5 Steps to Maintaining Your Swimming Pool

An inescapable fact of owning a swimming pool is the life-long commitment of having to care for it. You now have a centerpiece in your backyard that can be the gathering point for friends and family where memories are made and holidays are celebrated, or an ecosystem where bacteria and unwanted pests can grow and multiply turning your beautiful pool into an eye-sore and breeding ground. In this article, we will cover a five-step process of caring for your swimming pool that will give you an advantage in combatting the algae and bacteria that try to take over.

Empty Baskets

Both your skimmers and swimming pool pump should have baskets that prevent large debris from entering the swimming pool plumbing and pump motor. Depending on the environment around your swimming pool, these baskets may need to be emptied every couple of days. If they are left full of debris for too long, the debris that builds up in the baskets can slow the circulation of the pool water. Reduced circulation leads to reduced chemical distribution, which means even though you may be adding high quantities of chemicals, the chemicals are not reaching every part of the swimming pool making them less effective at accomplishing their given purpose.

Skim and Vac

Once the baskets are emptied, the surface of the water will need to be skimmed with a net, and the floor will need to be vacuumed. Removing the debris on the surface of the water lightens the load on the skimmer baskets, preventing them from filling up as quickly, while vacuuming debris off the floor of the pool can help prevent staining of the pool plaster. If you feel unsure about how to vacuum your swimming pool, there a videos available online that provide a step-by-step process.

Brush

After skimming the surface of the water and vacuuming the pool floor, it is now time to brush the walls and floor of the pool. Make sure you use the right type of brush as some brushes are made for plaster pools while some are made for vinyl liner or fiberglass pools. The type of brush should be specified on the packaging. Keep in mind, if you brush the walls and floor before vacuuming, the debris on the floor will become suspended in the water and very difficult to remove. It is always best to vacuum before brushing.

Effective brushing is greatly influenced by correct water chemistry levels. The purpose of brushing swimming pool surfaces is to remove dead algae. If the water chemistry levels are not balanced (i.e. chlorine levels are low), the algae will have a greater chance of remaining alive and growing in your pool despite how hard you may try to brush it off the walls. Achieving the correct water chemistry levels is a crucial component in removing algae from the surfaces of your pool.

Test Water Chemistry

Now that the surfaces of the swimming pool have been cleaned, it is time to check the water chemistry. There are many types of testing kits available; however, a simple test kit that checks the pH and chlorine levels in the water should be sufficient for residential use. Each testing kit will have a set of instructions that explain how to test your swimming pool water. Once you have your results, you can use an online calculator to determine what chemicals may need to be added and at what quantities. If you would like a more detailed analysis of your pool's water chemistry, bring a water sample over to Berry Pool, and we will provide you with your chemistry readings as well as chemical dosing.

Check Equipment

Take some time, once you've completed the regular maintenance routine, to check on your pool equipment. Make sure there are no cracks or leaks on the pump that could affect its operation. Check the pressure on the filter gauge. Filter pressure is a reliable indicator as to when your pool filter needs to be backwashed. Typically, backwashes should occur any time the filter pressure rises 10psi from when the filter was last backwashed. Here at Berry Pool, we make it a habit to backwash our customers' pools every two weeks. Establish a routine of going through these steps once or twice a week, and you'll be five steps ahead of any algae or bacteria that tries to hijack your backyard oasis this year.