How Do You Maintain A Pool?
How Do You Maintain a Pool?
Whether you’re the proud owner of a swimming pool or plan to buy one, it’s important you are aware of the proper steps to maintain your swimming pool. We know that installing a pool in your backyard is quite the investment and it’s important for you to protect it. Think of your pool like you do your car. Cars need regular maintenance such as oil changes and tire rotations in order to run smoothly and for a long time. Similarly, a pool needs regular maintenance in order to keep it clean, running properly, and safe for use. If you neglect your pool, it will only be a matter of time before damages and costly repairs start to pile up in front of you. But before we discuss maintenance steps to follow, let’s go over the three keys to a perfect pool.
Circulation
A major component of running a healthy pool is circulation. Without proper circulation, the pool water will not only become cloudy, but prone to algae and bacteria growth as well. In order to circulate your pool water, you should keep the pump running for at least 8 hours a day.
Cleaning
While circulating your pool water will aid in keeping it clear, it’s not the only thing you need to do. Regular cleaning is just as important in order to keep your pool clean and clear. There are various steps to take when doing so and we’ll discuss that in just a second.
Pool Chemistry
Although circulation and cleaning are necessary, if you don’t adjust the chemical level in the pool water, then you’ll never get your pool in the condition it needs to be in. For pool chemistry, ensure that the PH level, alkalinity, and the calcium level is balanced. Not enough chemicals can create an environment for algae to grow and too many can be harsh on your pool and its equipment. Either way, both can lead to damages over time if you don’t get the chemicals balanced.
Now that you understand the key components to pool care, let’s discuss the steps you or your hired professional should take each week when cleaning your pool.
CALL TODAY! 480-659-1347
Steps for Regular Pool Maintenance
Skim the Surface to Get Rid of Debris
The first step of proper pool service is to skim the top of the pool for floating leaves and debris. This step is pretty quick and is done using a pool net. If you want your pool to look perfect at all times, you can do this daily. However, weekly skimming is usually efficient enough. After skimming the top, be sure to throw away the waste far from the pool so that it won’t find its way back to your pool.
For pools that are surrounded by trees and bushes, it is advisable to trim the leaves to avoid constant debris in the water.
Vacuum the Pool
Vacuuming the pool causes the water level to decrease. An average swimming pool will take up to thirty minutes to clean. So, move at a slow pace across the water and vacuum. For Inground pools, you will connect a pool hose to a pool vac and then connect the other end of the hose to the suction port underneath the skimmer basket. You’ll need to turn the pump on in order for the vacuum to pick up dirt while the pump sucks it in to filter it.
Brush the Pool
After vacuuming the pool, you should also brush the sides and steps of your pool. You can easily do this with the aid of a nylon brush at the end of a pole.
If your pool sides are made of concrete, using a stainless-steel brush should be the best equipment for you.
Check the Chemical Level
Like we mentioned before, make sure to test and check the water’s chemical levels to ensure they are properly balanced. If they are too low, you will need to add more. This is usually a common time that more chlorine tabs will need to be added to your pool’s skimmer.
Empty Skimmer Baskets
The best way to keep a pool skimmer working is to make sure that it is regularly taken out and emptied of any debris. This is also a good time to check for any chips or cracks in your skimmer.
Cleaning Out The Pump Basket
After emptying the skimmer basket, make sure to clean out the pump’s basket as well. To do this, you’ll need to turn off the pump. After that, unscrew the cover of the pump, remove the basket, and remove all debris.
Backwash (If Needed)
To backwash means to reverse the water flow through your filter in order to remove the dirty water and built-up impurities from the pool.
Checking Equipment to Ensure It’s All Running Properly
The last step should be to give your pool equipment a thorough inspection. Properly running equipment allows for a healthy pool. If anything seems to not be running correctly or you notice any leaks, repairs should be made immediately.
Maintaining a pool requires your time, dedication, and effort. Technically, regular pool maintenance can be done yourself. However, while this is true, we still recommend you hire a professional. Professionals are trained in the field and have years of experience in the pool industry. They have knowledge about pools that can help them spot issues sooner than those without it, saving you money later on when issues arise. It also takes some stress off you and gives you more time to enjoy your pool like you intended in the first place.
What we certainly don’t want to hear about is the client that tried doing maintenance themselves and now needs a full pool repair job or maybe even a monster pool remodel because they messed up the regular maintenance. Yes, those situations have happened before to some unlucky clients… Let the pros handle maintenance so you don’t have to.