Your pool is an amazing investment that provides you and your family the potential to create lots of memories. To keep your pool in its best condition, there are some maintenance steps you should perform regularly. Here is a comprehensive list courtesy of the pool experts at Liquidus Pool Services:
1. Check and Empty Skimmer Baskets
Your skimmer should be cleaned out weekly (or if you live in an area with lots of foliage, every other day). Removing the debris from your skimmer allows it to catch more debris, keeping it from getting into your filter. This allows your filtration system to continue running smoothly. Here are some other things to keep in mind as you check and clean your pool’s skimmer baskets:
If you notice that your pool’s water level is halfway up the skimmer, the debris cannot be collected effectively, leaving it in your pool. Always ensure that your pool’s water is at its optimal level and if water needs to be added or removed, do so before getting into the pool.
When you remove debris from the pool after a storm or heavy winds, check the skimmer. Odds are, if there is debris in the pool, there is also some clogging up your skimmer baskets.
2. Skim Your Pool Daily
Debris from leaves, bugs, and other dirt can sometimes be found floating in your pool. Remember to clean this out daily so that your pool can remain fresh and clean! This also helps reduce the strain on your skimmer and filtration system. If you skim your pool after a heavy storm, make sure to check the skimmer basket just in case there is leftover debris.
3. Brush Sediment Off of Your Pool’s Walls
Small bits of debris and dirt can gather on your pool’s walls and pool fixtures. Brushing the walls and pool fixtures, such as stairs, at least once a week will help you easily remove dirt, prevent algae, and keep your pool looking pristine. Make sure you use a pool brush to remove the dirt from the sides and bottom of the pool. Always brush the dirt towards the drain so that it can easily be vacuumed out.
4. Vacuuming Your Pool
Once you have brushed off the walls and floor of your pool, you may assemble your vacuum and vacuum up the dirt and debris.
Liquidus Pro-Tip: When you are going to invest in a vacuum for your pool, an automatic one goes a long way. Today, there are three types of automatic pool vacuums on the market:
- Robotic Vacuum: These vacuums are energy-efficient and work separately from your pool’s filtration system.
- Pressure Vacuum: These vacuums use a pressure line from the filtration system to move around your pool. They do require that you have a pool pump to run.
- Suction Vacuums: This type of vacuum uses the water flow from your filtration system to move around the pool. Suction vacuums will either have to be attached to a suction port or the skimmer to function, but they are the most affordable out of the three.
If you are going to use a manual vacuum, follow these simple steps:
- Submerge the vacuum head and hose before hooking up the vacuum to the filter.
- After you hook the vacuum to the filter, check to make sure the hose is not floating.
- Vacuum the bottom of your pool. You will want to use the same motion as if you were mowing the lawn to ensure all of the debris is picked up.
- Move slowly, overlap your lines; this way you will get as much debris and dirt out as possible.
5. Test Your Pool Water
You will want to test your pool water either weekly or daily (depending on pool usage) to ensure that your pool is protected from dangerous pathogens and algae. Chlorine levels should be tested daily. You may also want to consider using disinfectants and sanitizers to control the growth of algae and harmful bacteria.
If you need to, performing regular shock treatments can help rid your pool of algae, bacteria, and pesky dirt from organic materials that may have come into contact with your pool. When shocking the pool, make sure you follow the directions carefully.
You want to ensure your pool has the following chemical levels:
- Chlorine: 3ppm-8ppm
- pH: 7-7.6
- Alkalinity: 70-110ppm
- Calcium: 200ppm
- CYA: 50-100ppm
- Phosphate: Ideally you want no phosphate but levels between 100-125ppm are okay
6. Checking Your Pool Equipment
You will want to begin by checking your pool pump and plumbing for leaks. Leaks can cause you to spend more on your water bill as you will find yourself constantly refilling the pool.
To check your pool pump for leaks, fill the pump with water from your garden hose, and start the pump. Watch it and see if you notice it starting to run dry. If it does, this means there is a leak and it needs to be repaired right away. While you are checking your pool pump and pool plumbing, it’s a good idea to use this time to clean out the pool cleaner bag and pool pump basket. Replace these items carefully before moving onto the next step.
Relieving Air Pressure from the PSI Valve
To release pressure from the PSI valve, simply twist the top portion of the PSI gauge to release the air. Once the air is completely removed and the water is flowing out, you can seal the PSI valve back up. Next, check the filter PSI to ensure that it is not above 20 PSI. If the filter is above 20 PSI, you will want to backwash the filter if it is a D.E. or a sand filter. Replace the filter cartridge if it is a cartridge filter.
Checking the Pool’s Heater
Finally, check your pool heater by turning it on and off. If no error message occurs and the pool is warming up properly, you are good to go. If it is not turning on or showing you an error message, you will want to contact Liquidus Pool Services to help repair or replace your pool’s heater.
Your Pool Maintenance Experts
When it comes to ensuring your pool is able to handle the splash of summer, your team at Liquidus Pool Services has your back! We offer weekly pool maintenance services. When we service your pool, we will keep a lookout for any signs of trouble and give you the best steps so that you can protect your pool and enjoy it without worry. Don’t settle for a grimy pool and take your weekend back by contacting our skilled team of pool experts today!