Pool Maintenance 101

How a “Pool Maintenance Calendar”

Can Save You Time, Money and Hassle

by “The Pool Prof”

When the sun is up and the water is sparkling, being in the pool sounds much more inviting than maintaining it.

But as the old adage goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth of a pound of cure.” Creating and maintaining a simple, easy-to-follow “Pool Maintenance Calendar” will save you time, money and hassle.

Where you live, what kind of pool you have, weather conditions and how much use your pool gets can all impact how frequently you’ll need to handle various maintenance chores.

Here’s a basic checklist that will help get you started:

TWICE A WEEK

• Clean out your pool’s skimmer basket so the water flows freely. The debris that collects in the skimmer basket can result in reduced water circulation.

• Monitor and adjust your pool’s chemistry. Consult with a local pool expert to determine what levels are optimal for your pool, based on size, location, and other factors.  In general, though, the following is a good guideline:

WEEKLY

• Check and adjust your pool’s water level. If the level is too low, your pump won’t operate correctly.

• Make sure the pump is turning on and off regularly and is running long enough to circulate your pool water twice every 24 hours. It is best to accomplish this by running your pump twice at two separate times. This prevents your water from “stewing” for a straight 16 hours during a 24 hour period (assuming you need to run the pump eight hours to turnover the water twice). It is better to run the pump four hours, let the water sit for eight hours, and then repeat that cycle again. That way, your pool water doesn’t go uncirculated for more than eight hours at a time.

• Test your water and adjust your pool’s alkalinity levels as well as the biweekly tests. This is your ideal range:

• Brush and vacuum pool. Most pool owners vacuum the floor of their pools but forget to brush the walls of the pool, which helps loosen and eliminate algae.

• Check your pool filter. It has a gauge that threads through the top or side of the filter and monitors the pressure inside. The pressure in a pool filter is typically between 10 and 18 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). If the pressure is low, the filter may have a blockage or suction leak. The filter will need cleaning when the PSI has risen 10 PSI above baseline. Baseline is the PSI right after a cleaning or upon a new installation.

MONTHLY

• Check the seals in your pool’s motor and pump.

• Inspect your pool finish for any signs of discoloration, cracking, peeling or holes. If you notice any potential problems, handle them promptly. Schedule an appointment with a reputable pool refinishing or remodeling company at your earliest convenience. Delaying maintenance only increases the likelihood of a potentially more extensive, more expensive repair weeks or months down the road.

• Test your water and adjust your pool’s  CYA levels.  This is your ideal range:

• Check for leaks by performing a “bucket test.” This is an easy way to determine whether your pool may be leaking. This is particularly important if you have an auto-fill, which may “hide” the existence of a leak that can go unnoticed until you receive your water bill. First, turn off your pool’s auto-fill for one week. Fill a bucket ¾ full of pool water, and mark the level of the water in the bucket with a waterproof marker or tape. Place the bucket on the top step of your pool or spa so the water is subjected to the same weather and light conditions as your pool water. In three days, compare how much the water level has dropped in the bucket with how much the water level has dropped in your pool. If both levels have dropped the same amount, that’s evaporation. But if the bucket water level has dropped one inch and the pool water level has dropped three inches, that’s a telltale sign of a pool leak. If the level of the bucket is lower than the pool, check your dog—he’s probably drinking out of the bucket!

AS NEEDED

• Drain and refill your pool. While most bacteria, viruses and substances such as sunscreen, lotions, oils, deodorant, hairspray, etc. can be effectively neutralized by proper chemical balancing of your pool water, some of these materials remain in your pool water. The same is true of some of the chemicals you must add to keep your pool a healthy swimming environment. These are all called Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Over time, TDS must be removed from the water either be a reverse osmosis machine or by either partially or completely refilling the body of water. How often you need to do this depends on how much use your pool gets. The water in heavily used cruise ship pools, for example, should be changed much more frequently than a family pool that is only used occasionally. The water in commercial pools (hotels, apartment complexes, community centers, etc.) should be checked daily and changed as needed.

If you’re consistent in handling the basic pool maintenance chores included on this checklist, you’ll enjoy your pool more while spending less time and money keeping it well maintained.

 “The Pool Prof” column is written by the expert professionals at Gardner Outdoor & Pool Remodeling. Serving Southern California homeowners and commercial clients since 1969, Gardner has offices in San Diego, Orange County and Palm Springs. To learn more, visit gardnerpoolplastering.com.