Whether you’ve moved into a property with a pool or installed one in your yard, becoming a pool owner for the first time can be exciting. However, the maintenance aspect of it can also be quite intimidating. Just how do you keep your pool clean and safe? You’ll find many long and detailed guides online – some of which can make maintaining a pool feel like a full-time job. In reality, pool maintenance doesn’t have to be that hard. Here is a simplified guide for all the first-time pool owners out there.
1. Understand the basic maintenance tasks
There are five basic tasks required to maintain a pool. These include:
Skimming the surface
This involves getting rid of debris from the surface of the water – usually using a net on a pole. This should be done daily or a couple of times per week.
Cleaning the bottom
Bacteria and algae can grow on the bottom and sides of your pool and need to be regularly scrubbed off. This should ideally be done weekly. Check out this guide on how to clean the bottom of your pool.
Balancing the pool chemistry
You need to be testing the chlorine level, PH level, and alkalinity of your pool every week and adding chemicals where necessary. Calcium hardness and cyanuric acid tests should be carried out monthly. You can buy pool chemical kits online that come with instructions.
Cleaning the filter
Your pool filter helps to remove contaminants. To keep this working properly, clean it out every month or whenever the pressure is 8 to 10 PSI over the baseline. Different types of filters may have different cleaning requirements, so know your filter.
Checking the water level
Occasionally, topping up the water is also important. Make sure the water level doesn’t get any lower than the skimmer box opening – at least one-third of it should be covered by water.
2. Create a weekly maintenance routine
The best way to keep on top of pool maintenance is to create a routine. Most tasks are weekly – you can do these all on the same day, or on different days to spread them out. A weekly pool maintenance schedule could look like this:
Monday: Skim surface
Tuesday: Clean the bottom of the pool
Wednesday: Skim surface
Thursday: Check pool chemistry
Friday: Skim the surface
Saturday: Check filter/water level
Sunday: REST
3. Invest in tools and improvements to make life easier
Pool maintenance can be made easier by investing in the right tools and improvements. A few helpful features worth investing in could include:
Pool cover
Covering your pool when not in use can reduce the need for skimming, reduce water evaporation, and help to preserve the pool chemistry.
Automatic dosing system
These machines can be installed in your pool to automatically measure pool chemical levels and add different chemicals when needed.
Robot pool cleaner
Robot pool cleaners can automate the process of cleaning the bottom of your pool. Uses brushes and sensors, which automatically navigate the surfaces of your pool and keep them clean.
4. Know when to hire a pool maintenance service
Finding pool maintenance to be a hassle? Consider whether you can afford to hire a pool maintenance service. This could free up the task of pool maintenance so that you can focus on enjoying your pool.
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