Summer Pool Maintenance Tips

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.

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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.