The Top 7 Tips For Maintaining Your Swimming Pool
If you are lucky enough to own a swimming pool then you will probably understand that its not always a simple task to keep your pool sparkling clean. The key is to always stay on top of it, these days we know life is always busy but without a proper maintenance schedule, your pool could succumb to many unhealthy conditions such as green water, algae, damaged filters and much more. Obviously, no one wants a dirty pool, let’s take a look at 7 helpful maintenance tips to keep your pool looking sparkling clean all year round.
1. Cleaning Pool Filters is essential
Your pool’s filter is constantly working to remove dirt, grime, leaves, toys, and all other types of impurities. The majority of the time the filter can be cleaned whilst it is turned off. Simply just turn the cap, lift out the basket and remove any debris that is caught in the basket, this is recommended to be done once each week. Another area that needs to be cleaned once a month is the pipes, this can be done by backwashing. All you need to do is set your filter to backwash then remove your basket and give it a good clean. Once that has been done you will need to turn on your pump and let it run until the water turns clear. An important tip to take note of is that the filter doesn’t need to run all day, doing this could cause problems, your best option is to set the timer to 6 hours each day, doing this will ensure your filter is working efficiently.
2- Scrubbing and skimming
Scrubbing the walls of your pool regularly will prevent algae and calcium build-up which will prevent larger problems down the track. Depending on what material your pool is made from will determine what type of brush you should use. For concrete pools use a stiff bristle harder brush, for vinyl and fibreglass pools a softer bristle brush should be used. When cleaning tiles, to ensure no damage is made and to prevent scratches use a soft brush. For a truly sparkling clean pool, skimming the leaves and debris of the top of your pool should be done daily. The easiest way is to use a long-handled net which will make it easier to remove leaves, dirt, debris, and insects from the surface.
3- Vacuuming your pool
Vacuuming your pool should be done at least once a week. Doing this regularly will ensure your water stays clean and clear of dirt and debris, it will also greatly reduce the number of chemicals you will need to add to your pool.
4- Check the PH Levels
When someone says to “check” your Ph Levels in your pool, they are referring to the amount of acidity in the water. When looking at a PH scale the numbers range from 0-14. 7 means it is neutral if your pool is showing that the PH is above 7 it means it is basic, anything below 7 means the water is acid. It is recommended to check the PH levels each day, if not each day then every second day to ensure you stay on top of it. A general rule of thumb is that the PH levels should be between 7.2 and 7.6.
5- Water Level
When it comes to the water level of your pool this will fluctuate for many reasons such as a heavy rainstorm, kids diving and jumping in the pool, and evaporation. It is important to maintain a level that is halfway up the opening of your skimmer, if the level is too low it could damage the pool pump. If you find that the water is too low, use a garden hose to bring it up to the required level. When you have reached the correct level, always remember to recheck the chemicals as water level changes can throw them off balance.
5- Using a pool cover
Pool covers are a fantastic option for many reasons. They are a great way to keep debris out such as dirt, leaves, and insects and will reduce water and chemical evaporation in your pool. An important tip if using a pool cover, sunlight naturally reduces the amount of chlorine in your pool so when the cover is in use it would be a good idea to turn down the chlorinator to save using an unnecessary amount
6- – Shocking your pool
Shocking your pool is something that should be done once every few weeks especially in the busier seasons such as spring and summer. Shocking your pool means to drastically change the chlorine levels for a short amount of time which in hand kills all bacteria such as algae. Doing this will keep your pool sparkling clean and will ensure all bacteria has been killed away. It is important to remember to always run your pump whilst shocking your pool and to let it circulate for 24 hours. Please remember that you cannot swim in your pool until the chlorine levels are back to normal, the time this takes varies but the general rule would be to wait for 24 hours.
7- Using a tennis ball to absorb oils
A helpful handy hint that you may not have heard of before is using a tennis ball to absorb oils. Yes, that’s right, a tennis ball you would normally play catch or cricket with can actually help with keeping your pool clean. After people have swum in your pool certain oils are left in the water such as suntan lotions, natural oils from your skin and even hair lotions which can cause the pool to become cloudy. While this isn’t the best to think about and may make you feel a bit queazy the simple solution is to throw a tennis ball in the water, the fibres from the tennis ball will absorb all the oils which will prevent leaving a greasy layer on top of your pool.
Keeping your pool sparkling clean all year round may seem like a daunting task but if you follow a routine schedule and stay on top of it, it’s not as hard as you may think. It is extremely important to stay on top of your cleaning and maintenance as leaving things and letting them go could cost you more money and time in the long run. Here at Barrier Reef Pools we have over 30 years experience in the pool industry, as well as building a wide range of top quality fibreglass pools we also have extensive knowledge when it comes to maintaining your pool and are happy to help in any way we can. Feel free to give us a call today!
