You may feel that maintaining your pool is a chore, a necessary evil, or so tricky to get right that only a professional can do it. That just isn’t the case, and we at Parnell Pool and Spa are here to take the mystery out of caring for your pool. These 5 tips for successful pool care will make caring for your pool simple.
First and foremost, don’t make pool care an afterthought. It’s important to understand the components of your pool and to make a regular maintenance schedule. It doesn’t have to take hours every week to get right. Don’t know where to start? We can help.
Circulation
Circulation is the key to keeping your pool water clean and sparkling. Your pool pump is the workhorse that keeps that pool water moving, clean, filtered, and safe for you to swim in. The pump pulls water from the pool, pushes it through the filter, and returns it to the pool. Ideally, pumps should run all the time, but that is energy-consuming. As a result, we advise most people to run their pump 8-12 hours a day during the swimming season.
Filtration
Your pool filter works constantly to remove dirt and debris from your pool. Following your manufacturer’s guidelines, your pool filter will need to be cleaned periodically, which typically involves a process called backwashing. In backwashing, the water flow is reversed and debris is flushed out through a waste line. Your filter comes with a pressure gauge that will indicate how often you need to do this. Check that gauge often and it will be easy to stay on top of making sure your filter is clean and working efficiently.
Cleaning
There is just no getting around the need for a weekly pool cleaning. You will need a few supplies for this: a brush to clean the sides of the pool, a net skimmer to remove leaves and insects from the surface, and a pool vacuum. Enjoy the sunshine, put your earbuds in, and listen to your favorite tunes while you enjoy the process of keeping your pool pristine. You want to make sure you empty and clean your skimmer and pump baskets of any debris at this time. Many people choose to invest in an automatic pool vacuum to make the weekly job of vacuuming the pool easier. Sit back and let the automatic vac do the work for you!
Testing
Testing your pool water is something that needs to be done frequently, in fact, 2-3 times a week is good. You will use a test kit to perform this task, which tests ph levels, chlorine levels, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Your test kit will come with recommendations for the proper levels and instructions for adding chemicals to achieve the perfect balance. Parnell Pool and Spa offers free water testing to our customers. In addition to testing your water yourself, we invite you to take advantage of this service a few times during the summer and let our experts advise you.
Chemicals
The number one-aid to having the crystal clear pristine pool of your dreams is chemistry. Our expert service team members have the know-how and experience to recommend the right line of products to maintain your pool in superb condition. The basic requirements are to sanitize, shock, and prevent algae from forming. Sanitizer (usually chlorine) kills bacteria and inhibits the growth of other contaminants in your pool water. “Shocking” your pool is the addition of extra chlorine to treat your water after a rainstorm or extremely heavy use. It will eliminate cloudiness from the water, prevent algae from forming and restore the chlorine to optimum efficiency. For this reason, using an algaecide weekly is smart, as it prevents algae from forming. Always use an algaecide after shocking your pool. Check our website for information on specials we offer on pool care products.
The benefits of owning your own pool far outweigh the effort of caring for it. Furthermore, it doesn’t need too much time each week to maintain your pool. These 5 tips for successful pool care will get you on the right track. If you plan ahead and have a schedule for regular cleaning and upkeep you will be ahead of the game and have more time to enjoy that pool with your family and friends. And don’t forget: We are here to answer your questions, recommend products, and service your equipment. Give us a call today!
