How to Take Care of a Pool for Dummies
Weekly Pool Maintenance
Thorough pool care will ensure clean and safe water throughout the swimming season. Below are some important steps to include in your weekly pool maintenance routine.
Skim Off Leaves and Debris
A task that should be done daily, skimming is the first step of your weekly maintenance routine.
Use a long-handled leaf skimmer to gather up leaves, insects and any other debris floating on the surface of the pool.
Try to remove debris before it sinks to the bottom of your pool where it becomes difficult to remove and may create stains.
Have trees surrounding your pool? Consider trimming them back to reduce the amount of debris that lands on the water.
Skimming the surface of your pool takes just a few minutes and keeps water looking crystal clear. More importantly, the debris you skim off the top of the water never has a chance to dirty the bottom of your pool or clog up your filtration system.
Brush Sediment from Pool Walls
Algae and small bits of debris can gather on the walls of your pool, as well as pool fixture like ladders and slides.Brush the pool walls and fixtures each week to remove dirt and prevent the spread of algae.
Use a brush to remove dirt that has collected on the sides and bottom of your pool, as well as on ladders, slides and other accessories.
Brush sediment toward the main drain so it can be vacuumed up easily.
Vacuum the Pool
Once the algae and sediment have been brushed from the walls, they can be vacuumed up, along with any other debris that has floated to the bottom of the pool.
Automatic Vacuum
If you are using an automatic vacuum, you just need to plug in your cleaner, set it in the water and let it work for you! There are three types of automatic pool vacuums: robotic, pressure, and suction.
- Robotic vacuums are energy-efficient and work separate from your pool's existing filtration system.
- Pressure vacuums utilize a pressure line from the filtration system to move around your pool. They require a pool pump and usually an extra booster pump to run.
- Suction vacuums use the water flow from your filtration system and attach to either a dedicated suction port or skimmer. They are the most affordable option.
Manual Vacuum
If you are using a manual vacuum, use the following steps:
- Submerge your vacuum head and hose before hooking up the vacuum to the filter.
- Hook the vacuum to the filter and check to make sure your hose does not float.
- Vacuum the bottom of your pool, moving across it in a motion similar to mowing the lawn.
- Move slowly and overlap your lines to ensure you are picking up as much debris as possible.
- Automatic Vacuum
- Manual Vacuum
Automatic Vacuum
If you are using an automatic vacuum, you just need to plug in your cleaner, set it in the water and let it work for you! There are three types of automatic pool vacuums: robotic, pressure, and suction.
- Robotic vacuums are energy-efficient and work separate from your pool's existing filtration system.
- Pressure vacuums utilize a pressure line from the filtration system to move around your pool. They require a pool pump and usually an extra booster pump to run.
- Suction vacuums use the water flow from your filtration system and attach to either a dedicated suction port or skimmer. They are the most affordable option.
Manual Vacuum
If you are using a manual vacuum, use the following steps:
- Submerge your vacuum head and hose before hooking up the vacuum to the filter.
- Hook the vacuum to the filter and check to make sure your hose does not float.
- Vacuum the bottom of your pool, moving across it in a motion similar to mowing the lawn.
- Move slowly and overlap your lines to ensure you are picking up as much debris as possible.
Clean Skimmer
You should also clean out your skimmer(s) weekly, or more often as if necessary. Removing debris allows the skimmer to operate at maximum efficiency, catching the majority of debris that ends up in your pool.
Keep an eye on your pool's water level. If the water level is more than halfway up the skimmer, debris will not be collected effectively.
Check the skimmer every time you skim the top of the pool, ensuring it is clean.
Keep Your Pump Running
Your pool's circulation system includes the skimmer, pump, pump strainer, drains and filter. The system helps chemicals work effectively and ensures that water is properly filtered.
Run your pump long enough each day to make sure the water is properly filtered and each item in the circulation system is clean and in good condition.
Check Filter and Backwash As Needed
The three most popular types of filters - sand, cartridge and vertical grid DE - screen out debris and particles from your pool water. You should clean and maintain your filter according to the manufacturer's directions.
Check your pool filter weekly, removing any debris that has gathered within.
Backwash the pool filter as needed (weekly for pools that see a lot of use; or when the filter gauge reads 8-10 psi higher than normal).
Test Pool Water and Add Chemicals
Test your pool water frequently (daily or weekly depending on use) and add chemicals as necessary, following manufacturer's directions.
Chemicals are typically added to the pool daily. These pool chemicals include various kinds of disinfectants and sanitizers which work to control the growth of certain kinds of algae and bacteria in the pool water.
Regular shock treatments cleanse the water of algae, bacteria, dirt and any other organic matter that may have entered the pool. Follow manufacturer's directions for shock treatments.
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How to Take Care of a Pool for Dummies
Source: https://www.hayward-pool.com/shop/en/pools/weekly-maintenance