Hiring professionals to clean your swimming pool for you can be expensive. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that you can do to keep your pool clean and well-maintained. The more you clean your own pool, the less problems you will have with it, and the fewer problems your pool has, the less likely you’ll need the services of maintenance professionals.
Moreover, regular maintenance and cleaning will help you detect potential problems in your pool before they become a serious threat to your pool. The good news is that information on swimming pool maintenance is easy to find and you can easily implement them on your own situation. Good examples are swimming pool and spa maintenance guides. These resources will help you figure out the basics of cleaning your own pool, not to mention give you tips on how to prevent clogged intake pipes.
In fact, the basics of cleaning and maintaining one’s pool is often similar to spa maintenance, and both types of tasks have a lot of crossover, because of their emphasis on cleanliness and water regulation. So if you’re thinking about cleaning your pool, here is a general overview of what you can expect.
Step 1
First of all, let’s assume that you haven’t cleaned your pool for an entire month. Under these conditions, the pool will be filled with floating leaves, bugs and all types of debris. Not only do these things make your pool dirty, they can also clog up the filters, which is why they need to be removed every other day, because if they are allowed to accumulate then the filters will get clogged. So in the event that your pool has a lot of debris, your first priority will be to clear them out.
Step 2
Aside from removing most of the gunk from out of your pool, you should also try to add chlorine into the water every few days or so to keep the water clean. Be careful though, as chlorine may cause bleach spots on your pool’s surface if they are splashed on the wrong area. So be careful with how you handle these kinds of materials.
Step 3
Buy a water testing kit and use it to check the calcium content of the pool water. The calcium level needs to be kept between two hundred to four hundred parts per million.
Step 4
Another important characteristic of pool maintenance is keeping a close eye on the water’s alkalinity level. The ideal level is around 100 parts per million. In the event that your pool’s alkalinity level is too low, simply add some baking soda into the water. On the other hand, if the alkaline count is to high then you should add some dry acids designed specifically for swimming pools.
Step 5
Keep a close eye on the water’s pH levels with the help of your water testing kit. A pool’s pH levels determines your pool’s acid to alkaline ratio, and is an essential component in keeping the water comfortable for one’s skin. The ideal pH level should be neutral, which is around 7.2 to 7.5.
If you need to lower the pH levels of your pool, what you will need to do is apply Muriatic acid onto the water. Don’t forget to read the instructions, and use the appropriate goggles and gloves when handling the material. On the other hand, if you need to increase the pH levels simply add some soda ash. Again, read the instructions and handle the material properly.
Step 6
Let the pool filter run for around 10 hours each day. Also, check your hoses and make sure that the intake sieves are not clogged. You don’t have to do this all the time, but be sure to perform these tasks if you haven’t cleaned your pool for a long time.
Step 7
Finally, remove all unnecessary objects from the pool area. Even seemingly simple objects, like clothes or lotions can infect the water contents of your pool. The same may be said about food and even plants. They can only cause further problems to your pool if they are ignored.
Pool maintenance involves a lot of things, but if you carry out these types of tasks on your pool regularly, you will need professional pool maintenance services less frequently. So remember, pool maintenance plays an important role in keeping one’s pool nice and clean.
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Phil Smith loves to write about pools and spas. He believes that at the end of a hard day’s work, one must know how to relax by enjoying the advantages of a swimming pool and spa. He is presently connected with Palm Pools and Spa and enjoys swimming during free time.
