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If you have a pool or are considering pool installation, just before summer starts is the right time to make sure your pool meets the proper sanitation and safety standards so that you can enjoy splashing in the summer sunshine without any worries or upsets.
It may seem that maintaining a pool is a challenging and time-consuming endeavour, but in fact, there are just a few things that you need to do to make sure your pool stays clean and safe. Sure, it can still feel like a lot at first, but once you have a routine set in place, you’ll be able to ensure your pool is up to the highest standards year in, year out.
Know Your Parts
You have to know what parts constitute your pool, so you know what to work on. The first is the most obvious, that being the water in your pool. However, this isn’t run-of-the-mill tap water and may require more work and care.
You also want to consider your interior wall or pool liner. This surface is constantly exposed to chemicals in the water, so make sure you take care of it. A filtration system may be the most critical component. It filters water and requires a variety of cleaning tasks.
Lastly, don’t forget the pool cover. It keeps leaves out, protects the sanitary chemicals and, depending on the type of cover, can prevent people from falling in. Pool covers vary in quality, but it is definitely worth paying the extra to get a good one.
Open and Close Your Pool
The first part of maintenance is to make sure you open and close your pool at the right time. When the temperature is consistently above 21 degrees Celsius, you want to open it up to prevent algae and pollen from building up. This is rather easy and simply requires that you remove the cover, hook up the filter system, turn it on, clean/vacuum the water, and then add chemicals to balance the water chemistry.
In contrast, when temperatures start falling below 10 degrees Celsius, you should close the pool. The steps are similar but in reverse: clean and balance the pool, vacuum the debris that’s gathered, allow the chemicals to filter for a day, lower the water to installer specifications (if it’s not a fibreglass unit) and then remove the plugs and water from the pump and filter system. Make sure to blow out and plug the plumbing lines, and don’t forget to remove ladders, handrails and put the cover back on the pool.
Skim The Surface
Another important step, once you’re past opening or closing, is to constantly skim the surface of your pool. Everyday debris like leaves, dust and rubbish will accumulate, and you need to be on your guard to avoid letting the pool collect too much waste.
Simply use a pool skimmer and remove this stuff, preferably with a telescopic pole for good reach. Once it’s filled up, shake it off onto the ground before putting it back in the water to continue cleaning. Doing this will ensure that random objects don’t start gathering on the bottom of your pool.
Regular Cleaning
More generally, you want to ensure that your pool is cleaned regularly, which includes skimming. This will ensure that you catch problems early and prevent them from becoming more serious ones later. The main thing is to backwash your filter as per the manufacturer’s specifications and make sure you get a pool vacuum and brush to clean the floor and walls.
When brushing, make sure to scrub deeply to get rid of any dirt, chemical residue or plant life growth. Brush the walls, the ladders and the corners. Don’t skimp on this, and make sure to hit the tight spaces where algae love to fester. It’s recommended to use a telescopic pole here to push things off into the water, where they’ll be cleaned by the chemicals.
Adjust the vacuum pole, so it has enough reach to hit the bottom from where you’re standing. Make sure to empty the air out of the system by pushing it until bubbles stop forming. When this happens, you’ll know you’re ready to go. It’s important to slowly move the vacuum head over the whole floor to get all the settled debris and dirt. Don’t rush as otherwise everything will fall back down and make the floor just as dirty as it was when you started. Turn on the filtration system when you’re done to catch anything you missed. If you have the money, you could invest in an automatic cleaner, which will greatly speed up the whole process.
Clean the Filter
All this cleaning and maintenance is totally useless if you don’t pay attention to the filter. You need to check the filter is clean enough to function well as otherwise you’ll find yourself having to spend unnecessary extra time and effort just doing the cleaning. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to clean your filter.
The Final Word
It’s important to do these few, key jobs to maintain your pool. However, it’s all worth it once you’re able to dive in and beat the summer heat. Plus, once you make it a routine it’s easy, regular and satisfying.
Now that you know how to maintain your pool, you might still want help with pool installation or maintenance that requires a more professional touch.
To learn more about how to maintain your pool, call Solda Pools at 905-796-6500 or contact us here.
