Like you cannot keep a car without regular upkeep or your pet without feeding it; similarly, you cannot put off your pool’s maintenance for too long. Your pool can succumb to problems without proper care, such as green water, algae build-up, and broken filters.
Though we recommend hiring professionals to take care of your swimming pool needs, it’s also essential for homeowners to be aware of the basic maintenance tips for their pool.
Here are some tips to help you keep your pool in great condition for years.
Skim the Surface
Set a realistic pool cleaning schedule using tools such as a pool vacuum, pool brush, and net skimmers to clean the pool’s surface.
Firstly, you must collect all the debris floating on the pool’s surface with a pool skimmer, or else the dirt and debris will eventually sink to the pool floor, making it hard to remove. Skimming prevents clogging and improves your swimming pool’swater circulation system.
Pool vacuums also come in handy for removing dirt from the pool surface. It provides easy and quick solutions to removing litter, leaves, and algae.
Scrub off the pool’s walls, steps, and base by using a pool brush to avoid getting an infection and prevent algae build-up. Fill the floor with chlorine and allow it to remove any bacteria in the pool.
Now that you’re cleaning pool walls and surfaces, it’s time to wash the deck and ensure it’s clean so that the dirt doesn’t end up in the pool. This includes picking up and discarding used items, removing trash cans, and power cleaning deck surfaces.
Clean the Pool Filter
The filter is responsible for removing impurities from the water. It can clean off the dirt, debris, leaves, and other particles that are floating around in your pool.
Having abnormal pool signs, including pool odor, clogged drain, and inefficient hose cleaner, means it is time for a filter system wash-down. Utilizing the ‘backwash’ in the filter can help you clean the filter system. You should clean your filter once a week and your pipes connected to the filter system at least once a month.
Cover Your Swimming Pool
Many homeowners neglect this vital pool maintenance step as debris can enter the pool if not covered. It’s common for pools to be covered right before the winter season, so they don’t become littered with dead leaves and twigs. But if you want to make your swimming pool last, cover it up every time it’s not operational.
Make sure the cover is completely dry before putting it on. This is because the water gathered on top of the cover will freeze in winter, ending up running into the pool when the summer arrives.
Moreover, getting the right size for the pool is equally important. A cover that fits your pool makes life easier in the summer. As days become warmer and you get excited about dipping into your beloved pool again, you would not want to groan about cleaning it then. A perfectly fitting pool cover benefits your pool by:
Keeping dirt away
Saving cleaning time
Reducing pool heating costs.
Cutting down on chemicals
Watch Out for Any Leaks
Sometimes it could be challenging to determine whether the lower water levels are because of a leak or evaporation. If you want to discover leaks in the pool, you can do it by a simple test with a bucket. Fill a bucket 3/4 with water.
Place the plastic bucket in your pool, and then mark the water level that appears on the outside of the bucket. Inside the bucket, mark the level of water. Let the bucket float for two days, and if the water inside the bucket and in the pool has reduced by the same level, your pool water is evaporating, and there are no leaks.
Maintaining Your Pool’s pH Level
PH level is one of the most critical factors determining your pool water quality. The pH value of your pool’s water indicates the degree of base (alkali) or acid present in it. The pH level is measured from zero to 14, where 7 is the neutral point.
A pH value lower than 7.0 means that your pool water is acidic, and a pH value above 7.0 indicates that the pool water is alkaline or basic. However, you shouldn’t confuse it with the water’s total alkalinity. The total alkalinity and pH value of your pool water aren’t the same, but they can influence each other.
Once you’re through your cleaning process, testing the pool water is essential. Ensure your pool water chemistry is balanced and the pH level is between 7-7.6.
A Higher pH Value Reduces the Effectiveness of Chlorine
When your pool water is basic or overly alkaline, the effectiveness of chlorine in the water will reduce. To counter this effect, you need to add more and more amount of chlorine to the water, and you will need to replace the chlorine more frequently. This adds to the overall monthly maintenance costs of your swimming pool.
The Unbalanced pH Value Can Damage Your Pools Liners
When the pH value of the water falls below 7.2, the liners could expand, resulting in wrinkling. Whereas with a high pH value, the vinyl liners will deteriorate faster, and you will need to replace them more frequently.
Acidic Water Can Lead to Corrosion
As stated earlier, a lower pH value makes the water more acidic, and the acid erodes your pool’s mechanical equipment, including supports for the diving board, ladders, and slides. If the water is too acidic, it can also affect the plaster of your pool which may lead to costly renovations.
The Unbalanced pH Value Can Cause Skin Irritation
Whether your pool water is too acidic or alkaline, it can lead to skin and eye irritation. The water would start to sting in your eyes, and you might feel rashes on sensitive skin parts. Both low and high pH values can affect the natural skin oils, making your skin dry and itchy.
Test Your Pool Water
Pool water should be tested once every two weeks. If your pool is new, you should check the water daily to get an average reading for everything and notice the fluctuations and trends.
Alkalinity, pH, chlorine level, and calcium hardness are the primary chemical levels to examine in the pool water. You could also try checking for stabilizers and metals in some cases. The recommended levels for maintaining balanced and healthy pool water are as follows.
pH Level
The pH level of the pool water should ideally be between 7.2 and 7.6. Pool water in this range poses no risks.
Chlorine
Ideal chlorine levels in the pool water should be 1-3 ppm.
Bromine
Ideal bromine levels in the pool water should be 3-5 ppm.
Alkalinity
The alkalinity of the pool water should be between 120 ppm and 150 ppm.
Calcium Hardness
Ideal calcium hardness in pool water depends on your pool type. If you have a concrete pool, the perfect calcium hardness should be anywhere between 200 ppm to 250 ppm. If you have a vinyl pool, the calcium hardness must be between 175 ppm and 225 ppm.
Metals
There should ideally be no metals in pool water, and the reading should come up as 0 ppm. Common metals found in pool water are copper, manganese, and iron. There are multiple sources of these metals getting into the pool water. Exposure to these metals, especially in significant quantity, can be hazardous for health.
Removing metals from water is easy and can be done by hiring a professional pool contractor with experience in such a job.
Other Chemicals for Improving Water Clarity
Enzymes help you break down any odor in the water and remove nonliving contaminants and oils that may be found in your pool water.
Phosphate removers help to breakdown any force fit that might be present in your pool water, which helps in removing algae
Algaecides help you prevent any algae growth found in your water
Invest in Pool Privacy
While planning and redesigning your outdoor living spaces, pools, and patios, your neighbors are getting a good view of everything in your home.
Fencing your outdoor spaces is a great way to keep peepers and pesky neighbors at bay while you enjoy the sun by your beautiful pool but getting a pergola is much better. The overhead canopy will give you and your family tons of privacy and protect you from harmful UV radiation.
A pergola and overhead will also come in handy when it rains, protecting your lovely pool and expensive hardscape items from water damage.
Benefits of Investing in Pool Maintenance
Besides a pool’s irreplaceable aesthetic appeal, there are loads more benefits the facility has to offer to you and your family. Let’s go over how having a maintained backyard pool can dramatically improve your life.
Boost Your Home Value
If you ever decide to put your house on the market, a contemporary swimming pool in your backyard will increase its home value substantially. Homebuyers are attracted to unique selling points when browsing for a new home, so even if the pool installation didn’t cost you as much, the return you see on your investment would be far greater anyway. This benefit may take a while, but it’s well worth the wait.
Host Parties at Your Convenience
Hosting parties at your house will be a next-level experience with a pool area in your backyard. The pool will be a multi-functional space you and your guests can use to hang out or dip in—whatever you may fancy. Plus, a pool never feels out of place regardless of the kind of party it is. So maintaining your outdoor living space, including a pool, can be a long-term investment for your future parties.
Health Benefits
Swimming is a whole-body workout that strengthens all the muscles. Swimming for 30 minutes can help you burn 250 calories. Keeping your pool maintained can prevent multiple infections and water-borne diseases.
Why Hiring Professional Pool Contractor Is a Good Idea
Maintaining your pool can become a huge chore as pool cleaning goes beyond collecting leaves and other litter from the surface. Hiring an expert pool contractor will save you a lot of hassle in the future and allow you to sit back and relax in the pool without worrying about its maintenance.
Here’s why hiring a professional pool maintenance service is so important.
Saves Time
If you keep an eye on your pool but never get it checked professionally, it’ll cost you a fortune to replace it entirely. However, contacting your local pool maintenance providers on time and having them lend you a hand can save you a lot of time and money. Pool maintenance service providers ensure that your equipment works well and the pH level is perfect.
Equipment Check
Professional pool contractors spot pool damage before you do. Not only can they service your pumps and filters, but they will also ensure that the motor stays in working condition. They can detect a problem in no time and work to fix it before it becomes unmanageable.
Proper Chemical Balance
The wrong pH levels can damage your skin, irritate your nose and cause a burning sensation in your eyes. This is why it’s essential to get your pool checked by a professional pool builder.
Hire an Expert Pool Designer
The key to cleaning your pool is getting it checked routinely by a professional. But, if you need a pool renovation, get in touch with pool contractors in Sterling. At Perfect Pools, we are expert outdoor pool designers and builders who’ll design the pool of your dreams.
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