Consistent swimming pool maintenance is important to a great swimming season. A few minutes a day to test and inspect your pool will nip any nasty surprises in the bud. A few hours a week to clean the pool will extend the life of all of its components. The result of this minimal effort will be a swimming pool that you and your family will enjoy for many seasons to come.
Better Swimming Through Water Chemistry
Think about it. A swimming pool is a large, open water source. The quality of the water suffers from the dirt and debris in the immediate environment and even from the oils and dirt on the skin of swimmers. Maintaining the proper water chemistry is critical to having a swimming pool that is healthy and attractive.
Keeping your water in balance starts with a testing kit. A swimming pool test kit checks the levels of important properties of the pool water. Test kits can tell you about your pool water's chlorine level, pH, alkalinity and water hardness. Testing your pool twice a week during swimming season will alert you to small problems early.
Test kits come in two forms: strip and liquid-based. Strip test are the most convenient: the user dips a treated strip of paper into the pool water. Comparing the colored pads on the strip to a chart reveals the levels of water properties. Liquid test kits are more expensive and complex, but offer the most accurate way to test water properties.
Once you've tested your water, adjusting its properties is a matter of adding the right chemicals. Many sites on the Web offer information on the chemical treatment of your pool. A local pool professional can provide knowledge on local conditions that will help to keep your water clear and healthy.
Filtered Water is Happy Water
Your swimming pool's filter is critical for keeping your pool water healthy. Your goal should be to filter all of the water in your pool at least once in a 24 hour period. Checking your pump's gallons per hour (GPH) rating will help you calculate how long to run your filter. As a rule of thumb, your pump should run 1 hour per day for each 10 degrees of pool temperature.
Cleaning Saves Money
Regular cleaning of your pool and its components will lower repair costs and help maintain water quality. Brushing, vacuuming and clearing away debris are all important tasks.
Vacuuming your swimming pool will remove debris that isn't picked up by the filter system. You should vacuum your pool at least once a week, more often when the weather is windy. Be sure to use the right vacuum head for your pool; wheeled vacuum heads can damage vinyl liners.
Brushing the entire surface of your pool will keep stain-forming debris from collecting. Brushing your swimming pool regularly will also keep stop algae from forming. If your pool isn't dirty enough to require vacuuming, consider brushing it down as an alternative.
Finally, be sure to remove debris from your skimmer basket and from the pump filter. Clogged filters and baskets reduce circulation, lowering the effectiveness of your swimming pool's filter system. Check your skimmer basket every few days and after summer storms. In warmer climates, your skimmer may need to be emptied every day toward the end of the season. Early fall leaves will quickly clog the basket.
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