A swimming pool lets you relax and enjoy water-based activities during hot months. However, owning a pool is an investment that requires regular maintenance. If you own a pool or plan on getting one, we have a few tips on maintaining it so you can continue to enjoy it.

Start by getting to know your pool.

Begin by getting to know the parts of your pool, their functions, and what helps keep everything operating optimally. These steps can prevent some issues and resolve others when they occur. The typical components of a pool that require ongoing maintenance include the pool’s water, interior, filer system, skimmers and returns.

You can hire professional pool cleaners to maintain your pool, which can become expensive over time. If you prefer, you can do the work yourself, but it requires consistency and an understanding of what to do.

Pool cleaning tips.

Skimming: Skimmers pull water from the pool’s surface and collect dirt before they sink, helping to keep the water clean. Some people also use a leaf skimmer to remove leaves and other debris in the water. It would help if you emptied the skimmer basket weekly.

Vacuum: Keeping the surface of your pool dirt-free can prevent you from getting an infection. Vacuum to remove debris on the pool floor and brush the pool steps, walls, and ladders to loosen hardened debris.

Clean the pool filter: A dirty filter can significantly affect water circulation, resulting in an abnormal odour or cloudy pool, even if the chemical levels are acceptable. The accumulation of particles on the filter can also lead to a sluggish pump. Pay attention to the cleaning process specific to the filter you have.

Preserve water levels: If your pool’s water levels fluctuate, it can throw off the chemical balance. It could also impact how efficiently your water skimmers and filters work. Keeping the water circulating helps the filter and can prevent algae growth and bacteria.

Pay attention to water chemistry: You can use a water testing kit for pool water testing to find out what is in or missing from the water before adding chemicals to it. Check the pH levels to measure acidity, alkalinity, and sanitiser levels. Follow all the directions, and ensure you know what each chemical does. If you need help with this process, have a pool professional test your pool water bi-weekly.

Pool shock: You can pool shock regularly to ensure it stays clean even when the sanitiser is gone. Shocking the pool can raise the free chlorine level and destroy bacteria and algae.

We hope these tips help. Please use this directory to find swimming pool contractors, dealers, equipment, supplies, and related services.

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Sources: Forbes, Lowes, Eco Outdoor, and Swim University.