One of the perks of living in a subtropical climate is that we open our pools earlier than the rest of the country. It can be as late as October before we close them down for the winter too. The secret to having sparkling blue water for over half the year has everything to do with pool maintenance. If you don’t stay on top of it, you’ll wake up one morning to water that’s turned murky or green. If it happens, it could take you a while to get things straightened out.
It can be easy to put off pool maintenance when your schedule is filled with ball games, family events, and other summer activities that your family enjoys. The problem is that many of us let it slip our minds that we put off checking the levels or vacuuming after the storm went through.
Pool maintenance tips that work
Pools come in all shapes and sizes, but the steps to maintaining your pool to be swim-ready all day every day don’t change. Many homeowners turn the responsibility over to a pool cleaning service. Others choose to handle pool maintenance themselves. It’s less costly and some people actually enjoy the calming effect of being near the water as they skim or vacuum debris.
The most important tip that we can give you is to schedule time for periodic maintenance and stick to it. If you fall behind, algae will undoubtedly take hold and once it does, being near the pool is likely to cause more frustration than relaxation until you get things back to normal.
Chlorine is essential
Plan to shock your pool once a week. More often if necessary. Conditions that warrant shocking your pool include:
- Accommodating a heavier swim load than usual is going to increase the amount of body matter in the water. Sunscreen gets left behind too.
- Increasing temperatures can cause chlorine to dissipate more quickly.
- Storms—or even gentle rain—can add contaminants to the water that promote algae growth. The excess amount of water can mess with the chemical balance of your pool as well.
Shocking the pool kills off any buildup of contaminants. Maintaining chlorine levels becomes much easier throughout the week.
Debris free
The general consensus is that you should brush, skim, and empty your filter and skimmer baskets once a week. However, most pool owners keep an eye out and jump in more often if necessary. And, if you have kids—we’re guessing it’s necessary.
If you allow debris to build up, it causes your chlorine to burn off more quickly. If the debris is left in the pool and the chlorine level drops, algae are likely to form fairly quickly. Getting debris out of the pool is a big step toward keeping your pool sanitized and clean. Some days the skimmer is all you need, but if you need to break out the vacuum—do it.
Pump it up
Your pump plays a huge part in pool maintenance. Water turnover is essential to keeping your pool water clean and clear. Proper filtration removes small pieces of debris by trapping it in the filter. Keep your filter clean. It allows your pump to work more efficiently.
You should run your pump at least 8 hours a night, longer if it’s abnormally hot or sultry out. Swim University actually states if you can’t run your pump 27/7, the minimum should be 10 to 12 hours.
Failure to run your pump long enough usually results in cloudy water. If this happens, shock the pool.
Testing, testing
It’s important to test the levels in your pool periodically. How often that happens depends on your overall swimmer load. Testing allows you to stay on top of any possible issues that may arise. You could also begin to notice trends, say, your pH levels rise after about a week, and adding a pint of muriatic acid brings things back to normal.
Test kits are available at pool stores, some department stores, and, of course, online.
Problem-free pools are possible
Again, the most important thing you can do regarding pool maintenance is to make a schedule and stick to it. When you do, you’ll discover that it’s not hard to keep your sparkling blue pool sparkling and blue. Others are going to notice it too.
And, then, they’ll probably start hinting around about getting in…