Swimming Pool Maintenance

All about swimming pool equipment and swimming pool supplies

Proper maintenance is crucial to the health and safety of the people using your swimming pool. While many people are daunted by the attention to detail that's required for proper swimming pool maintenance, the truth is that it's not nearly as labor-intensive as you might think. If you're proactive and know the common pitfalls and how to avoid them, most of your maintenance will be preventative.

Common Swimming Pool Maintenance Mistakes

The best way to understand pool maintenance is to learn from the mistakes of others. Here is a step-by-step guide to ensuring your pool's water remains clean and safe:

  • Make sure you check your pool's chemistry regularly, at least twice per week. This way, you'll only have to deal with small problems, rather than letting them build into big ones.
  • Don't let the pH level of the water in your pool rise above 8.0. A pH tester should be on every owner's list of indispensible swimming pool supplies. The efficacy of the chlorine in your pool drops off dramatically if the pH level rises above this threshold.
  • Ensure the alkalinity in the water is always between 80 and 140 parts per million (ppm).
  • Perform regular checks to ensure the cells in your chlorine generator are not clogged or corroded. If they are, replace them; the generator won't be able to produce chlorine otherwise.
  • Check the skimmer basket as well as the hair and lint trap in your pool pump religiously. Clogs in these components impede water circulation, which can lead to contamination. Also, make sure to run the pump for one hour per 10 degrees Fahrenheit of water temperature; good water circulation ensures your pool maintenance will be minimal. Thus, if you maintain a water temperature of 75 degrees, run the pump for 7½ hours (or slightly longer, if the pump isn't functioning perfectly).
  • Add chlorine after the sun goes down, rather than during the day.
  • Keep your tiles and pool walls free of algae by brushing them down regularly, especially if your pool's circulation system isn't performing at peak capacity.
  • Ensure there are no rips in your swimming pool liner. Torn liners lead to leaks and damage to your pool walls.
  • Replace damaged, broken or missing drains and suction components immediately.

Swimming Pool Equipment No Owner Should Be Without

A pool skimmer, steady chlorine supply, pool brushes, a pool vacuum and a pool cover are essential. These supplies will be used in the vast majority of your regular preventative maintenance sessions.

If you're ever in doubt about how to perform a particular maintenance task, or if you're too busy to fit proper maintenance routines into your busy schedule, you can always arrange for professional pool cleanings from swimming pool service companies.

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