The Do’s & Don'ts Of Maintaining Your Swimming Pool
- Written by Daily Bulletin
Homeowners who have a swimming pool in their backyard know that taking care of it requires quite a bit of effort. From cleaning the tiles (and pool tile repair if necessary) to checking the water pH levels, there are many steps involved in ensuring your pool is safe and functioning properly. To help you out, we’ve put together a detailed list of all the do's and don'ts to keep in mind when it comes to owning and maintaining your swimming pool.
Pool Maintenance Do's
- Check the Water pH Regularly
The optimal range for pool water is 7.2-7.8 on the pH scale, as anything higher or lower than this could cause damage to your pool surface as well as skin irritation for swimmers. Test your pool’s pH level twice a week during peak season and once a week during non-peak season. You can do this with an at-home testing kit or by taking a sample to your local pool store for testing.
- Vacuum Your Pool
Keeping debris off the bottom of your pool will help keep it clean, so make sure you vacuum regularly using either an automatic or manual vacuum cleaner. This should be done at least once per week during peak season, and every other week during non-peak season depending on how often you use your pool.
- Shock Your Pool
Shocking your pool helps keep algae growth in check as well as eliminating any contaminants that may have been introduced into the water from heavy use or rainwater runoff from storms. Shock treatments should be done at least once per month, but more often if you use your pool frequently throughout the summer months.
- Clean Your Tiles Regularly
Having clean tiles is important both aesthetically and functionally, as dirt build up can cause tile damage over time, which can lead to costly repairs down the line. To prevent this, use an appropriate cleaner designed specifically for pool tiles and scrub them weekly with a brush or sponge to ensure they stay sparkling clean all summer long.
Pool Maintenance Don'ts
- Don’t Overfill It
Overfilling your swimming pool can put too much pressure on its walls, which could weaken them over time, eventually leading to structural damage. Always make sure you don’t fill it past its maximum capacity when adding new water after rainstorms or heavy use periods.
- Don’t Use Too Much Chlorine
While chlorine is essential for keeping bacteria levels low in any swimming pool, using too much can actually damage its surface by causing discolouration of both the tiles and grout lines around them. This is due to chemical reactions with other chemicals present in the water (e.g. chlorine stabilisers). Test your chlorine levels regularly with an at-home testing kit or by taking a sample of water to your local store for analysis.
- Don’t Skimp on Filter Cartridges
Filter cartridges are responsible for trapping debris like leaves, dirt and grass clippings before they enter into your swimming pool, so make sure you change them out frequently - at least every three months - to ensure they remain effective at doing their job.
- Don’t Drain it Too Often
Draining too much water from your swimming pool can cause dry spots on its surface, which could lead to cracking if left untreated. Plus, draining it too often also wastes valuable resources like energy and money, since refilling takes time and costs money!
Ready to get started?
Owning a swimming pool is great, but it does come with certain responsibilities. Simply follow these tips and you should have no problems keeping yours looking pristine all summer long!
Daily Bulletin