6 Simple Steps On Maintaining Your Home Swimming Pool
With summer in full swing and you are the proud owner of a swimming pool in your designer garden, the joy of submerging in the cool and clear water is unbeatable. However, keeping on top of maintenance is essential to ensure your water-based fun is undisturbed! In my latest article, I will offer tips on achieving this goal.
During those hot and sweaty days, having access to a pool (rather than travelling to the local public baths or closest beach) is a fantastic benefit! You can check the local weather report, watch the clouds disperse, see the sunbeams come out, throw on your swimwear and jump straight in!
However, owning a swimming pool requires maintaining and cleaning it regularly and keeping it in usable condition all year round (after all, even winter can be fun with your pool as long as it’s heated!). Whether you are a veteran owner or new to the pool game, this latest article will cover the basics of pool maintenance, get you started, and dispel any complications.
Weekly Routine
Focusing on weekly maintenance will improve your pool’s overall lifespan and cleanliness. Smaller, simple tasks are easily achieved regularly before the dirt and grime mount up (and are tougher to remove!). It is also much more cost-effective, saving you money on cleaning products and tools (to remove stubborn marks) along with time and energy.
If you do not have the time to comment on pool maintenance yourself (and just want to enjoy the water), you could hire a pool cleaner to do the work while you focus on work or other activities. This is a great idea, as your pool will be ready to use each week without having to put in the graft yourself, and time is a valuable commodity.
Another advantage of hiring a team of professionals, is that they can take of the routine tasks but also locate any potential flaws in the pool and fix them accordingly before they become severe problems, saving you money in the long term.
Skimming The Surface
Even if you cover your swimming pool when not in use (or leave it open to the elements), it will undoubtedly gather unwanted debris that will float to the surface—dirt, leaves, and bugs are the most common entities you will encounter. As such, it is crucial to skim all these alien elements out of the water before jumping in!
In the modern world of advanced tech, we now have skimmer baskets—basically a built-in version of the traditional hand-skimmer. Over the course of the day, water will constantly flow through this skimmer, filtering out larger debris before it moves through the standard filters. All the waste floating around the pool will be slowly collected into the basket, removing it from harm and avoiding the potential risk of blocking the water flow.
Each day, make sure to remove the skimmer basket and its contents. This will allow the pool’s circulation system to run at its best possible condition and ensure your water is crystal clear.
Shock Therapy For Your Pool
An excellent method to eradicate unwanted bacteria is to add a high dose of chlorine to your pool. When chlorine is added to water, it will bind to any lingering chloramines during the treatment process (interesting fact: pools should never smell like chlorine; it just means the pool has not been maintained correctly).
This so-called shock therapy for your pool will combat any influx of disease and bacteria, keeping your water clean and safe. Additionally, add chlorine at night so it has a better chance of working its magic without the sun breaking it down.
Monitoring And Testing
Make sure to test your pool’s pH levels each week and adjust accordingly when appropriate. It is essential to always know if the water is safe and if no damage has been done before you jump in. You can grab simple testing kits online that offer an easy-to-check colour comparison (or even a dip strip test).
If money is no object, install an automatic dosing system in your pool to monitor your pH and chemical levels. Some advanced models will even evaluate the water, detect problems, and release chemicals automatically. Alternatively, hire a local professional to check and balance your water via regular appointments.
Underwater Brushing
Thanks to constant exposure to water, your pool will slowly develop a thin layer of grime over time. This substance will feel slippery and slimy to the touch, and you will want to remove it as efficiently as possible!
The previous section focused on water-based treatments to remove the bacteria; unfortunately (as good as they are), they will not be able to break down the build-up of sediment collected along the pool’s underwater areas.
This is where the tried and tested brush comes in handy! Scrub the floor and sides of the pool each week, loosening the stubborn sediment and dirt. Then, you can merely vacuum up the excess (and leave the filter system to dispose of the rest).
Keep Your Pool Covered
Finally, always try to keep your pool covered when not in use—this straightforward habit will make a huge difference in maintenance, even saving you money during the different seasons. Covers will add an extra level of safety, reduce any chemical loss, and naturally protect against any unwanted debris that will drop into the water.
You can purchase pool covers in a variety of shapes and sizes—from simple sheets of plastic (that can be rolled and unrolled) to more advanced options with seal and locking mechanisms. This comes down to preference and your budget, but there are multiple choices available to you (although many pools may even be supplied with a cover already).
What do you think of my latest home and lifestyle blog post? Do you already own a home pool, or are you looking to install one soon? I’d love to hear from you! Also, if you want to read more about this sector, please let me know in the comments below.
