Tips for How to Take Care of a Swimming Pool

One of the most refreshing things to do on a hot, sunny day is taking a dip in your swimming pool. But it’s disappointing to find leaves and pollen floating on the surface! Who wants to swim in that?

All those leaves and organic debris floating in the water can decay, causing algae and bacteria to form. Not only does this look bad, but it could also create expensive problems down the road.

Do you know how to take care of a swimming pool? Whether you already have a pool or are considering ways to finance and build a new one, it’s important you know how to take care of it.

A few minutes of maintenance every day will keep your pool sparkling fresh and ready for you to use. Here are some easy tips to keep your swimming pool clean and running properly.

How to Clean a Swimming Pool Day-to-Day

One of the easiest ways how to clean the water in a swimming pool is to manually skim obvious debris off the surface of the water.

Using a long-handled skimmer, walk around the pool and skim off any leaves, insects, flowers, or other debris you see. Do this in the morning to catch anything that landed in the pool overnight and your pool will be more inviting to use all day.

Your pool may also have a skimmer basket installed on the side. This also helps to catch contaminants when they’re still on the surface. When debris falls to the bottom, it’s harder to clean and is more likely to decay.

Keep your skimmer working effectively by emptying out the basked every day. Open up the panel and dump out the contents.

While you’re skimming the surface of the pool, you can see if you have enough water. Too much or too little, and your pool skimmer won’t work properly. You want your water to be at the midpoint of the skimmer for the best results.

Finally, check the filter and pressure gauge every day. The filters trap small particles of debris that are harder to get in the net of a skimmer.

You want to check that the filter is clean and has enough pressure. If the pressure is too low or too high, the water won’t flow through it correctly.

How to Take Care of a Swimming Pool Each Week

Once a week, use a pool brush to brush down the sides and bottom of your pool. Try to direct everything towards the main drain. Then, you can use a wet vac to vacuum any sediment off the pool floor.

If you have a chlorine pool, you need to make sure that the pH level is somewhere between 7.2 and 7.8.

If the pH is too high, the pool water will be cloudy and could cause skin irritation. And if it’s too low, the chlorine will dissipate too fast. This will create corrosive water that will damage your pool equipment.

For saltwater pools, the salt level should be between 2,700 and 3,400 ppm (parts per million). Maintaining a proper salinity will help keep algae and bacteria from growing.

Some people recommend “shocking” your pool every couple of weeks to keep the chemistry in balance. During a shock treatment, you overload the water with sanitizer to cleanse it of bacteria, contaminants, and other organic matter.

Monthly Swimming Pool Care

If you have maintained a consistent schedule of daily and weekly cleaning, monthly maintenance should be easy. For instance, you’ve been checking the filter every day to make sure it’s clear of debris. Once a month, use a chemical cleaner to keep it pristine.

Check the calcium hardness level of your water. Too much calcium leads to scaling or water deposits on the walls and equipment. The ideal level is between 200 and 400 ppm.

Another water test is to evaluate the TDS, or total dissolved solids. These include things like metals, salts, or minerals in your water. The recommended level is 1,200 ppm.

Do a quick safety check of your equipment. Make sure that the bolts on all of your ladders, railings, and diving boards are tightened properly. If they’re loose or deteriorating, get them repaired or replaced immediately.

Also, check that the gates and fencing around your pool are in good shape. Make sure any latches are still working properly and the fencing is sturdy. Clear away any items near the fence that could help someone climb over it.

Take a look at the pool motor and pumps. Make sure the seals are secure and everything is functioning normally.

Give all of your tools a thorough cleaning once a month. It’s easy to overlook the skimmer and vacuum, especially when you’re using them regularly.

But it’s important to keep them clean so they don’t bring oil or dirt into the water. Scrub them down with a little dish soap to remove any excess debris.

Once a Year Swimming Pool Maintenance

Pick one month every year to do a yearly checkup of your swimming pool. When it happens during the year isn’t as important as that you do it consistently from year to year.

First, take out the filter and clean it. Use a special chemical bath as recommended by the manufacturer to remove any oils and dirt that are on the surface.

Grease the O-rings on your pump and filter. Check your manufacturer’s recommendations, but this is usually done with silicone grease and Teflon pool lube for best results.

Inspect any pool cleaners and vacuums for wear and tear. Having them serviced once a year to update moving parts will keep them in good condition longer and will save you money.

Finally, you may need to drain your pool every few years. It doesn’t need to happen every year, but usually once every 3-5 years it’s recommended. This will decrease the TDS count and reset any chemical levels that have accumulated.

Enjoy Your Clean and Crystal Clear Swimming Pool

Once you know how to take care of a swimming pool, you can avoid many common problems. Having a consistent maintenance routine will keep your pool clean and clear of cloudy water, scaling, algae, and bacteria. It will also keep your pool safe to use all season long.