Who wouldn’t love to have a pool on their property, right? Just think about how you and your family can enjoy long hours lounging on the poolside or taking a dip in the cool waters on a hot summer’s day.
Maybe you’re thinking about getting a pool soon so you’re doing your research and landed on this article – well, good job! With a huge investment that goes into a pool installation (an average of $35,000 for an inground pool according to Forbes) of course, you want to be sure if you’re making the right choice.
Before you go ahead and call a swimming pool contractor, let me remind you that being a pool owner is not all fun and games, it also takes a lot of work. If you want your investment to last for a long time and would only require a few pool repairs for the following years, you have to ensure that it is properly maintained. Yes, you can hire services so someone can look over your pool, but as an owner, it’s also good to know these critical pool maintenance tasks.
Pool Maintenance Tasks To Keep Your Pool in Top Shape
Test water quality
One of the most important pool maintenance tasks that you should do is to test the pool water. Primarily, this is to ensure that the water is safe to swim in so you don’t compromise your and your loved one’s health and safety.
Ideally, the water should be tested at least once a week, and even more, if you’re using the pool heavily. Even in winter and you’re not using the pool, you still have to check the chemical levels every two weeks. Pool water test kits are used to test the pool water chemicals, and these are readily available on home depots and even online. Note that the water should have a pH level of 7.4 to 7.6.
Check water levels
It’s not only the water’s chemicals you want to pay attention to, but you also have to remember to check the pool water levels as well. While it’s normal for the pool water levels to change (e.g. after usage or after heavy rains), it’s important that you keep it at the halfway point of the pool skimmer.
Why does the water level matter, you ask? A water level that’s too low can lead to problems in the pump because this could cause it to run dry, while a water level that’s too high can cause the skimmer door to malfunction.
Maintain filters
clean
Another important task that you shouldn’t miss is to clean the pool’s filter. Make sure to clean it every month if the pool is often used, or 3-6 months during the off-season. You may also want to consider hiring pool maintenance services to have your filters professionally cleaned.
In addition to the pool filter, don’t forget to also inspect the various baskets and collection pots of the pool and remove leaves, hair, or any other debris.
Skim and scrub regularly
Keeping your pool in top shape also involves skimming and scrubbing it regularly. Skimming refers to removing leaves and other debris on the pool surface and should be done daily. Scrubbing, on the other hand, doesn’t have to be done as often, but it’s good to scrub the pool at least every other week to prevent algae growth and keep your pool looking great .
Prepare for winter
Finally, as a pool owner, you have to ensure that your pool is properly winterized before you close it for the freezing months. Doing this will prevent damaging the pool equipment and help ensure that your pool will be in its top shape when you’re ready to use it again in summer.
You can read this step-by-step guide from Home Depot to winterize a pool.
By doing these maintenance tasks above, you can ensure that your (future) swimming pool will remain in tiptop shape so you and your family can enjoy using it for the years to come.
