REQUEST A FREE QUOTE
Pools are a lot of fun. They add resale value to your home, of course, but on a less pragmatic and more visceral level, they’re just enjoyable to have. Whether it’s diving in the deep end or relaxing on the shallow side with a drink in hand, there’s something there for everyone.
One type of in-ground pool in Toronto that you can get is a saltwater system. There are advantages and disadvantages to this type of pool, and you likely should talk to experts like those at Solda Pools to get a comprehensive overview of what you can expect.
This article, though, is for those that have decided on a saltwater pool. As with any pool, proper maintenance is vital to ensuring your pool is enjoyable and lasts a long time without needing repairs. If you have a salt water pool, here’s what you need to do.
Daily Activities
Here, we will break down what you need to do for the pool and at what frequency you should be doing it at. So, let’s start with the things that you’ll have to do everyday, rain or shine.
The main thing is to be sure to get any debris out of the pool for cleanliness and improving its aesthetics.
Next is making sure that your pool skimmer is properly cleaned and ready to function without making the pool any more dirty, and that the pump basket is properly emptied.
Weekly Things
Now that we’ve covered the more time-consuming and frequent daily tasks, the next point is to check off this list of key weekly tasks.
At least twice a week, you must deep clean your pool to a greater degree, something which involves a lot of smaller subsections that we’ll delve into here.
The first is the same skimming duty, which you should already be familiar with. Make sure to thoroughly skim the water’s surface in order to remove the most obvious leaves and debris.
The next step will catch particles and smaller bits of dirt that are less obvious or able to be netted. You should get out your pool vacuum to manually vacuum the pool. However, if you want to streamline this process or remove this step entirely, consider investing in an automatic pool cleaner.
Then, do a quick check of the pump and filter to make sure they’re processing your water correctly. Backwash the sand filter or clean the cartridges as necessary.
Slightly more involved is the process of examining water chemistry and balance as needed.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be a science whiz to do this. Simply use test strips or a drop kit to ensure that the acidity, also known as the pH level, is in an ideal range. You also want to ensure that your free chlorine level is correct, keeping in mind that this is a natural chemical created by saltwater pools, and as long as it’s between 1 to 3 ppm (parts per million), your pool is fine.
Follow your saltwater system manufacturer for instructions on how to use and care for your system.
If you’re in doubt, or uncomfortable with the idea of tinkering deeply with your pool’s chemistry, then experts like those at Solda Pools can help you out.
Monthly and Beyond
If you’ve gotten to the point where you’re doing the daily and weekly routines with ease, that’s when you should start adding in monthly tasks to ensure your pool is perfectly maintained.
One big thing you have to do if you have a saltwater pool is to ensure that the levels of salt within it are inside of the manufacturer-recommended range. This is an easy fix if it ends up being too low, as you will just have to add more salt. However, don’t rely purely on the salt chlorinator’s automatic analysis.
Bring in a water sample to your local pool company for a full analysis and adjust according to the prescription recommendations. Having the water tested professionally at least once a month will make things easier for you and a record is kept should you require it for warranty purposes.
Thinking even farther ahead, about three months, you should make sure to remove the salt cell every once in a while and check it for scale build-up or debris.
Closing Thoughts
While looking at everything at once can be intimidating, the truth is that when you break down the steps needed to maintain a saltwater pool into time-gated activities, things become clearer and much more understandable. If you follow these instructions in a timely manner, you’re sure to do well in the future.
By now, you should have a pretty strong grasp of what goes into maintaining a saltwater pool. Yes, it is somewhat troublesome to do at times, but the advantage of having an authentic pool that feels just like the ocean makes it all worth it.
Still, installing a pool is not something that you should take lightly, and is a fairly big investment that you want to think through. If you need professional guidance and someone that can walk you through the process and the costs, it’s best to reach out to the experts like those at Solda Pools. We can be reached at 905-796-6500, or via our direct web portal located right here.
