Pool Maintenance 101: Everything You Need to Know

Having a pool can be a true delight, especially in the summer months when the heat makes it hard to enjoy being outside without some way to cool off.

But owning a pool isn’t all fun and games, as much as it can look that way from the outside. Pool ownership comes with a lot of maintenance requirements that are important for the safety and sanitation of the pool. Otherwise your source for fun and games could turn into a source of illness and infection.

Here’s what you need to know about pool maintenance, and the basics you need to keep your pool up and running, sanitary, and ready to use.

Pool Maintenance 101

Introduction

Pool maintenance can be a lot of different things depending on the kind of pool you have. For one thing, it means making sure your pool has the right sanitizer, at the right concentration, and that the filters are working properly.

You should also check on the pH of your pool, make sure the other parameters are working properly.

We’ll talk more about that in a moment though.

At the end of the day, pool maintenance refers to all the things you need to do to keep your pool running, safe and sanitary to swim in, and prevent the most common problems with pool water.

Keeping up with regular pool maintenance can make it a lot easier to keep your pool sanitary. If you skip it you might not be able to use your pool because of the problems. You might also notice that the pool water is more irritating than usual, or that you have early wear and tear.

The key to getting started with pool maintenance is familiarizing yourself with the instructions on all of your pool kits. That includes knowing the size and shape of your pool, how to read the test kits for the water, and knowing when to change your pool filters.

Almost all of the chemicals and equipment you need for your pool will have their own sets of instructions. Be sure to read all of them so you don’t have any surprises.

Pool Chemistry

At the core of all pool maintenance is one critical thing, pool chemistry. Don’t get intimidated though, you won’t need too many of the chemistry skills you learned in high school. Everything that goes into pool chemistry is pretty simple and quite manageable once you get the hang of it.

It’s good practice to test your pool water at least 1-2 times per week so you know exactly what your pool is doing. Over time you should get a sense for how different kinds of weather or activities are likely to affect the chemistry of your pool.

That starts with maintaining the right pH balance. If your pool doesn’t have the right pH, the other chemicals and sanitizers in your pool won’t work properly. Ideally you should keep your pool’s pH between 7.2-7.6. Your pool maintenance kit should include both a pH increaser and a pH reducer, so you can make adjustments as needed.

You will also need to check and maintain your pool’s sanitizer, often chlorine, and make sure it’s at the recommended level of between 1 and 4 parts per million (ppm). Slightly high is better than slightly low, since chlorine breaks down in sunlight.

Lastly, you’ll need to keep both pool shock and algaecide on hand. You’ll need to check on all of these during your weekly water checks.

A complete pool testing kit will have everything you need to test for each of these chemicals, including test strips or the tools you’ll need to test a small water sample. The chemicals themselves have their own instructions, which you should follow to the letter.

The other important piece of information you’ll need is the size and volume of your pool. The amount of water in your pool is used to calculate how much of each chemical is needed for the precise change you’re trying to get.

Remember that pool chemistry might not be particularly difficult, but it does require a lot of precision. As a tip, if you’re having problems with pool chemistry and the normal tactics, like adding more sanitizer or shocking the pool to eliminate organic contamination, aren’t working, it’s time to consider other problems. For instance, your pool’s filer might not be strong enough for your needs, or you might not be running it long enough for the amount of debris getting into your pool.

Over time you’ll learn how to address each of these problems, and even to anticipate the most common problems that happen in your specific pool.

Pool Cleaning

Cleaning is a part of maintenance, but thankfully an easier part. You won’t need to know any chemistry to get this part done.

Cleaning helps your pool filter deal with the debris in your pool. It’s also critical for preventing the buildup of biofilms on the inside of the pool, especially along the walls, floor, and any other submerged equipment.

There are a few different ways to deal with pool cleaning.

The first is to get a pool brush. Pool brushes are the simplest option, but also the most work intensive. You’ll use them to scrub the sides of the pool and the bottom, stirring up all the water and eliminating biofilms in the process.

As an alternative, you can get a pool vacuum. Pool vacuums will do most of the work of cleaning your pool, and they’re connected to the filter system, so there is minimal cleanup after you use them.

The only trick with a pool vacuum, after it’s set up, is that they can float on the water at first. That’s because of trapped air bubbles. Pushing it down should help release the air bubbles so it can sink and get the job done.

However, only some models of vacuums will clean the sides of the pool, or the steps in and out. If you don’t have one of those, you’ll still need to scrub the walls and steps yourself.

You will also need a net for getting rid of surface debris on your pool. The net can be used any time, but most people do it while they are getting ready to scrub or vacuum the inside of the pool. The goal is to get anything that’s floating in the water out so that it can’t cause any problems.

You’ll also need to backwash your filter. The goal of backwashing is to get any debris stuck in the intake of your filer out, and to clean the waste line.

Every filter is different, so you should follow the instructions that came with your filter for how often you need to backwash.

Prepare the hose and filter before you change any settings, so that the water has somewhere to go. Ideally you should run the hose from the filter to a safe waste site, but that isn’t necessary on all pool filters.

Turn the filter off and switch your multiport valve to backwash. Once the hose is set, turn the filter on. It should only take a few minutes to start running clear water again.

Next, turn off the filter again and switch the valve to rinse. Turn it on for about 30 seconds. This step resets the filter.

Once you’ve done all that you can turn the filter back to its normal setting, turn it on, and record a pressure reading to make sure you’re getting the right flow.

Last, but not least, pool cleaning sometimes calls for shocking the pool. You should check if your pool needs to be shocked at least once a week. It won’t need it every week, but you don’t want to skip it when you do need to shock the pool.

The first step is to figure out how much pool shock you need. Read the instructions on the chemicals first, but the general rule of thumb is 1 pound of pool shock for every 10,000 gallons of water in the pool.

Mix the right amount of shock for the pool, add it, and give it at least a few hours to work before testing again. Retesting is important to make sure you corrected the problem. You might need to add more shock depending on the situation and results.

Pool Maintenance Schedule

Pool maintenance is an ongoing task that never really ends. It’s important to know what you need to do and when, to have the best chance of getting it right. Here’s a basic schedule of pool maintenance to help you get started.

Daily Pool Maintenance

Every day your pool’s filter needs to run for at least 12 hours. You should also skim and brush the pool every day to prevent debris from building up in the water.

Additionally, you should check the pool water to make sure the water is at the right level. If you don’t have enough water, you should top it off right away. Otherwise the pool’s chemistry may be off, and you might notice that the pool water is more irritating than normal.

Weekly Pool Maintenance

Your weekly pool maintenance is a little more intensive than the daily list.

You should vacuum or scrub the bottom and sides of your pool first. Then test the pool chemistry and make any necessary adjustments.

Make sure the pool water is at the right level.

Additionally, depending on the products you use and the results of your water test, you may want to use an algae remover and/or shock your pool.

Monthly Pool Maintenance

Once a month you’ll need to do some additional maintenance on top of your weekly pool maintenance. That includes inspecting all pool filters, any heaters, and the pumps. Look for leaks and other signs of damage, and replace the filter.

You should also inspect the pool liner for any holes or tears, test for total dissolved solids, and conduct a Langelier saturation index evaluation. That will let you know how many solids are in the water, as well as testing for whether your water is likely to cause a chemical scale or corrosion.

You should also double check all of the safety equipment installed in your pool to make sure it’s working properly and still solid.

Seasonal Pool Maintenance

Seasonal pool maintenance looks a little different depending on which season you’re getting ready for.

In the spring, you should focus on clearing the pool from debris, including getting all debris off the pool cover before you open it.

Next, check over the filter system and reconnect it. Scrub the interior walls and shock the pool water.

Make sure the pool’s alkalinity and pH are within recommended levels, and raise water levels to halfway up the skimmer.

In the summer you’ll need increase how often you skim the water and how often you apply algaecide to the water. In addition, you will likely need to shock the pool a little more often. The most effective shock times are in the morning and evening.

You can also use a chelation product if you have stains on the interior walls.

Heading into fall, the biggest challenge is typically managing fallen leaves that can cause clogging if they aren’t removed quickly enough. They can also cause stains on your pool liner if they sink into the pool, so regular cleaning is necessary. You may also want to use your pool cover at least occasionally if you aren’t swimming and there are a lot of falling leaves.

Lastly, unless you have a heated pool or live somewhere you don’t need to close your pool through the winter, it’s important to winterize the whole pool before the temperatures dip too much. Freezing temperatures can damage your pool components if you aren’t prepared.

First, make sure the Ph and alkalinity, chlorine, and water hardness are all in acceptable parameters. You should start testing a week before you close up for the winter.

Next, remove the ladders and any diving boards for winter storage. Then you’ll need to brush the interior walls and floor, skim the water, and clean the skimmer baskets one last time. Reduce the water to a few inches below the skimmer line to prevent damage.

Last, you’ll turn off the filter pump and drain the filter.

After all that, all you need to do is install your winter cover.

Troubleshooting Pool Problems

Proper maintenance is the best way to avoid pool problems, but no pool is completely immune to the occasional issue.

The first step to troubleshooting any problem is to test the water and check the filters on your pool.

Common problems include cloudy water, which can often be resolved with a shock or algaecide, strong chlorine smell, a sign that something is wrong with the sanitizer and it might need more sanitizer, a shock, or more filtration, or stains on your pool liner, which can be a sign of pool debris or chelation.

The best prevention for pool problems is to keep a close eye on your pool and test and treat for issues at the first sign of trouble. And, if you have a problem and you can’t find a solution, it might be time to reach out to a pool maintenance company to have them come out for a one time appointment to resolve the problem.

Conclusion

The key to pool maintenance is staying on schedule, being proactive, and working to resolve problems as quickly as possible when they arise.

Make sure you keep up on your daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance schedules, and that you’re familiar with all the tools and chemicals you have on hand to maintain your pool.

Most importantly, trust yourself if you think something might be wrong. The sooner you test and check the water for what’s wrong, the easier it will be to solve the problem before it truly begins.

Of course, if you need any more pool maintenance tips or information, Intec America can help. Browse our blog for more informational articles, or contact us for more direct help tackling the problems in your pool.

FAQ

Here are some of the most common questions we get about pool maintenance, and the answers you need.

How to maintain your pool during the off-season:

Once you’ve completely winterized your pool you shouldn’t need to do any additional maintenance during the off-season. Assuming that is, that your pool isn’t heated and isn’t being used during the off season. Otherwise you should continue with your daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance schedule as normal.

How to prepare your pool for winter:

There are a few different steps to prepare your pool for winter you’ll need to first completely clean the pool, check the chemistry of the pool, and shut down the filter. You’ll also need to lower the water level slightly so that it doesn’t get into the skimmers.

How to choose the right pool maintenance company:

There are a few different things to consider when you’re choosing a pool maintenance company. First, look for a company with experience, good reviews, and that is already familiar with your pool sanitizer method.

DIY pool maintenance projects:

DIY pool maintenance projects can range from improving the fit of your winter cover to building a partial shade over your pool to help prevent falling leaves and other debris getting into your pool water. You can also check on your filter performance, make sure the filter and skimmers aren’t clogged, and of course, do all the other regular maintenance your pool needs.

Pool maintenance tips for specific types of pools:

Every type of pool is going to have slightly different maintenance requirements. Salt water pools, for instance, don’t need as much chlorine and are generally lighter maintenance, but it’s important to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t start to have a problem before you can catch it.

Above ground pools call for changing the water once a year, but you should generally clean inground pools more often since they tend to catch more debris.

Pool maintenance tips for families with children:

Having children with a pool can make for a lot of fun, but it also means you’ll need to do more maintenance. Having a night cover for your pool is a good idea, especially when your children are younger, so they don’t accidentally wander outside and fall in.

You should also be especially careful with the pool chemistry while you have younger children. For better or worse, they are more likely to go to the bathroom in the pool, which can mean that your pool goes through sanitizer faster than it otherwise would.

Because of that extra wear and tear, you might also need to shock the pool more often. More importantly, pool parties and the other kinds of celebrations that dirty your pool faster also call for additional pool shocks and extra maintenance.

In general, if you have kids, maintenance gets more important and also much more frequent.