Worried about maintaining your pool? Owning a pool can be a great way to get exercise and have a little fun in the summer. Unfortunately, keeping a pool clean and healthy can involve a pretty long list of chores. Read on for some simple tips that will help you organize your pool maintenance and make sure your water stays safe for swimming all summer long.
One of the easiest ways to make sure pool chores get done is by setting up a simple schedule and sticking to it. Some pool chores should be done once a day and some chores should be done once a week. Set aside a little bit of time each day to make sure pool maintenance gets done if you want to keep your pool healthy. You can add a weekly chore to daily chore sections either one at a time or all at once, depending on your preference and schedule.
Every Day
There are several things you should do for your pool every day before you start swimming. First, test the water of your pool for sanitizer and pH balance. You can add your pool sanitizer, usually chlorine or bromine, to make sure the water stays safe for swimming. The next step to take is adjusting the pH level with a balancer to make sure the water doesn't end up irritating you when you swim or damaging equipment. Finally, pull any loose stuff out of the skimming basket to make sure the water keeps circulating.
Weekly
Some pool maintenance tasks should happen once a week. These can either be done all at once, or spread out over the course of the week with the daily chores. Start the weekly chores by shocking the pool water to keep it sanitized and raise the chlorine level. Follow that chore by adding an algaecide that won't stain your pool. Choose a metal removing compound to remove suspended metal particles and add a dose once a week. Finally, add a water clarifier to help your pool's water stay clear and send tiny particles to the filter.
When Necessary
A few pool chores are better done when there appears to be a problem. Pay attention to the daily state of your pool to make sure you catch issues early. If you are having a problem with pool debris, take these steps to make sure you keep your pool clean and clear for swimming. Start by skimming any leaves that may be floating on the surface. Brush down the pool walls to catch any debris that may come loose later. Check the pool filter or backwash to make sure it doesn't need replacing. Finally, vacuum your pool to remove any remaining debris.
Pool care may seem like quite a bit of work if you consider it all at once, but taken as part of a regular routine it doesn't need to be difficult or time consuming. If you pay attention to your pool's state and keep up on the regular maintenance chores that every pool needs, you can go a long way toward avoiding any major issues or equipment failures.