Maytronics
When you think about a swimming pool, the first thing that comes to mind is FUN. It’s fun to play in your pool, but it’s not so enjoyable to clean your pool! We’re going to change that by teaching you the basics of pool maintenance. We will teach you about water types, pool testing chemistry, and more. After reading this, pool maintenance will become as easy as any other weekend chore.
Table of Contents
How to maintain a pool
Multiple types of home swimming pools are differentiated by size, water type, materials, and more. The general pool build includes the same parts but each pool type deserves a slightly different treatment. To properly maintain your swimming pool, you need to know and understand the pool parts, water type, cleaning and pool equipment, and how and when to use it. Some pools need weekly maintenance and other pools that need winter preparation. Each swimming pool has its maintenance routine.
Pool parts
The first step to pool maintenance is knowing the pool parts.
- The pump – the pump is essential in keeping your pool safe and circulating the water while it runs.
- The filtering system – filters are made up of smaller parts, such as skimmers and washouts, which prevent debris, dirt, and other floaties from getting into the water and polluting it. Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters, sand filters, and more are some of the types of filters available.
Water type
There are two main types of pool water.
- Fresh water – the most common water used in a swimming pool. This is the water that comes from a garden hose. Fresh, regular water tends to produce more algae and carry more bacteria into the pool which will require frequent balancing.
- Saltwater – due to higher alkalinity in saltwater, it deters algae and bacteria which means it needs to be balanced less frequently than fresh water. However, saltwater is corrosive, so you’ll need to maintain the pump and the filtering more often.
Pool Cleaning routine
To keep your pool clear, clean, and safe, we recommend creating a pool cleaning routine.
Here are steps we recommend you take to increase your fun and decrease your cleaning time.
- Pump and filtering – the pump should be running at least 10-12 hours a day, this does require electricity but will help filter out debris in the pool water. If it’s affordable for you, we recommend 24/7 operation to reduce your overall manual cleaning time.
- Robots and vacuums – use a cleaning robot at least two times a week. This is best done when nobody’s in the pool. You can also use a vacuum, but it requires more labor and a proper vacuuming process.
- Remove surface-level bugs and leaves with a skimmer net. We recommend doing this every day if possible, especially during high winds or during the fall when there are more leaves.
- Perform weekly pool maintenance using the pump, valves, skimmers, and jets.
- Perform a water quality test every two days, and balance if needed.
There will be special circumstances where you’ll be required to do more than just regular pool maintenance. For example, the water can become murky due to weather changes or inconsistent pool care. In that case, you’ll need to know how to clean a green pool or a cloudy one.
Also, before the winter comes – you’ll need to ready the pool for its “hibernation” and make preparations for keeping it in good condition even when not in use.
The water circulation
When in nature, you will notice that lakes and ponds are usually green, moldy, and faded, completely different from the live and clear water of waterfalls and running rivers. The same goes for the water in a pool. To achieve clean and clear water, use a pump for pool circulation and clean your pool filter regularly. The pump also comprises a filtering system, offering pool care and pool pump protection. It is highly recommended to keep the pump running 24/7, but it requires electricity and can be costly. If 24/7 is too much, we recommend operating it for at least 12 hours a day for good pool maintenance and circulation.
Balancing and testing pool chemistry
There are three important factors for pool chemistry: acidity of the water, alkalinity, and sanitizers. Acidity is measured by pH levels using pool testing kits. Alkalinity buffers the pH level and prevents dangerous changes in the water’s acidity. Sanitizers are mostly comprised of the chlorine level you add to the water, which can be achieved by learning how to shock a pool.
Before enjoying the pool, you should always test the pH levels using a pool testing kit. The strips and chemicals provided in the kit will present the metrics of the water’s chlorine, pH level, and total alkalinity, allowing you to balance them to your liking.
Maintenance for different types of pools
There are two different types of pool builds that can affect maintenance.
- Indoor pools – Indoor pools are usually more sheltered from winds and, therefore, will gather less foliage and dirt. On the other hand, indoor pools create more algae due to moisture and humidity. Thus, the filtering system needs to be better and operate more frequently for a clean pool.
- Outdoor pools – the outdoor pools tend to get dirtier on the surface, while the flow of air helps deter the algae. You’ll need skimmer nets to frequently remove debris and leaves from the top of the pool.
Maintenance costs
There are many ways to keep your pool clean and maintained. The easiest way is to hire pool cleaning services, but these come at a cost and are the most expensive option. If you’re a DIY person, you can always do it yourself. Also, keep in mind that different robot models automatically clean the bottom of the pool, and can be a cost-effective option. Lastly, a manual vacuum can clean the bottom of your pool at a lower price point, but it requires more labor and time.
Summary
Now you have a general understanding of the equipment required, you can clean your pool with ease and spend more time enjoying your pool. Enjoy!
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