With the pandemic in full swing, swimming pool sales skyrocketed last year. As summer months approach, and coming off a year of social distancing, you are probably looking for ways to get outdoors with others. A pool is great for recreation, relaxation, and social gatherings. It can even increase your home value.
A neglected pool will do the opposite and could be a huge headache. The reality is that swimming pool maintenance can be a lot of work. Fortunately, there are a few basic maintenance steps that you can include in your routine that will help save you time, effort, and money down the road.
Whether you recently completed a swimming pool installation or want to whip your old one into shape, follow the five rules below to keep your pool looking and functioning great.
1. Water Condition
Keeping your swimming pool water clean goes far beyond making sure it has enough chlorine. (In fact, too much chlorine in your pool can irritate swimmers’ eyes and skin.)
Having the wrong amount of one chemical can impact the others and make your pool susceptible to bacteria. Buy a test kit that can measure the chlorine, pH, alkalinity, bromine, and calcium hardness in your pool. If one is off, you can add various solutions to the water to bring it back into a proper state.
Cloudy pools are a sign of excessive bacteria levels. To address this, you will want to “shock” your pool by raising the chlorine levels. This will kill the bacteria, and allow you to return to a normal level of chlorination.
Also Read: Water Softener Systems: 5 Key Benefits of Having a Water Softener
2. Regular Sweeping
Keeping leaves and other debris out of your pool can go a long way to maintaining a pristine look and to staving off algae. Plan on incorporating this into your daily routine.
If you notice any growth on the sides of your pool, use a brush or rag or wipe them away. An automatic vacuum is helpful in staying on top of cleaning.
3. Clean Your Filtration System
When you install a swimming pool you learn that the filter basket is a major component of its proper operation. About once a week, clean it out. Not only will doing so help your filters run more efficiently, but it will make your system last longer since it will not have to work as hard.
Once a month, while you’re cleaning the basket, backwash the pipes in the filtration system to remove any potential clogs. This is a simple task that can keep everything flowing smoothly.
Also Read: Top 5 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Home
4. Schedule Regular Maintenance
Even if you are not having issues with your pool, it is worth scheduling an annual inspection by a professional. This allows you to catch potential problems before they become serious and keep your pool running as it should. Think of it as getting the oil changed in your car.
A trained technician can check the function of your pool’s pumps and filters and identify leaks or other potential issues. Look around and find a company like Ever-Care that can offer comprehensive maintenance, including pool pump repair:
https://www.evercarepoolandspa.com/pool-pump-repair-replacement-installation/
Swimming Pool Maintenance
Now that you have an idea of what regular swimming pool maintenance entails, you can take the steps to make sure your pool is running swimmingly (get it?). Staying on top of regular maintenance can not only save you more hassle down the road but a lot of money as well.
We hope this information was helpful to you. Be sure to check out some of our other posts on home improvement and design. We cover everything from windows and doors to siding and outdoor living spaces.