Nothing is quite as refreshing as a cool swim on a hot day. From relaxing poolside to swimming laps to having a water fight with your kids, a pool can bring endless hours of relaxation and enjoyment to your family. It’s not all fun and games, however. Ownership also comes with a lot of responsibility — and that means educating yourself about how to keep your pool in good shape.

Learning to care for your pool’s water, interior walls, filter system, and its skimmer and return system is key to keeping your pool clean and in good repair.

Water

Keeping your water clean means testing your water’s pH levels twice each week. Levels should fall in the 7.4 to 7.6 range. If they are above or below those levels, you will need to adjust your pool’s chemicals to balance the water. Chlorine levels should also be tested twice weekly. If they do not fall in the 1.0 and 3.0 parts per million (PPM) range, you will need to adjust chlorine levels accordingly.

Your pool will need a shock treatment and algae prevention treatment once a week. Simply use a bag of shock for every 10,000 gallons of water and add a maintenance level dose of algae preventative.

Interior Walls

Make sure the interior stays free of algae and mold by keeping your pool free of dirt and debris. Good water circulation is also important, so ensure your pool filter is running a minimum of 12 hours per day. Your pool should be vacuumed and perimeter tile cleaned weekly. Walls, floors and trouble spots can be brushed as needed.

Filter System

Your pool filter keeps your water clean by removing dirt and contaminants from your water. If your filter is not cleaned on a monthly basis, you will soon find your pool filled with murky water.

Gently wash your filter cartridge, making sure all debris has been removed. You can occasionally soak the cartridge in a cleaning solution to remove chemical build up.

A filter cartridge needs to be replaced about every one to two years depending on how hard it has had to work. If you enter your pool wearing cosmetics, suntan lotion or perfume, for instance, your filter has to work far harder to remove pollutants from the water and will need to be changed up to twice a year.

Skimmer and Return System

Your pool’s skimmer pulls the water into the filter to be cleaned. Once sanitized, the return system pushes the water back into the pool.

Start by turning off the pump and removing the skimmer lid. Pull the basket out, dump the debris and rinse with water if needed. This should be done on a weekly basis. Once the basket has been put back into place with the lid on, the pumping system can be turned on again.

All Seasons Pools & Spas

If you’re more interested in enjoying your pool than cleaning it, send us a message to learn more about All Seasons Pools & Spas’ maintenance services. Our pool service maintains above-ground swimming pools and in-ground pools alike. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, we’re your one-stop shop for all of your pool maintenance supplies.