As great as it is to have a swimming pool on your property, keeping it clean can seem like a daunting task. And yet, it’s necessary if you don’t want it to turn into a fetid pond. It does take some work, but it’s easier than you might think as long as you follow this handy guide.
Running Your Pump
Your pump is arguably the most important piece of equipment you need for your pool. It circulates water throughout your pool, which prevents algae growth and evenly distributes the chemicals that keep your swimming environment safe for use. It also moves the water through a filter that removes dirt and debris.
You should be running your pool pump 8 to 12 hours every day. When your pump’s filter gauge reads higher than 10 psi, it’s time to clean your filter or change the cartridge. A dirty filter forces your pump to work harder, which lowers its lifespan and efficiency. This also applies to your skimmer basket. The skimmer catches larger bits of debris, and it gets just as dirty as your filter. Clean it out once or twice a week, preferably when you clean your filter.
Brushing and Skimming
You should skim the surface of your pool and brush the tiles and walls every day. Skimming the surface of the pool removes debris that is too big for your filter, while brushing the pool walls and tiles removes dirt and algae growth. As long as you stay on top of a regular cleaning schedule, this shouldn’t take too long or be too difficult.
Vacuuming Your Pool
Much of the dirt and debris that gets into your pool will either be filtered out or will float on top of the water. There will still be dirt that settles at the bottom of the pool, however. This should be removed with a vacuum once a week.
Maintaining Chemical Balance
Proper chemical balance is necessary for preventing bacteria and algae growth that can make your pool unsafe for use. Ideally, your pool water should have a pH of around 7.5, calcium levels of 200 to 400 ppm, an alkalinity of 120 to 150 ppm, and chlorine levels of one to three ppm. Test your chemical balance once a week with a testing kit or testing strips, and add chemicals accordingly to maintain a proper balance.
Shocking the Pool
Shocking the pool involves adding large amounts of sanitizer to kill any bacteria and remove contaminants that may be in your pool. The amount of sanitizer you’ll need will depend on the size of your pool, but you don’t want to overdo it and ruin your chemical balance. Shock your pool at least once every two weeks or after a severe storm or algae outbreak.
It is also beneficial to seek professional help regularly. Experts can provide a thorough inspection and work with you to fix any problems they come across. They can also provide assistance with pool maintenance. To learn more about properly maintaining your pool or if you need professional pool cleaning and maintenance services in Medford, NJ, contact Aloha Pool & Spa Service today.