Pool Maintenance – Top 10 Tips For Beginners

When I first set up a pool in my backyard, I thought that was it! Now you can swim all the time and have fun with your friends. But after a while, dirt got into the water, the water became cloudy and evaporated.

Then it became clear that I had to take care of the pool. You can do this in two ways. The first is to hire a specialist.

The second option is to figure out how to maintain the pool and what you need to buy for this.

It’s not difficult at all! And you will enjoy not only a clean pool but also the fact that you are an expert in pool maintenance!

10 Pool Maintenance Tips

A healthy swimming pool means a happy owner. Pool maintenance is the basis of a good holiday with friends in summer. There are usually two pool types considered. But both in-ground pool maintenance and aboveground pool maintenance don’t differ too much.  

Buy basic equipment and tools:

1. Removing debris from the pool surface

The first thing you need to learn to do regularly is to remove debris from the pool’s surface. To do this, buy a manual skimmer with a long handle. It will help collect insects, fallen leaves, and other debris from the swimming pool.

This manual pool cleaning will help your filter perform more efficiently. If such cleaning is not carried out, the debris will settle to the bottom, making it difficult to get it.

2. Vacuuming the Pool and Brushing the Walls and Tile

A pool vacuum cleaner is a piece of equipment that can save you time and effort when cleaning your pool. Such a vacuum cleaner will do all the work for you. A general recommendation is to vacuum the pool every week. But depending on the situation, you can set yourself when to vacuum the pool.

There are many types of pool vacuum cleaners – robotic, pressure-side, in-floor vacuum cleaners, and some others. Pick one depending on your budget, size of the pool, and time available for cleaning. The most affordable type of pool vacuum cleaner is a handheld vacuum. It works much as a home vacuum cleaner: urn it on and start moving across the pool surface.

You should never forget to clean the walls of your pool. If you don’t clean the walls, algae and deposits will build up in the pool. It all rots and becomes a significant hazard to your health.

To choose the right pool brush for cleaning the walls, you need to know the material your pool walls are made of. Is it a concrete underground pool with plaster, or an underground pool decorated with tiles, or an aboveground pool with vinyl walls?

For stucco concrete pools, choose a stiff bristle brush. For vinyl walls, a softer brush will work. For tiles, also use a soft brush to avoid scratching or damaging the grout.

3. Backwashing the Filter

Backwashing pool filters saves money and time and maximizes filter life without compromising filter performance.

Note that each filter has its own backwash instructions.

– Sand filters

The backwash is done once every 1-2 weeks (if the pool is rarely used) or two times a week (if the pool is used intensively). At the same time, a complete replacement of sand is made once every 2-3 years and at maximum load — 1 time a year.

– Cartridge filters

They are usually washed once a month and replaced every three months. Cartridge filters can be reused. To do this, rinse the cartridge thoroughly with water and place it in a container with detergent. It will dissolve fats and remove fine dirt that has not been washed off with running water.

Before reinstalling, rinse the cartridge well with water and put it back into the filter.

Note that your cartridge will not work in full after such a procedure.

Indirect signs that show the need for backwash:

As a rule, they are guided by the readings of the pressure gauge. They will signal the need for backwash much earlier than water.

– Diatomaceous filter (D.E)

Backwashing the diatomaceous filter is simply backwashing the diatom earth inside and removing the already used material. Never do this job yourself, as it can be very dangerous. Call the professionals!

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Advice!  If possible check the filter every time after vacuuming and cleaning it from the dirt. 

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4. Cleaning the Pool Filter and the Skimmer Basket

I have already mentioned the types of pool filters. They all need periodic cleaning, as a dirty filter will never work efficiently enough.

Pool filter cleaning can be tricky, and there are many steps to take, but you shouldn’t skip this.

Another important piece of pool cleaning equipment is a skimmer basket. It may help you a lot with removing debris from the water surface and keeping your pool filter clean for a longer time.

Just remember to periodically empty the skimmer basket from the debris. This will allow it to effectively treat the cleaning water in your pool. It’s not difficult at all! You won’t even need an instruction!

5. Getting Professional Service for a Pool Heater

Pool heaters may be the last equipment in your pool that will ever need any special maintenance. Gas and electric heaters have been able to work without breakage for several years. 

However, if you are still concerned about pool heaters, you should seek for professional help. The cause of breakdown can be very different. For repair, it may be necessary to disassemble the heaters completely. 

In terms of pool maintenance costs, if you run into problems with your heaters, you can spend around $ 100 or more hiring a professional to help you.

6. Adjusting the Chemicals

6.1 Test Your Water & Balance Chemicals.

Water testing is the step that you can’t miss in any case. Human health depends on it. It’s better to make sure you’re swimming in safe water. You will need a test strip, a test kit, or an electronic device to test the water. Do this 2-3 times a week.

Balance Chemicals according to these indicators:

6.2 Shocking a Swimming Pool

Pool shock, also known as pool chlorination, consists of adding chlorine to the pool water to disinfect it – getting rid of chloramine (turbid water), pollutants, bacteria, preventing the growth of algae, ammonia other living organisms in your pool. You should shock every 1-2 weeks. 

You may also want to shock your pool after periods of heavy use or weathering in these cases:

7. Checking and Maintaining the Water Level

The water level is an important thing that you should check closely not to damage your skimmers. Naturally, the pool water will become less.

Leaving the pool, swimming, spray it and do not forget about the natural evaporation. Add water to the pool whenever you notice that there is not enough of it.

8. Finding and Repairing Leaks

Sometimes it happens that you can confuse the causes of water loss. It is often challenging to determine that you leak. The flow of the bowl in the frame pool is not so easy to determine. First, the place of liquid discharge is checked – the valve, everything that is around it.

The water may leak due to the occurrence of microcracks or small holes caused by damage to the housing. If the leak is at the bottom, you can determine it by the grains of the quarrel that will accumulate at the site of damage. Call a professional if you find a leak.

9. Winterizing Your Pool

Preparing the pool for winter is the most important thing to do with the onset of cold weather. If you do not carry out the insulation in time, you will get a broken pool that is not suitable for use.

Shortly, you will need to:

It sounds simple, but it is actually not. There are many small steps to take, and you should take them correctly. But if you have a pool, you’ll have to figure it out!

10. Preparing Your Pool for Swimming Season

If you did all correct in the previous step, you’ll get a pool that is sufficiently well insulated and prepared for the early swimming season. Nevertheless, you’ll have to take additional steps before actually being able to swim in your swimming pool again. Read my tips below.

Before opening the pool cover, it is necessary to clean the area around your swimming pool. You can use a hose or a broom to sweep away or wash away the garbage.

After that, you can fill the pool with water, turn on the equipment. It is also necessary to open the skimmer line valve.

Check the water chemistry and perform a pool shock. After a week, you will be able to start using your pool.

Leave the pump running 24 hours a day, and reduce the run by only an hour or two each day until the water is balanced.

Pool Maintenance Tips for Vacation

Vacation pool maintenance is not as difficult as it seems to be. I’ll explain everything now.

Find a Neighbor or a Friend

If you can’t or don’t know how to conduct Vacation Pool Maintenance thoroughly, then the best solution would be to ask a neighbor or friend to do it for you.

Ask them:

Get Your Water Checked Before You Go

It is necessary to test the pool water for chemical balance to ensure that the water in the pool is healthy. Only then can you go.

Here are the water balance requirements:

pH:	7.4 to 7.6
Alkalinity:	100 parts per million (ppm) to 150 ppm, with 125 ppm being ideal
Calcium Hardness:	175 ppm to 225 ppm, or 200 ppm to 275 ppm for concrete and plaster pools
For Chlorine pools:	1 ppm to 3 ppm
For Bromine Pools:	3 ppm to 5 ppm
For Biguanide Pools:	30 ppm to 50 ppm
For Salt Water Pools:	0.5 ppm of chlorine
For Mineral System Pools:	0.5 ppm of chlorine

Get A Pool Pump Timer

The pool pump timer is an essential part of your pool. Also, it is very convenient. 

Set the timer to run the pool at least 8 to 12 hours a day. Running your pump and filter is very important to keep your pool clear, and it’s better to leave a timer in charge rather than a human.

Conclusion

At first, it may seem like pool maintenance is not an easy task. But after my guidance, it doesn’t seem all that hard.

Make a maintenance schedule for your pool and follow it step by step. After a few times, you will come to the conclusion that taking care of the pool is so much simple.

Enjoy your swimming in a clean above ground pool or ground pool!!