Owning a pool can be very rewarding. A swimming pool gives you somewhere to exercise, relax, and host guests. The minute that your friends learn of your new swimming pool, they are sure to invite themselves over. However, despite how enjoyable they can be to own, swimming pools are very hard work. If you don’t properly maintain your swimming pool, then it could become a safety hazard. Algae, germs, and bacteria thrive in unclean swimming pools.
This post will tell you about nine things that every swimming pool owner needs to know:
Regular Cleaning
The first thing that you need to know if you own a swimming pool is that regular cleaning is absolutely essential. You can’t take shortcuts with your pool’s cleanliness. The most effective way of ensuring that your pool is thoroughly and expertly cleaned is to purchase a robotic swimming pool cleaner, which can efficiently eliminate any waste and debris from your pool’s surface. In addition to using a robotic cleaner, you should also apply regular chlorine treatment to your swimming pool. Doing this will help to keep your pool clean. It’s also good to install a filter in it which will purify your pool’s water.
Autumn Covering
Something else that you need to make sure that you do is to cover your swimming pool with a plastic sheet in autumn because this is when leaves fall off of your yard’s trees. Even if you don’t have any leaves in your yard, they can be blown in from neighbouring properties or even from the street. Trying to remove a large build-up of leaves from your swimming pool can be a real challenge. Additionally, if leaves are allowed to pile up on your pool’s surface, then algae will inevitably form, and pests will be introduced into your pool’s water.
Daily Skimming
Sometimes it’s impractical to run your robotic pool cleaner, either because it’s a waste of energy or because your pool isn’t that dirty. If you leave your pool uncovered, then at least once a day you will need to skim your pool of any surface waste. It’s very common for leaves, dirt, and debris to fall onto your pool’s surface. If you allow this kind of stuff to build up, then your pool can become very dirty, even if you regularly use chlorine to clean it. You can buy handheld skimming devices, which you can run along your pool’s surface to eliminate waste.
Consistent Chemicals
Your swimming pool needs consistent chemical treatment. The chemicals that need to be maintained at consistent levels in your pool are:
- Chlorine is the most well-known swimming pool chemical. It sanitises your pool and eliminates germs.
- Cyanuric Acid protects your pool’s chlorine from sunlight.
- Acidity/Alkalinity is also known as your pool’s pH level. Your pool’s pH level needs to be maintained so as to prevent skin irritation and pool erosion.
- Total Alkalinity keeps your pool’s pH in balance.
- Calcium Hardness prevents your pool’s walls from becoming damaged. Pools with vinyl siding can have low levels, whereas pools with plaster siding need high levels.
Water Level
You need to keep your pool’s water levels at a consistent, safe level. If your water levels are too low, then people diving in could injure themselves. If they are too high, then your pool could overflow and cause water to run into your yard. An overflowing pool can also make your pool’s decking slippery, which can be very dangerous and can cause people to slip over and hurt themselves. Your pool’s manufacturer or retailer will tell you what levels to keep your water at.
Pool Decking
Most in-ground swimming pools have concrete or marble decking. This kind of decking can be very dangerous. It’s not uncommon for people to slip over and hurt themselves. An alternative to them is wooden decking. Wooden decking is affordable and easy to install. In addition to being affordable and easy to install, wooden decking is also a lot safer, and a lot less slippery. Wooden decking is also a lot easier to clean. All you need to do to clean it is to spray it down with a jet wash. You can even install your own wooden decking.
Annual Check-up
Whether you think that your pool needs it or not, you need to make sure that you get your pool checked on annually by a pool specialist (or by the pool’s retailer). Depending on the package that you purchased when you bought your pool, annual check-ups could be complimentary. If you did not include check-ups in your package, then you will have to pay for a specialist to come out to inspect your pool. If you didn’t include check-ups in your pool’s purchase package, then it will probably be a lot cheaper for you to get it checked on by a specialist unconnected with your pool’s retailer.
Winterizing Pool
If you don’t winterize your pool, then it could become damaged or dirty during the winter months. One of the most common problems that people experience in winter, especially during harsh ones, is their swimming pools freezing over. In order to prevent this, you need to keep your pool heated all winter. This can cost a lot of money in terms of energy use, though. The best way to winterize your pool is to ask the pool’s retailer for advice, and then implement it. Every pool needs its own specialised approach.
Professional Help
Lastly, if you are struggling with maintaining your pool then it’s a good idea to call for a professional pool cleaning service Tucson. A professional pool cleaner will be able to work with you to help you to maintain and look after your swimming pool. The downside to professional pool cleaners is that they can charge a lot of money. If you are on a tight budget, then you likely won’t be able to afford the help of a professional pool cleaning service. You may be able to hire them and pay for their services monthly, however, to break down the cost.
If you own a swimming pool, then maintenance is essential. If you don’t properly maintain your pool, then it will deteriorate very quickly. Stagnant bodies of water attract pests, germs, and bacteria. If any of these things are allowed to establish a foothold in your pool, then using it can be dangerous.
