Taking the time to make a proper pool maintenance schedule to handle the regular tasks rather than to rely on your memory or instinct is an important step for any pool owner.
After all, there’s no point in having a swimming pool if it isn’t clean enough to swim in, so investing the time to make a schedule will pay off dividends in the end.
Stay on top of maintenance, rather than trying to fix things later
Some things in life can be put off until tomorrow without any consequences.
And then there is swimming pool maintenance.
Keeping a swimming pool in optimal condition is a balancing act. If you decide to take a break from your regular maintenance schedule for a few weeks just because you don’t plan to swim then you’re going to need to put a lot more time in to get the pool back to prime condition.
So spending a few minutes a day will save you the bother of spending several hours fixing a mess later.
Your pool’s chemicals influence each other
Water chemistry can be complex. If your readings show that one factor needs improvement, taking big steps to correct that might knock some of the other measures off.
Fortunately, there are lots of tools and helpful resources for helping you understand how to handle everything. You can also talk with a local pool contractor like Pool Craft to get learn more about ways that you can deal with unexpected fluctuations.
Again, staying on top of the little issues and fixing them as soon as possible will help avoid any giant problems. It’s better to be proactive than reactive.
Be consistent
Once you’ve got a routine down, don’t suddenly switch up your process or your chemicals unless it’s clear that it isn’t working.
Before the swimming season starts, it’s a good idea to talk with a local pool store so that you are as prepared as possible for dealing with the conditions you’re going to face in your own backyard. Then, choose your weapons and stick with them. A sudden change in chemicals on a whim or as the result of a sale on a competing brand might be enough to knock your system out of whack and cause some long hours to get everything back on track.
Work around your swimming habits
The last thing you want is to dump a bunch of chemicals into your pool just moments before the kids race out of the house and dive into the water.
Be aware of when the pool is usually in use so that you can work around those hours. Maybe it means that your regular maintenance needs to be done in the morning — but that’s worth it if it keep as much chlorine as possible in the pool and out of your swimmers’ eyes.
Your Pool Maintenance Tasklist
Daily Tasks
Run your pump: Depending on the size of your pool, you should run your pump for around 12 hours a day. This will give it enough time to filter through the water two or three times, which will go a long way to keeping the bigger issues at bay.
Twice per Week Tasks:
Skim and Brush: Depending on the landscaping situation around your pool, this might need to be done a little more or less often. You may also want to go out with the skimmer after windy days or whenever else, as necessary.
Balance Chemicals: Monitor the pH, alkalinity, chlorine and other chemical levels and add product as needed. There are lots of swimming pool maintenance kits that can help you determine how much chemical to use for your size of pool. If you do this twice a week, you won’t ever need to make significant changes.
Weekly Tasks
Vacuum: Take care of debris and dirt in your pool by running the vacuum regularly. Allow your automatic vacuum to run for several hours – but make sure that it’s doing its job! You may need to manually scrub or sweep away some stubborn debris if you want to avoid stains.
Shock the Pool: This is an important step for keeping algae and bacteria at bay. Shocking the pool once a week, or just after an event where lots of people were swimming, will keep your water at its best.
Test the Water: You can use a water testing kit at home, or you can bring your water in to your local pool company to get it professionally tested. Either way, you want to be up-to-date on the condition of your water.
Monthly Tasks
Check ladder and equipment: Over the course of a summer, your pool equipment will take a lot of strain. Schedule some time at least once a month to thoroughly check over all your ladders, steps and equipment to make sure it’s up to the task of the next swim!
Enjoy summer!
The last and perhaps most important item on your list is to enjoy summer! Make the most of the long hours filled with sunshine while they last.
If you ever have any questions about how to maintain your pool, or if you simply want the professionals to handle all of that for you so you can focus on the swimming part, simply contact Pool Craft today!