10 Essential Pool Maintenance Tips for a Sparkling Summer Season

When you have a pool, maintaining it is just part of the package. Whether you are skimming out debris, brushing the sides, eliminating algae, balancing the chemicals, or cleaning the filtration system, it can feel like there is always a pool-related chore to handle. Maybe you have been taking care of pools for years, or maybe you are just starting out in your pool ownership journey, but no matter what, we have tips that will make maintaining your pool easier so that you can spend more time enjoying it.

1. Keep an eye on the water’s pH. A gorgeous, sparkling pool is the perfect respite from the heat on a summer day, but do you know what lurks inside those crystal-clear waters? Test the water quality regularly, checking the pH balance, so that you can avoid causing skin and eye irritation or damaging your pool equipment. Staying abreast of the pH levels will allow you to ensure that your pool environment will be safe and enjoyable all summer long.
2. Make sure your pool stays clean. No one wants to swim in a pool full of leaves and bugs, so skim your pool at least once a week to remove debris, doing it more frequently if necessary. Clean your pool regularly, keeping the filter clean as well, and if there are any stubborn stains, talk to a pool professional about removing them safely.
3. Run the vacuum. Getting debris off the surface of your pool is a great first step in keeping it clean, but to get everything that sinks to the bottom, you will need to vacuum. You can use a handheld vacuum, but an easier way to manage this chore is to invest in a robotic vacuum cleaner that will automatically keep your pool sparking and clean.
4. Toss in a tennis ball. Do you use dryer balls to help keep your clothes soft and fluffy? Using a tennis ball in the pool works with the same general concept, absorbing oils and oils and sunscreen to keep your pool cleaner.
5. Balance the chemicals. Maintaining the right levels of chlorine, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and other chemicals can prevent a host of woes, including cloudy water, skin irritation, and algae growth. Test the chemicals every time you use the pool, and you can be confident that the water is safe and clean.    
6. Run your filter- maybe twice! Running your pool filter for 8 to 12 hours each day can ensure that debris and impurities are filtered out of the water so that your pool stays clean. Some experts suggest running it for 8 hours twice a day, to improve the pool’s overall quality and prevent stagnation.
7. Scrub the tiles. Do the tiles at the top of the water level look a little scummy? Does algae seem to love those little tiles? You can clear all of that right up, with some baking soda and a brush. A toothbrush works well, and you can use it to clean around the lights and the ladders as well.
8. Mind the water levels. After a storm, your water levels may get too high. After a full day of people getting in and out and kids splashing around, they can get too low. The water level should be halfway up the skimmer’s opening, and if it’s too high, talk to your pool company about whether a submersible pump is a good idea for draining some of the excess. If it’s too low, that’s easy; just put in some more water using your garden hose. Once they are back to the right levels, check the chemicals to ensure they haven’t been thrown off balance.
9. Shock a cloudy pool. If your water is looking murky, you likely have bacteria that you need to eliminate. Shocking is just raising the chlorine levels dramatically for a brief period, which will kill the bacteria, so your water is sparkling again.
10. Consider a cover. Using an automatic pool cover when your pool is not being used can keep debris and sunlight out, maintain the pool’s temperature, and prevent the growth of algae. This will mean less maintenance work for you, and a beautiful, sparkling pool.

When you’re ready to dive into pool ownership, call Aaron Pools and Spas. Established in 1972, this family-owned-and-operated business has a dedicated, award-winning team with over 400 years of combined experience. We love to help improve the quality time that families spend together at home, and that’s why we’ve installed more than 2,000 swimming pools and hot tubs, from Cape Cod to Connecticut. For the best possible service from our highly experienced installation team, call 508.996.3320 or contact us today.