Make Your Backyard

From parties to backyard barbeques to cooling off from the heat, summer is the busiest season for your swimming pool. As the warmer months approach, it is not only important to get your pool ready, but also to keep it in good shape throughout the season. Staying on top of maintenance will ensure that your fun in the pool lasts all season long.

Follow these four summer pool maintenance tips:

1. Keep Your Pool Clean

Making cleaning a habit is the key to maintaining your pool throughout the summer. Staying on top of cleaning will prevent algae and help keep you and your guests from getting sick. Keep a net skimmer nearby for removing leaves and other debris. Vacuuming your pool regularly will also keep the water algae-free and reduce the amount of chemicals you need to add to keep it clean. Once a week, it is a good idea to brush the walls, steps, and floors of your pool as well.

2. Maintain Water Circulation

Good water circulation is vital for keeping your pool safe and healthy. Stagnant water tends to get cloudy and can lead to mold growth on the pool walls, creating unsafe swimming conditions. Make sure your pool pump is working properly and is strong enough to circulate the water throughout the entire pool. Ideally, the water should be flowing all day. If that is unrealistic for your budget, aim for running your pool filter at least 10 hours a day in the summer.

3. Regularly Check the Pool Filter

A clean filter is one of the most important factors of a well-maintained pool. The condition of your filter depends on how often your pool is used, so it is especially vital to check it regularly in the summer. A few indicators that your filter needs to be cleaned are a clogged drain, an unusual odor in your pool, or a faulty hose cleaner. A blocked filter will not trap dirt and can make the pool water murky. To clean your filter, take off the cap, remove the filter from its basket, and throw away any debris.

4. Balance the Chemicals

Certain chemicals are required to keep the water in your pool safe to swim in. Maintaining the proper chemical balance will kill germs and bacteria, as well as prevent algae from forming. The two fundamental chemicals used in pool water are pH and chlorine. Your pH levels should be between 7.2 and 7.8 to keep the water from stinging swimmers’ skin or giving them rashes. You can test the water yourself with pool test strips.

After heavy swimming or big storms, it is a good idea to add pool shock to your water. Shocking your pool is the process of adding large amounts of chlorine or other chemicals to sanitize the water. This raises the free chlorine level to the point where contaminants like algae and bacteria are destroyed.

It is also crucial to keep your water levels consistent throughout the summer. Water fluctuation can create a chemical imbalance, so maintaining the appropriate water level will also help keep your swimming pool healthy.

Your Backyard Vacation Destination

You can make your backyard an oasis with Pools by Design. Our certified artisans can design and build a custom pool that fits all of your needs. We are committed to providing excellent service both during and after the construction process, as well as assisting with continued maintenance.

For more information on building a custom pool in Arizona, contact us today.

While it is not the most enjoyable part about owning a pool, pool maintenance is very important. It can help prevent long-term damage and even save you money in the process.

It does not have to be a daunting chore, either. Creating a pool maintenance schedule makes keeping your pool in great shape quick and easy.

The Importance of Pool Maintenance

Properly maintaining your pool is important because it can help you correct chemical levels, which reduces the risk of damage and saves you money on supplies.

Correct Chemical Levels

Chemical levels can fluctuate a lot in a short period of time. If you only test your pool water once a month, you might not catch a problem in time. Weekly testing helps you identify chemical fluctuations before they can develop into a problem.

Reduce the Risk of Damage

A chemical imbalance can cause permanent damage to your pool. This includes corrosion and wearing down the wall linings. Regular maintenance will make sure this doesn’t occur.

Saves You Money

Pool maintenance can also save you money. Regular testing will help you determine the exact amount of each chemical to use and how often. The less often you have to buy chemicals, the more money you will save over time.

How to Create a Schedule for Pool Maintenance

When creating your pool maintenance schedule, it is important to consider a few factors: how much you use it, who is helping you maintain it, and how much time you can realistically dedicate to it each week.

Use

Knowing how often you use your pool and how many people use it at once will determine how much maintenance is required. If you host a lot of pool parties, your upkeep will be a lot more involved than if you only use it once a week.

Help

Another aspect to consider when creating your schedule is who is completing the maintenance. Delegating jobs to your friends and family or even hiring help can lighten the load. If you are doing all of the work, however, make sure you are able to maintain the schedule you set for yourself.

Time

Perhaps the most important factor that contributes to your schedule is how much time you have for maintenance. Take into account how many hours each week you can realistically spend on it, and when you have the most time during the week. This will help you make sure you do not get overwhelmed.

Creating Your Schedule

Your pool maintenance schedule can be broken up into three categories; daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.

Depending on what works best for you, that might look something like this:

Daily:

• Check water levels.
• Skim debris off the surface of the water and check the skimmer basket.

Weekly

• Test chemical levels in the water and add more as needed.
• Shock your pool.
• Check the filtration system.
• Clean the pool deck.

Monthly:

• Test the salt, calcium, and cyanuric acid levels.
• Thoroughly clean the filter and cartridges.

Building Your Custom Pool

Now that you know how to properly maintain a pool, the next step is to contact your local pool builder, Pools by Design. Our staff has the knowledge to design and install a custom pool to meet all of your needs.

To learn more about pool installation in Tucson, contact Pools by Design today.