As the end of this year nears, you can cherish all the happy memories with your swimming pool.
From summer pool parties to snowy winters, a pool goes through a lot - and so do the pool owners.
Forget all the mistakes and procrastinations of the past and make up your mind to follow these new year's resolutions for your pool.
Test the water more often
Clean water with perfect chemistry is the soul of a swimming pool. To maintain that balance, testing the water at regular intervals is essential
The ideal frequency of testing the pool water should be once per day, however, twice a week is the least you should do.
If gone undetected, a severe water imbalance can keep your pool out of service for weeks.
Testing the water more often helps prevent algae, improve water clarity, and increase the service life of the pool equipment.
Not to mention, it saves you time and money on maintenance in the long run.
Use your pool more often
Promise yourself to spend more time in your swimming pool this year.
Dipping yourself in the clear waters of your pool is a soothing experience that offers you a retreat from your routine.
It gives you a chance to spend more happy time with your family and friends. It also offers incredible health benefits.
Swimming is the perfect overall exercise for the human body and is also suitable for the elderly, sick, or people with disabilities.
It has been proven to reduce the symptoms of mental health issues like anxiety and depression and is an excellent method to improve and maintain cardiovascular health.
Brush the pool regularly
Brush your pool at least once per week to avoid algae and mold growth.
While chemicals can treat them effectively, it is hard to keep them off the walls and pool equipment without regular brushing.
Brushing the pool ensures that every corner and crevice of your pool has been thoroughly cleaned and is free from any contaminants.
Brushing and vacuuming also help in lifting dust and debris that may have settled onto the pool floor.
Scaling of the pool walls and equipment can also happen over time due to fluctuations in total hardness and other factors.
Brushing can help remove buildup and helps to maintain the pool walls and equipment in pristine condition.
Keep your chlorine level in the optimal range
Chlorine (sanitizer) is your best friend when it comes to maintaining a pool. It kills germs (bacteria, parasites, and algae) in the water and maintains its clarity.
Keeping an eye on the water chemistry and shocking the pool when your chlorine drops below recommended levels will help prevent a lot of problems.
Optimal levels of chlorine will prevent the growth of algae in the pool and helps to maintain water clarity.
Individuals who have experienced an algae infestation in their pool can confirm it is an absolute nightmare.
It takes thorough cleaning of the pool, shocking the water, balancing it, and repeating this process over and over until the algae are eliminated.
Additionally, things like algae and mold can cause severe damage to the pool circulation system, which can end up in expensive repairs or total replacement.Learn about CYA
CYA (Cyanuric Acid) is a chemical added to the pool water to help maintain the optimum sanitizer levels.
Chlorine is susceptible to UV rays from the sunlight and depletes quickly under its influence.
CYA binds to the free chlorine and slows its release rate, extending the duration for which the chlorine stays effective.
Think of CYA as sunscreen for your chlorine that protects it from sunlight.
It's also important to know that too much CYA is a bad thing and can make your chlorine less effective.
The optimal concentration is between 30 ppm-50 ppm for chlorine pools and 70 ppm for saltwater pools.
Tell your friends about Sutro
After listening to hundreds of pool owners and understanding their problems, we concluded that the most essential part of pool maintenance is knowing the right water chemistry levels.
However, testing these levels accurately takes time and patience, which is short on many pool owners.
To solve this, we developed our Sutro Pool Monitoring System which is a battery-operated, submersible device for water testing.
It checks the pH, free Chlorine/Bromine three times a day, and the total alkalinity once a day.
It sends real-time updates to your mobile app and tells you how to balance your water so you are always aware and prepared to maintain the water balance.
Create a Checklist for your Pool
All the maintenance for your pool needs to be done regularly so it's important to know when and what you need to do.
Using a checklist allows you to have a perfect plan layout that can guide you through the different steps of routine maintenance.
Plan out a checklist for your pool and abide by it. Divide the activities into weekly, monthly, and quarterly phases.
Before you create a checklist, it is also important to consider the location of your pool and other environmental factors into consideration.
For example, if there are trees and vegetation around your pool, you must add a daily check for fallen leaves and the onset of algae to your pool checklist.
Similarly, add algaecide to the pool before heavy rain, and shock it afterward.
Here’s an example of a pool checklist, and how can you plan out different maintenance activities:
Daily Maintenance
- Skim the pool for debris (leaves, insects, etc.) using a pool net.
- Ensure your pool pump runs for at least eight hours each day.
- Check the chlorine and pH levels. Adjust to keep them in an optimal range.
- Check the water levels of the pool during summer.
Bi-weekly/weekly Maintenance
- When needed shock the pool to keep algae at bay. Do this at dusk and keep the pump running.
- Add algaecide aftershock for better effect.
- Brush and vacuum the pool, and clean the surfaces for any organic deposits. Also, clean the pool deck.
Monthly or ‘as needed
- Test the water for total hardness, cyanuric acid, metals, and phosphates. Balance the water if needed.
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Clean the filtration system and conduct deep cleaning of the pool.
- Inspect the pool and equipment for pool leaks or damages.
Annual or Seasonal Maintenance Checklist
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Winterize the pool before the onset of winter.
- Purge the plumbing lines to eliminate any buildup and clean all the pool equipment with appropriate cleaning chemicals.
- Replace filter cartridges and any other worn-out items.
- Call pool maintenance experts for a professional and thorough check.
Other Important Stuff
Owning a pool is a luxury, but one that comes with a few responsibilities. A few small considerations here and there should be on your pool care checklist.
Make sure to open and close the pool following the right procedures, always maintain proper water levels (halfway to the skimmer hatch), and try to keep the pool covered when leaving it unused for long periods.
What’s the least you need to do?
Maybe halfway through the year, your resolve to follow this schedule starts shaking.
Perhaps, all of this sounds like too much work, or you have a very busy schedule. So let’s check out the easy way to handle things:
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If daily maintenance seems tough, follow the weekly schedule - filter cleaning is essential and pool shock is your friend.
Our Sutro monitor will help with that and make life a lot easier for you. Daily updates of the three core water chemistry elements let you know exactly when your pool needs some care.
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Hire a professional. Most pool maintenance companies offer monthly, quarterly, and annual maintenance packages to choose from.
If you aren't familiar with maintaining your pool, you may want to hire a service until you are comfortable doing it yourself.