Swimming Pool Maintenance Tips 101

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Friday, February 16th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

We bought our home with the swimming pool already installed. The previous owners were kind to leave some instructions, but unfortunately they really weren’t enough to fully cover how to maintain the pool. The installer was of surprisingly little help - unless I enrolled in his new pool owners’ course for a princely fee. I had to gather my swimming pool maintenance tips by reading a lot online, and asking lots of questions of pool supply shop owners.

Lots of people simply hire a swimming pool maintenance company. While this can be an effective way to maintain your pool, especially if you do not live at the property full time, you can save cash by doing the job yourself. With basic knowledge of swimming pool maintenance, you can ensure that your pool remains free from bacteria and problems with pool parts. Though I knew nothing about pools when I started, I was determined to learn how to do maintenance myself and save the monthly pool service fee. You can, too. So here are a few basic swimming pool maintenance tips…

Check your pool manual and see if the company you bought the pool from offers a “water test”, free of charge. This water test provides a chemical analysis of the water in your pool. This way, you will know if your water is safe and balanced for swimming, or if you need to add chemicals. There are swimming pool test kits that you can use. I own a kit, but I am a lazy soul (guilty as charged), and I go to my local pool shop where the owner is happy to test my water samples for free.

Foremost among swimming pool maintenance tips is to keep your pool free from harmful bacteria. After testing the water for what may be needed, you can sanitize your swimming pool with any stabilized chlorine products, which are available in the market. These products, which can be bought in tablet or stick forms, are usually fed into a specified container located near your pool filter and pump system. Because I have a salt water swimming pool, I just dial up the chlorination level a bit on the control box and run the pump for an extra cycle during the summer season.

Another pool maintenance tip is to buy an algae inhibitor, or preventive products which could ward off various types of algae from accumulating in your pool. Usually purchased in liquid forms, the algae inhibitors are poured into the water where the pump system can distribute them throughout your pool.

During the busy summer season, when your pool is being used the most, you will want to occasionally “shock” your pool by “superchlorinating” or using a oxidizing agent is to make sure all harmful bacteria and waste is neutralized. This is one swimming pool maintenance tip you will thank me for! As we swim, skin cells, body oils, hair products, sweat, cosmetics, etc. are being left in your pool. This junk contributes to cloudy water, and eye and skin irritation. Shocking the water makes it easier for your pool’s filters and pumps to clean your water of these body wastes. Use the proper type of pool shock for your system, and follow the instructions on the package. Mix thouroughly with your pool water and do not swim in the pool for the time period directed on the label.

More Swimming Pool Maintenance Tips: Check Your Pool Equipment Regularly

Aside from cleaning and checking for algae or dirty water, you can also maintain your pool’s health by learning how to maintain your swimming pool’s equipment. These include checkups for the filter, pump, pressure gauge and other parts of your pool. Pool companies do this, but you can perform these simple swimming pool maintenance checkups on your own.

To be able to perform regular swimming pool maintenance, make sure you know what kinds of pool pump and filters you have. Learn how to clean, repair and maintain the parts, and when they should be replaced. Knowing how to clean pool pumps and filters to ensure proper water circulation and prevent bacteria from accumulating is a great cost savings.

Another, critical swimming pool maintenance tip: check if your pool pump is making excessive noise. This can be a sign of problems inside or outside the pump. For example, a few months after we moved into our new house I realized that the pool pump was making a horrible sound. I checked the skimmers and filters, but couldn’t identify the problem. Only after I described the problem to my friends at the pool supply shops did I learn that the water levels in the pool were too low for the pump to operate; and that I was risking burning out the pump. Of course, this major swimming pool maintenance tip was missing from the instructions the previous owner gave me. Thankfully, nothing was damaged. Newer pool pumps are designed for long lasting use with minimal maintenance, but older units need to be checked regularly. Even if you bought a reliable brand of pool pump, you may want to think about replacing it after 6-7 years. Newer models are designed to move greater volumes of water with even less energy; and you might ultimately save money in electrical costs and possible repairs.

It took some trial and error, but I learned to perform basic maintenance of my pool. Now, cleaning out the skimmer baskets and the vacuum, scooping out the leaves and debris from the drains and the pool, and pressure washing my cartridge filters is almost a relaxing activity. I hope these swimming pool maintenance tips help you enjoy your pool even more.