Residential Water Slide Inspections and Maintenance

We are super excited that you have a residential water slide by Paradise Slides in your back yard, as are you and your guests, I am sure! Our Residential Water Slides are a lot of fun, but did you know what else they are? They are safe! Safety is of utmost importance when it comes to back yard water slide fun! In this blog post we will be discussing how to inspect and maintain your back yard water slide to keep it fun and safe for years to come.

Residential Water Slide Daily Precheck

Before using the Paradise Slides Pool Slide each day, the water slide or pool owner should inspect the water slide flume looking for any indications of damaged gel coat which may include chips, cracks, or blisters.  The inspection should also address any joint movement or debris in the water slide flume.  The pool water level should be checked as well as water quality.  The first ride on the home pool slide should be made by the owner.  This ride will act as the final check before allowing guests or other riders to access the equipment. Safety first!

Residential Water Slide Inspections?

Gel Coat provides a protective layer against weathering on a surface.  Your fiberglass water slide flume sections are a lot like a new boat in terms of their exposure to the elements and how they weather.  Over time, exposure to sunlight, water, dust and chemicals cause wear and tear on the gel coat surface of a custom home pool slide.  This results in chalking, discoloration, yellowing or loss of gloss.  By following simple, regular water slide maintenance procedures, you can minimize these affects.   Here are some general instructions for keeping your pool slide fiberglass flume sections looking like new.

• Wash monthly or more frequently, if needed. Wash with mild soap; avoid using strong alkaline cleaners or abrasives, do not use automatic dishwasher detergent. See our Home Pool Slide Maintenance Kits.
• To restore gloss and protect the finish of your slide, wax the flume sections at the beginning and end of the operating season with a good grade paste wax formulated for gel coat surfaces. NEVER wax a gel coat surface in direct sunlight. Use easy on and off wax for long pool slides, trust me on this one.

Maintaining proper water chemistry in the pool is the first and a critical step in preventing excessive chemical residue from building up on the flume sections.  The buildup of suntan lotion is also a nuisance and can be dangerous on an inground swimming pool slide.

Chalking, Scratches, Nicks and Stains

A fine rubbing compound as well as a mild detergent will reduce the weathering and chalking accumulated on the surface.  Use only a fine grit compound and follow label directions carefully.  DO NOT apply rubbing compound in direct sunlight.  For best results, wax after applying compound.

Water Slide Maintenance Kits Available On Our Website

HERE is a shopping link to purchase Custom Water Slide Maintenance Kits through our website. HERE is a link to a previous blog post that we did describing the contents of the kit and how to use them.

Suggested Residential Water Slide Rules & Regulations

Now that you have inspected your residential water slide and the slide itself is safe, here are some Rules and Regulations that you and your guests should always follow to keep them and yourselves…you guessed it…SAFE! Please know that most rules are a result of someone trying something that they think might be fun and quickly realizing, that was not fun and promptly telling you that you should warn others not to do that. These rules are generally accepted industry wide and are intended for the riders’ safety.  Please let your riders know about the suggested rules and regulations by posting a sign or verbally instructing them.

• Be sure that water slide riders DO NOT ride the water slide headfirst. Headfirst riding can lead to submarining and contact with the pool bottom, which can cause spinal injuries, paralysis, or death. All riders must ride feet first either sitting or lying down on their back.  Absolutely no riding on stomach or headfirst should be allowed.
• Only one pool slide rider at a time. Absolutely no trains or chains should be allowed on your custom home pool slide.
• To avoid a safety hazard at the bottom of the waterslide, a minimum interval of six seconds must be maintained between water slide riders. If crowding begins at the slide terminus, briefly interrupt use of the slide and clear swimmers away from this area.
• Mats or inflatable tubes are not to be used on the residential water slide.
• Arms and hands must remain inside the flume. No stopping or grabbing the water slide flume handrail.
• Riders should enter the pool slide in a sitting position. No running or diving starts are allowed.
• Loitering or lingering in the pool or in the immediate area of the slide is not allowed.
• No diving or jumping into the pool from the water slide is allowed.
• Do not walk or climb up the water slide, enter at the top only and slide down.
• Riders under the age of 5 years or persons with a weight over 275 lbs. should ride at the owner’s discretion.
• Water Slides should be well lighted during evening and nighttime operations.
• No one should be allowed to use the Water Slide with metal parts such as buckles, buttons, locker pins, safety pins, tags, key rings, belts, or other potentially sharp objects. These items could damage the gel coat.
• All riders must wear swimsuits. No cut-off jeans or trousers are allowed.
• No rider should be allowed to use the slide while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
• Riders should be in good health. Pregnant women or individuals with a heart condition should not be allowed on the water slide.
• Provide a means of positive lock off of the water slide structure.
• Water Slides should have an emergency shutoff easily accessible to the water slide operators.

WARNING: Failure to follow these rules may result in serious injury.  Paradise Slides water slide equipment, by design, has an intended specific use.  Lack of maintenance and/or rider usage in a manner other than the intended use for which it was designed could result in serious injury.

Now go, #Escape To Your Backyard, and remember, these residential water slides are not just for kids, these are adult pool slides too!