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Summer is the time when swimming pools are used the most, and because of that, they also require the most care. If you fall behind on these tasks, your swimming pool can develop issues that prevent you from enjoying the crystal clear water. With this in mind, it’s important to start the season off right and have a clear plan of action for how you plan to maintain your pool over the summer months.
Let’s dig right into some smart, basic summer maintenance tips for your swimming pool.
Keep on Top of Chlorine Levels – Shock your pool once a week to remove buildup of contaminants and maintain chlorine levels. If you have a lot of swimmers in your pool, or the weather has been particularly hot, the chlorine can burn off even faster.
Clean the Pool – Brush, skim and empty the skimmer and filter baskets once a week. Removing debris from the pool keeps it clean and looking its best. It also prevents the chlorine depletion, as too much debris causes valuable chlorine to be lost and algae to form.
Allow the Pump to Run – In order to keep the water clean and clear, the pump must run. Proper filtration removes particles and debris and prevents the water from clouding up. Ideally, you should run the pump enough to circulate all the water in your pool at least 3 times each day during the summer months. For most pumps to accomplish this they will need to run for 12-18 hours. During the cooler parts of the year, the pump can run less often.
Test the Water Frequently – Test the water 1-3 times per week. The more you do it, the more you can keep on top of the water quality, and notice potential problems early on. If the water is kept in balance, you’re sanitizer will work more efficiently and you will have better success in keeping your pool clear and clean.
Check the Water Level – Once a week, check and monitor the water level, and adjust as needed. The water level should be at the center of the tile or skimmer. This will help you identify potential leaks as well as keep the water at the right level.
Clean the Filters – Some cartridge filters only need to be cleaned once every 4-6 months, or potentially after a severe storm. Others need to be cleaned weekly. Filters need to soaked in a filter cleaning solution designed to decrease and clean. Muriatic acid is usually not recommended by the manufacturer as it will damage the cartridge filter and lessen its life span.
Wipe Down the Tile – To prevent buildup from forming on the pool tile, wipe it clean each week.
Don’t forget to spend time enjoying your pool! Most of these tasks are made easier when you know you’ll be spending all weekend basking in the sun!
