When the summer season hits, the kitchen is no longer the center of the home. Instead, the pool area is where your loved ones gather to enjoy quality time, delicious foods and splashes of summer fun. However, a dirty pool can quickly ruin what could be the ultimate outdoor living space. Swimming pool maintenance is essential to getting the most out of the summer season. Implement pool care tips to clean fun in the sun.
Prevention is Key
The best tip for cleaning a pool is to keep it from getting dirty. Summer breezes bring all kinds of debris floating in the water. Small reptiles and animals can slip into the water, which is an unpleasant surprise for any swimmer out there. Outdoor elements such as plants, animal droppings and fertilizers are also food for algae, which will only make the pool dirtier. Prevent these elements from landing in the water by:
- Covering the pool when not in use
- Removing any mess from outside forces immediately
- Having a checklist for swimming pool maintenance
- Make separate lists for daily, weekly, and monthly tasks
Regularly Monitor Pool Chemicals
The number one rule to caring for a pool is to monitor pool chemicals. They keep the pool clean and safe for everyone’s enjoyment. Unless you have an automatic or floating chlorinator, you will need to add chlorine daily. Pool chemicals can also interact differently in extreme summer temperatures. Get in the habit of monitoring pool chemicals on a regular basis with these tips:
- Use a water testing kit to measure the quality and cleanliness of the water
- Test your pool for pH levels, chlorine and alkalinity on a regular basis
- pH levels should be between 7.2 to 7.4
- Chlorine levels should be between 1 ppm to 3 ppm
- Alkalinity levels should be between 80 to 120
- Adjust pool chemicals as needed
Never Underestimate the Filter, Skimmer and Scooper
You should never skip out on essential pool tools. Always have a working filter, vacuum and scooper on deck. Use them on a regular basis to keep the pool clean from top to bottom. Filters should run approximately eight hours a day, and pool skimmers should be used at least once a day. These two tools will work wonders at keeping everything clean. Any debris missed can be scooped out with a handheld device. To decrease the amount of time you have to dedicate to cleaning your pool, here are some additional tips:
- Use a pool filter system that has a timer
- Clean the pool filters regularly to keep it working and cleaning properly
- Trade in the traditional pool vacuum for a high-quality pool robot to keep the pool cleaner and much quicker
Despite the best of efforts to keep your pool clean, it will still become dirty. However, with some daily swimming pool maintenance, the less dirty it’ll become. The less time you have to spend cleaning the pool, which equals more time you can spend enjoying it. Now, that’s math worth taking a splash!