If you’re the proud owner of a brand new swimming pool, congratulations! A pool is truly one of the best investments you can make, offering a place to relax, exercise, and throw the best parties on the street. It also adds value to your home if you come to sell.
Of course, getting to this stage probably wasn’t easy. Paying for the preparation and installations, and then muddling through the logistics, likely took a lot longer than you thought it would. Even now, there’s plenty to learn so that you can protect your investment over the long term.
This article is here to help you get started with that latter part. Pool maintenance can be complicated, and you’ve likely been told many different things by several different people. To get you started, here’s what you need to know broken down into three easy steps.
1. Testing the Water
When it comes to caring for a swimming pool, just about everything comes down to the cleanliness of the water, and the foundation for this is regular testing.
The best way to go about this is to use high-quality swimming pool test strips. These test for pH, free chlorine, and total alkalinity levels all in one, which is much less complicated than trying to test for each individually.
Consistent testing ensures you always maintain the right balance of chemicals in the water, which is different depending on the type of pool you have.
2. Cleaning the Walls and Floors
Next up is the state of your pool floors and walls. Firstly, though, you’ll need to skim the pool surface to get rid of leaves and dirt, as well as feathers and small insects.
This should be done daily. After this, make sure you brush the pool walls and floors at least weekly to prevent algae from forming. Remember: algae will always be trying to take hold in your pool, so it’s a constant battle.
Finally, don’t forget about pool vacuuming. You can rent a cleaner periodically based on your manufacturer’s guidance for a more thorough scrubbing.
3. Caring for the Filters
Your filtration system represents the beating heart of your pool. It works to purify the water and make for a pleasant swimming experience, and it’s essential to do your part to make sure it’s functioning properly.
You’ll want to run the filter daily. Eight to twelve hours is a good benchmark to go by, but be sure to check the instruction manual for exact details, as there can be differences between brands. There are also different types of filters, so you’ll need to be familiar with the types you have and how to clean them. Check out this video to learn more on that front.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, you’re now a little clearer on the basics of pool maintenance. The most important thing is to be consistent in your efforts; problems can easily mount if you don’t stay on top of things.
It can feel like information overload at first, but commit the above steps to memory, and you’ll be fine. Have fun using your new pool!
