Having a pool at home is just like having your very own wellness retreat center. Whether you want to relax by taking a dip in cool water or let off some steam by swimming a few laps, a pool can easily help you de-stress. It’s also a perfect venue to spend some fun quality time with your friends and family.
A swimming pool can also be a cause of stress if you don’t keep it clean properly. It might even become a breeding ground of disease-causing pathogens if you neglect it enough! To prevent this from happening and to make sure that you keep your swimming pool clean and ready for a dip, here are some tips for how to maintain your pool.
Test the Water Regularly
During summer, you need to test the water quality in your swimming pool at least twice a week. During winter, once a week would suffice. There are DIY testing kits available online or in pool supply stores, allowing you to conduct a water quality test yourself easily. Ask your pool care service provider if they also sell such kits. Ideally, you should be able to check the water’s pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness.
Your pool’s pH should be at 7.5 so that it won’t cause corrosion (high acidity) or scaling (high alkalinity). Also, the total alkalinity should be at 120 to 150 ppm or parts per million to maintain a stable pH. Meanwhile, the calcium hardness depends on the material—around 250 ppm is the standard for concrete, while for vinyl, it’s about 225 ppm.
Invest in a Robotic Pool Cleaner
A robotic pool cleaner is just that: a robot that helps you clean your pool. Not only will it allow you to clean your pool much more quickly, but it will also do a more thorough job, and this also results in energy savings. Another great thing about a robotic pool cleaner is that most modern models come equipped with remote control or even Bluetooth connectivity. The latter is especially useful since you can use your smartphone to control the robot pool cleaner, as well as to customize when and how it cleans. Finally, robotic cleaners have an independent filtration system. This means that your pool’s pump and filter won’t undergo extra strain as you clean.
Keep Trees and Plants Trimmed
It’s nice to have some trees and plants near your pool since the greenery can provide a more relaxing ambiance. However, these trees and plants can also shed a lot of debris into your swimming pool, like leaves, branches, pollen, and petals. If you want some landscaping around or near your pool, consult a gardener about plant varieties that don’t get as messy. Make sure to trim the leaves and branches regularly, or opt to place foliage farther away from the pool to keep your swimming pool clean.
Consider Bromine for Hot Pools
When it comes to pool-cleaning chemicals, chlorine is still number one for killing bacteria and sanitizing your pool water. Make sure to get stabilized chlorine products, so that the chemical won’t degrade from sunlight exposure. This chemical is available in most pool supplies stores and may also be sold by pool service providers. Note that the ideal free chlorine levels in swimming pools should be at 1 to 3 ppm. If you have a heated pool, however, you may want to consider using bromine instead of chlorine. Bromine has the same bacteria-killing properties as chlorine, but it exhibits this property best when the water is hot. Ask your pool maintenance provider if they can install an automatic brominator in your pool to keep your swimming pool clean.
Shock-Treat Your Pool
A shock treatment helps prevent your pool from getting cloudy and developing algae due to impurities like dead human skin cells and other microscopic debris. After a shock treatment, it’s ideal to follow up with an algaecide to further sanitize your pool and keep it free from algae.
Keep the Pump in Good Shape
Your swimming pool’s pump keeps the water moving, preventing it from getting stale. Moreover, the pump pushes the water through the filter to remove contaminants. Operating the pump is straightforward; just turn it on for a few hours, depending on your pool’s size and water capacity. However, the pump itself needs regular maintenance and cleaning so it can work properly. Make sure to pay extra attention to the lint pot or basket. If you can, invest in a 2-speed pump for better results.
Keeping your swimming pool clean takes a bit of work, but it’s definitely worth the effort. With these simple tips, you can keep your swimming pool clean so you can swim, splash, or dive until your heart’s content. However, for those of you who simply don’t have the time to clean your pool, definitely consider hiring professionals like those on Prestapools.be to do the job!
