Having a pool is a lot of fun especially every Summer, you can beat the heat in the comfort of your own home. You don’t need to squeeze yourself to public pools just for a dip and you don’t need to go to the beach if you just want a quick swim. But having a pool is not all about amusement, you also need to keep it clean. As a pool owner you need to learn the basics of maintaining a pool, this will keep your pool safe to swim, pristine clean and inviting.
Here are the 5 basics of pool maintenance that you can do yourself.
Skim the Surface
Skimming the surface of your pool takes a few minutes, ideally you can do this on a daily basis but two to three times a week will do as well. What you will need is a long handled leaf skimmer to collect fallen leaves, debris, insects and other things that float on the surface of the water. This is important because you want to avoid them from sinking at the bottom of the floor since it will be too difficult to remove them once it sinks.
Brush the Walls and Vacuum the Pool Floor
After Pool skimming you can now proceed to brush the walls this will remove the dirt that had been accumulated. Do this atleast once a week to prevent the spread of algae.
Use a soft pool brush to clean the walls and try to brush the sediments near or towards the drain. Once you are done brushing you can vacuumed up the floor along with other scattered pieces of debris.
Maintain the pH level
The pH level shows whether the water in your pool is acidic or alkaline. You must maintain the pH level at 7.3 and 7.6, this is the ideal level for achieving clean water, below 7 means it is acidic. Check the pH level of your pool from time to time by using a test kit that the pool stores use, simply dip the test strip in the water and see if the water is in its neutral state. The test kit includes a booklet to guide you through.
Add the Right Chemicals
You need to add the right amount of chemicals to your pool depending on how big your pool is. The manufacturer’s instructions will help you determine how much you should pour in. Chemical solutions are a big part of your pool maintenance routine since it is necessary to keep your pool clean. If your pool is lacking with the required chemicals such as chlorine, this will cause the algae and bacteria to show up. Ideally chemicals should be added on a regular basis to regulate algae and bacteria growth and to keep water clear.
Clean Skimmer and Maintain Water Level
A pool skimmer helps in filtering dirt, leaves and debris. Skimmers are a big help to keep your pool clean, that’s why you should also clean out your skimmers at least once a week or more often. Removing debris will help the skimmer operate at their maximum capacity to operate. Simply soak it in a cleaning solution and rinse well with the hose. You should also keep an eye on your pool’s water level. It should be between ⅓ and ½ way up the skimmer, so that the debris can be collected.
Keeping your pool clean helps you enjoy every dip with your family and friends!