POOL MAINTENANCE

Twice a week:
1. Use test kit to check and maintain your pool water balance. Keep your pH levels between 7.4 - 7.6.
2. Test and maintain the free available chlorine level at 1.0 - 3.0 ppm.
3. Empty the skimmer basket and skim leaves, insects and other floating debris from the pool surface.

Once a week:
1. Brush walls and use a pool vacuum to clean floors. Clean tile at water line with tile cleaner. Or consider the purchase of an automatic pool cleaner for daily “hands-free” cleaning of your pool.
2. Shock the pool by adding the amount of product recommended by your pool professional. Additional shock may be needed after a rain storm, heavy bather load, or exceptionally hot weather.

Monthly:
1. Take a water sample to your professional Water Testing Service for a complete Swimming Pool Chemicals analysis.

Plus...
1. Twice a year, clean your filter with a filter cleaner to remove any oils and grease that may have accumulated on your filter.
2. After rainy or windy days always test your pool water.

Chlorine levels
Total alkalinity
pH levels
Calcium hardness
Algaecide
Clarifier and flocculant
Metal sequestrant
And several other sanitizers and chemicals

Cleaning Your Pool Regularly

How often you need to clean your pool depends on the pool. It should always be safe to swim in, but exposed outdoor pools usually get dirtier than sheltered, indoor pools.

Otherwise, use the following steps to clean your pool:

Skim off leaves and larger debris. A long-handled skimmer can help you get out leaves, insects, and anything else that’s landed in the water. You should do this daily because the sooner you get rid of debris, the less contamination it will cause. Covers can help stop waste from getting into your pool and drastically reduce the need to skim them.

Brush off the sediment from the sides and floor of the pool once per week. Try to get it to flow towards the main drain, where the filter system will remove it. Alternatively, you can use an automatic pool cleaner, which will filter the dirt on its own.

Clean your skimmers daily. Larger debris may get trapped in these systems, so you’ll need to ensure they remain clear and open. The water level should be about halfway up the skimmer. If your pool gets full after rainfall or similar events, empty some water until it’s back at the proper level.

Use your pool’s pump daily. This maximizes the effectiveness of chemicals and ensures your pool remains safe to clean. See the manufacturer’s instructions for using your pump and always follow those instructions to the letter.

Check the filter weekly to remove any debris there. You may need to backwash it occasionally to remove built-up grit. Most pools use sand, cartridge, or vertical grid filters to help clean water. As with the pump, follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly when cleaning filters.

Test your pool water to measure the chemicals. Most chemicals are meant for daily use, while some are weekly instead. Apply shock treatments of chemicals as needed.