Beating the scathing summer heat, cultivating a nice tan, and hosting lively parties wouldn’t be fun without a swimming pool. Amidst this luxurious time, homeowners often forget the most essential part of owning a pool — the maintenance. If you are not taking care of it properly, it can easily end up turning into a mess with green water, algae buildup, gross stains, and broken equipment. How would you enjoy your outdoor living space within such conditions? You can’t! So, pool maintenance holds paramount importance and mustn’t be ever forgotten. With that being said, we have devised a simple guide for you, which includes everything you need to know about best pool maintenance 101 practices.
1 Scrub and Skim Everyday
For a spotless and pristine swimming pool, make scrubbing and skimming a part of your pool maintenance 101 routine. It needs to be done daily because the debris such as branches, leaves, insects, and many more are persistently recurrent. Leaving them inside might end up creating a greater buildup that is much harder to deal with.
Use a manual skimmer to get rid of the floating objects. You will also need to scrub the surface, especially the curves and crevices, which are the hotspots for dirt and grime. For persistent stains that just stay no matter how much you put your back into it, you should consider using granular chlorine — sprinkle some over the affected area and scrub afterward.
If you can afford it, we highly recommend purchasing a pool vacuum head that can eliminate the debris from the bottom of the pool. It might increase your electricity bill, but it would be worth it.
If daily pool maintenance is not for you, we advise to consider pool removal and using this peace of land for a different type of outdoor living space that does not require so much time and effort.
2 Take Care of the Filtration System
It’s true what they say, “filers are kidneys for swimming pools.” Not only do they keep the water clean, but the system also generates a gyration effect which makes it hard for algae spores to settle down. However, once they have filtered enough water, it’s best to clean the cartridge or basket, depending on the type of device. If not cleaned on time, the buildup can clog the system, putting so much strain on the device that it might burn out.
Furthermore, don’t forget to clean the pipes as well, for which you would need to “backwash.” This will allow you to unclog the system and restore efficiency. But how would you know when to clean the filter? As per our pool maintenance 101 guidelines from experts, just keep an eye on the pressure gauge — if it exceeds 10 PSI, clean it as soon as possible.
3 Maintain a Chemical Equilibrium
Agreeably, this is one of the most important elements of a pool maintenance 101 routine. A proper balance of chemicals is imperative to keep the water swimmable. Otherwise, you would end up with skin rash, redness, and irritated eyes. That’s because when you leave the chemicals unchecked, the balance fluctuates, making the conditions suitable for the bacteria and other pathogens to multiply. Experts, therefore, suggest weekly testing for the chemicals to maintain an ultimate equilibrium.
You can either test the water yourself by using a testing kit or call the professionals to the job for you. With the right levels of chemicals in the water, you can say farewell to pool sickness and enjoy crystal-clear water.
4 Keep an Optimum Water Level
This pool maintenance 101 practice is as important for the pool’s health as others mentioned here. The water level might fluctuate due to a heavy party, a storm, or intense evaporation. If it reaches too low, the walls will be exposed to high-intensity sun radiation, which increases the chances of cracks and eventually, leakage.
Not to forget, very low water levels are also dangerous for users. Imagine if someone cannonballed into shallow water, he could easily injure himself. Considering this, make sure the water level is neither too low nor too high and is the appropriate level — one-third up the pool’s height.
5 Absorb the Oils Using Tennis Balls
At first, it seems like an absurd practice, but surprisingly, it works. When people swim, their bodily oils are left behind, which can either be from hair products, lotions, makeup, or natural secretions. Yes! It sounds gross but present you a simple solution for your pool maintenance 101 routine— drop some tennis balls in the pool. The balls are made from tiny fibers that naturally absorb oils, making them ideal for this task. However, if you have a bigger swimming pool, you will have to use tons of balls to get the job done quickly.
6 Shock the Water When Necessary
Sometimes when the filter malfunctions or after heavy pool parties, the water becomes murkier than usual. It can be either because of the high concentration of bacteria or algae. For the latter, the water might also turn into a green and gooey slime, making it impractical to swim. Plus, it feels really gross, especially when the substance touches your skin.
Here “shocking” the water can help you get rid of this murkiness once and for all. It involves introducing high levels of chlorine, which is considered a natural sanitizer. The chemicals not only kill off the existing organic impurities but also prevents them from spreading. Since the process centers around dealing with chemicals, it is best you call the experts to do the job rather than taking on yourself.
7 Preserve Well
When summer ends, leaving the pools without any protection until the next party season arrives would be a huge mistake as per our pool maintenance 101 rulebook. Meanwhile, the fluctuating environmental factors as well as the solar radiation can wreak havoc on the surface. That’s why we suggest filling the pool with a small layer of water to protect the surface. Also, don’t forget to cover the structure, which can prevent debris from polluting and staining.
8 Pay Attention to the Surroundings
The deck and the area surrounding the swimming pools hold as much importance as the main body. To keep it clean and shiny, add power washing in your pool maintenance goals — using a pressurized water stream to eliminate debris and stains. This pool maintenance 101 practice will allow you to enhance the overall appeal of your outdoor living space to a great degree.