Your Weekly Pool Maintenance Checklist
A proper swimming pool cleaning routine extremely important for the safety of the swimmers, as well as the health and longevity of your swimming pool and pool equipment. So whether you're a new pool owner, a pool veteran or just want to know what you should expect from your pool service technician, Village Pools is here to help.
Here is the check list that we've designed to help you maintain your swimming pool properly and to ensure your pool is clean, clear, and safe.
1. Check the water level
The first thing to check is to see that your pool water is at an optimal level. It is important to make sure your water isn't too high or too low. If the water level gets too low, you risk air entering your skimmer, which can cause your pump to overheat. If your water level gets too high you risk overflowing, along with damage to your patio or home.
Monitoring your water is also important for realizing when you may have a leak in your pool system. And the faster you can take care of a leak the less water is wasted. We recommend targeting your water level to halfway up your skimmer hole. And when in doubt, it's better to keep you water too high then too low.
2. Check the pump and filter
Making sure your pool is receiving proper circulation is one of the most important things you can do as a pool owner. When you look at a pump that is running, you want to see that it is "fully primed." This means that your pump trap is filled with water, going all the way to the top of the lid. When your pump is running dry, without water flowing, you severely risk your pool motor burning out, which can end up being an expensive repair.
When you do this, make sure to clean out your filter once a month. The two most common type of pool filters are Cartridge Filters and Sand Filters, each requiring different monthly cleaning procedures. Make sure to replace you cartridge filter with a new one once a year.
3. Clean out the baskets
Over time leaves and debris can clog up your baskets, restricting proper water flow. The two main baskets that almost all pools have is the skimmer basket and pump trap basket. Be cautious during this step as we have found animals, both dead and alive, caught in these baskets. When cleaning out the pump trap basket you want to make sure to turn the pump off before removing the lid. Once you put everything back and turned the pump on, it is important to make sure the pump returns to a full prime.
4. Check and balance chemical levels
The main chemical levels you need to test for on a weekly basis are Free Chlorine, pH, Total Alkalinity and Stabilizer, while Calcium Hardness you can test for more occasionally. An easy and convenient way to do this is by using AquaChek Test Strips. Ideal chlorine levels should be in the 1-3 ppm range, pH: 7.2-7.8, Total Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm, Stabilizer: 30-50 ppm and Calcium Hardness, 180-220 ppm.
Keeping a proper chemical balance will keep your pool clear and safe, can make for a more enjoyable swimming experience, as well as increase the longevity of your pool surface and equipment.
For information on testing your pool water with AquaChek Test Strips click here.
5. Remove debris and dirt from pool and brush walls
Use a pool pole and a net to remove leaves, insects, and other debris floating on the pool’s surface. If your pool (like many pools in Miami) is cursed with little nats that get in you water, a fine mesh net would be best for you. If your pool gets a lot a dirt on the bottom it would be best the invest in either a manual vacuum or an automatic pool cleaner. We always recommend the Hayward Navigator Pro. Brushing your pool on a weekly basis is also very important for preventing algae growth and preserving the quality and longevity of your pools surface.
If this all seems like a little too much and would like to leave the pool maintenance to the professionals, please feel free to shoot us a message or give us a call at (305) 386-4831.
To get all your pool chemicals and supplies delivered right to your house the same or very next day, you can place an order at villagespapools.com/shop.
Check out our feature about 5 Essential Steps to Successful Pool Maintenance In 2 Minutes on WeAreKendall.com.
