Once a pool builder has done all the hard work of installing your new swimming pool, it’s up to you to keep your new pool clean and maintained. Your pool needs regular cleaning and work as much as your house or your car. Fortunately, cleaning a swimming pool is not especially difficult. With this helpful swimming pool maintenance guide, you can easily maintain a clean, enjoyable pool for you and your family.
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Pool Cleaning Checklist
Keeping your swimming pool clean and pleasant is a simple task. Between preventive work and specific cleaning tasks, your pool will stay sanitary for a long time. Check each of these tasks off during your pool cleaning session:
- Water circulation
- Cleaning the water
- Balancing your pool’s chemistry
- Shock your pool
- Scheduling your pool cleanings
1) Water Circulation
Stagnant water is the perfect place for algae to grow and for dirt to accumulate with time. You can easily avoid this unpleasant problem by making sure your pool water circulates regularly. If you’d rather not leave your pool filter running constantly, make sure to at least let it run for 10-12 hours per day regardless of whether or not your pool has been used that day. Not only will this prevent any grime from building up, but it will also keep your pool safe to swim in without getting sick from accumulating bacteria.
2) Cleaning the Water
Some contaminants in your pool water are easy enough to remove without a filter. Use a net to scoop out bugs or leaves, and vacuum your pool about once a week.
Don’t forget about the subtler contaminants too. Sunscreen, makeup, or sweat can leave an oily film on the top of your pool water. Get rid of the oil with specially designed oil absorbers or tennis balls floating in your pool for about a day to absorb the excess.
3) Balancing Your Pool’s Chemistry
This step is crucial to maintaining the proper level of chemicals in your pool water. During your weekly pool skimming session, sample the water and test its pH and chlorine levels. Add more chemicals as needed to keep your pool water clean and safe.
Pro Tip: Different pool chemical kits come with different contents. Before you buy one, talk to your pool contractor for their expert input on how to maintain your swimming pool’s chemistry.
4) Shock Your Pool
Despite your best efforts, sometimes your pool just needs a thorough cleaning. Maybe a pool party left your water looking oily, or maybe the filter broke down temporarily. Whatever the case, a quick shock to your pool can help. Shocking your pool refers to adding especially strong cleaning chemicals and allowing the pump to run overnight (approximately 8 hours) to circulate the shock through all the water. It’s generally best to do this at night since the heat and light from the sun will not react well with pool shock.
5) Scheduling Your Pool Cleanings
Generally, pool owners should perform a basic pool cleaning every week, and a more thorough inspection and shock every month. However, your circumstances may mean another schedule works better. If your pool is used on a near-daily basis, it may need a surface cleaning two to three times a week and a thorough scrub twice a month. On the other hand, a seldom-used pool can go longer between cleanings. Consider how often your pool is used and how clean or dirty it’s left afterward. How often does it need a thorough cleaning?
A Clean Pool is a Happy Pool!
A newly cleaned swimming pool is not only more sanitary for your family, but it also simply looks more appealing. With crystal clear water and a freshly sanitized pool filter, your backyard swimming space is at its best right after cleaning. Take advantage of this swimming pool maintenance guide to help you keep it that way.
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