it still works. A preventive maintenance routine flips that around. Instead of reacting to a failure, the equipment and its parts get looked at on a schedule and swapped out before they wear through.

That habit covers small pieces as well as big ones. Tubing connected to the chemical feeder can develop leaks over time, so it gets checked and replaced regularly rather than kept in service until it drips. Clamps and valves get examined too, since a loose clamp or a stuck valve can turn into a bigger problem if nobody notices.

A written schedule helps here. Picking dates to inspect and refresh parts takes the guesswork out of upkeep and keeps a small task from turning into an emergency repair.

Looking for leaks in the tubing

Tubing is one of the easier parts to overlook because it often hides behind the equipment pad, but it deserves a look every time you are out there checking things over. Flexible lines can develop slow drips at the connection points or along the length of the run, and a small leak in a line that carries sanitizer into the pool water can go unnoticed for weeks while it quietly wastes chemical and leaves a crusty residue nearby.

Run a hand along each line and look for soft spots, discoloration, or dampness where the tubing meets its fittings. If a section feels brittle or shows cracks, that is a sign it has aged past the point where it can be trusted.

Tubing does not last forever, so plan on replacing it as part of routine upkeep rather than waiting for a failure. A fresh length of line is inexpensive, and swapping it before it splits keeps the whole setup working the way it should.

Inspecting clamps and valves

Clamps and valves are small parts, but they hold a lot of responsibility in a pool system. A clamp keeps a connection tight where two pieces of tubing or pipe meet, and a valve controls whether water moves through a line at all. Because both sit along the same plumbing runs as the tubing, it makes sense to look them over whenever tubing is being checked for leaks.

Clamps can loosen slowly over time as equipment vibrates during normal operation. A clamp that has worked its way loose may allow water to seep out at the joint, so it is worth confirming that each one is seated properly and snug. Valves deserve the same attention. A valve that no longer opens and closes smoothly, or one that shows moisture around its body, is telling you something about its condition.

Neither check takes long, and doing both while you are already inspecting the tubing keeps the whole routine in one pass.

Keep the chlorine and pH system off while you service it

Chlorine and pH feeding equipment, along with the recirculation system, should be switched off before any servicing takes place on either one. This keeps water from moving through lines that are open or being worked on, and it keeps chemical feed from running while tubing, fittings, or valves are disconnected. Anyone who handles this kind of work should be properly trained for it, since these systems deal with concentrated chemicals and pressurized lines.

It also helps to have written protocols for maintaining the chlorine and pH feed system, with the goal of keeping different pool chemicals from coming into contact with each other. For example, flushing water through the chlorine feed tubing before cleaning it with acid prevents acid from meeting chlorine residue inside the line. A simple flush step like that, done in the right order, is the difference between routine maintenance and an accidental chemical reaction. Put those steps in writing so whoever does the work follows the same sequence every time.

When swimmers should stay out of the pool

If the recirculation system is not running, the pool should be closed to swimmers. The same applies whenever servicing is planned for the chlorine and pH control feed or the recirculation system itself. Stopping the equipment for maintenance means the water is not being treated and moved as it should be, so nobody belongs in the pool during that time.

Letting swimmers back in too early is the other common mistake. Wait until both the chlorine and pH control feed and the recirculation systems have been restarted and have run for at least 5 minutes. That wait only counts if the water quality meets the required standards, so check that condition before opening the pool again.

Build the shutdown and restart into the plan for any service visit. Closing the pool before work begins and holding it closed through the restart period keeps swimmers out of water that is not being properly maintained.

Next step: pool equipment repair.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Pool Chemical Safety

Where Sullivan’s works

Sullivan’s Pool Service maintains pools in and around Austin, including Northwest Hills, South Austin, West Lake Hills, Tarrytown, Great Hills, River Place, Crestview, East Austin, North Austin, West Campus, Hyde Park, Downtown Austin and St. Johns, and in Bee Cave, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, Pflugerville and Round Rock. See every service area.

Weekly residential service has one fixed monthly price, set by pool size: see pool service pricing for what each size tier covers.