Get to Know Your Swimming Pool
By knowing the basic parts of your swimming pool and its functions, it’ll help you keep everything running smoothly — and makes it easier to resolve any issues if they occur. Take the time to get to know your swimming pool and save yourself the hassle and time with trying to fix anything afterwards. Read the manuals or look at online videos in case you need some extra help figuring out how everything works.
Taking Care of Your Swimming Pool
You can get as fancy as you like with your swimming pool tools. You can add advanced heating and lighting, install high-tech swimming pool covers, or enjoy music playing from underwater swimming pool speakers while you swim. You can customise your swimming pool according to your preferences. What your swimming pool will look like and what quality it’ll have in the end, it is important to note the four components that require regular care to keep your pool nice and clean.
What components are we talking about? The swimming pool water.
You have to take care of the swimming pool water and you do that by taking care of three other components.
- The swimming pool’s interior wall or liner
- The swimming pool’s filter system
- The swimming pool’s system of skimmers and returns
Check the Pool Water pH Levels
Your goal is to keep the pH level in the water between 7.2 and 7.8. The lower the pH on this scale, the less chlorine your pool will need. Check the pool chemistry levels at least once a week (and yes, even in the winter). You can easily buy a pH level testing kit at any pool store.
Clean Out the Skimmer Basket
You should keep your basket or baskets clean at all times. The skimmer filters all the debris from the surface of the water in your swimming pool. It’s important to keep this clean so that it functions properly.
Water Circulation is Important
You want to have moving water in your swimming pool since it keeps it much cleaner, clearer, and mostly because it is much safer. Proper pool circulation is the key to keeping clean and safe swimming water. You will be able to enjoy your swimming pool because a swimming pool with good circulation rarely has issues like cloudy water or an algae infestation. Keep your pump and filter system running daily to maximize water circulation.
You should run your pool pump at least 10 to 12 hours a day (ideally it should never stop). You also should not forget about backwashing your filter very frequently. The method you use to clean and backwash your filter depends on the type of filter you have.
Check Your Water Level
Your water needs to be right at the center level of your pool skimmer or pool tile for optimal results and performance. In case it is too low, it runs the pump dry and it can burn it out. On the other hand, if it is too high, the skimmer door that collects debris in the skimmer will not work.
Administer Shock and Algaecide Care
The water may need a little boost to keep it clear and sparkling, even if you maintain proper chlorine and pH levels in your pool. You should shock or super-chlorinate your swimming pool to kill any lingering bacteria or algae that may be growing at least once every week. Where can you get shock treatments? You should be able to get it in any pool supply store. It is important to read the package instructions carefully to know how much shock to add to the water (it differs depending on the size of your pool).
If you notice algae growing on the swimming pool walls, you should immediately treat the water with a product designed specifically to kill algae.
Clean Pool Filters
Your filter should be cleaned as needed on a regular basis. If it is clogged up, it won’t filter properly.
Schedule Ahead
Don’t rely on remembering everything. Write down your pool maintenance routine and tape it on the wall, or put it on your fridge, or near your swimming pool. If you are not available to do some tasks, just ask other members of the household to help you with maintaining a nice and clean swimming pool that you can all enjoy together afterwards. You can even set up a Google calendar so you see if people completed their tasks or not!
Monitor Your Pool
The best way to keep your swimming pool safe and clean is to monitor it regularly and take preventative steps when problems occur. We made sure to make a list of questions to help you monitor your pool. What exactly you should pay attention to?
- Are the returns in the sidewall of the pool weak?
- Is the in-floor cleaning system working correctly? Your pool should be free of 99 percent of dirt and debris.
- How is the water clarity in your pool? Is the water an abnormal colours? The bottom should be visible and the water crystal clear.
- Is the drain at the bottom running and not blocked?
- Is your hose cleaner moving as it should?
- Are there any abnormal odours?
Learn to maintain your pool or patio enclosure year-round for longevity and optimal function through this article in our blog.
Hopefully, you are happy with your answers and just made sure your swimming pool is safe and sound.
