A home swimming pool is great for cooling off on hot summer days, but it requires attention to keep the water clean and clear. Routine swimming pool maintenance is essential for healthy and safe conditions. Follow these six tips for a sparkling clean pool that is always ready for swimming.
Helpful Maintenance Tips for Your Swimming Pool
1. Skimmers are Essential for Swimming Pool Maintenance
Dirt, dust, pollen, leaves, insects, and other debris can find it’s way into your pool even if you keep it covered. Most debris will initially float on the surface of the water, but eventually, it will break down and settle to the bottom. Accumulated materials on the bottom of your pool lead to algae. Save yourself the hassle of algae removal by using a long pole skimmer to clean the surface of the water three to four times a week.
2. Use a Vacuum
Using a pool vacuum once or twice a week is helpful in cleaning up leaves, bugs, and other debris from the bottom of the pool. Some automatic vacuums operate on a timer and can do scheduled sweeps, making it even easier to maintain your pool. Use a brush to scrub the sides and discourage calcium and algae buildup on the pool walls.
3. Balance the Chemicals
Take time to learn which pool chemicals you need for routine home swimming pool maintenance and which are necessary to remedy a problem. Imbalanced chemicals cause cloudy water, algae growth, and renders other chemicals less useful. Chlorine becomes less effective as pH increases. A healthy pH for pool water ranges from 7.2 to 7.8 Test the water at least twice a week and add chemicals as necessary to maintain the pH.
4. Clean the Filters for Swimming Pool Maintenance
A dirty, clogged filter forces your pump to work harder to clean the water. Pool filtration systems use sand, charcoal, or diatomaceous earth filters. Follow the recommendations from your owner’s manual on how often to replace or clean the filter. Regular skimming prevents debris from making it to the filter and will help extend its life.
5. Maintain Water Levels
The pool will lose water due to evaporation, swimming, and cleaning. Keep your pool water topped off to ensure the pump isn’t damaged. The water level should be higher than the intake for the pump to prevent it from burning out. Top the pool off with a garden hose as needed and check the chemical balance after you add water.
6. Swimming Pool Maintenance Involves Adding Shock
Ammonia and nitrogen accumulate in your pool with normal use. These interact with chlorine to create a strong chemical smell. Super chlorinating, also known as shocking, balances the water to acceptable chlorine levels. You should shock once a week as part of your maintenance routine and when you’re experiencing problems with water quality or algae.
Spend a little time each week to keep your pool in ideal condition. A regular routine is important to prevent significant problems from affecting your pool.
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