Having your own swimming pool at home can be a blast, especially during the warmer summer months. Moreover, if you have kids the swimming pool provides a fun way to spend time outdoors, relax and exercise without getting too hot under the sun.
However, there is a “less fun aspect” of owning a pool: pool maintenance!
This is one of the main reasons why pool cleaning and maintenance is a huge industry. In the U.S alone, there are more than 51,000 swimming pool cleaning services and the industry generates annual revenue of $3 billion. Despite their popularity, pool cleaning services can be costly with homeowners spending an average of $100 a month in many areas across the country. With that in mind, DIY pool maintenance makes sense when it comes to saving money.
DIY Pool Maintenance Essentials for Beginners
Pool Testing Kit
Testing allows you to check for water balance and it should be done before you start using the pool. You can do this at home with test strips or a test kit. There is a wide range of pool testing kits including “drop kits” and test strip kits.
The testing kit measures the chemical level in your pool. The chemicals you should test for include chlorine, cyanuric acid, calcium hardness, sequest, total alkalinity, and pH.
Irrespective of the type of pool you have, it’s very important to test the pool water chemical levels on a regular basis (at least twice per week). It’s also important to keep in mind that chemical levels will change quickly especially after rain.
A test kit is the main analysis tool that allows you to keep an eye on the water balance in order to protect your family’s health and your investment as well. Therefore, it’s important to purchase a good quality pool testing kit that yields accurate results.
Swimming pool wall scrubbing brush
Algae encroach themselves deep in the micro-fissures in the pool walls, making it hard for other types of pool cleaners to get rid of them. In order to get rid of algae, you need a pool brush for scrubbing pool walls so that other cleaning chemicals and agents can get rid of them.
However, there are several factors you need to take into consideration when choosing a brush for cleaning pool walls.
Size: Although a bigger brush covers a larger surface of the wall, it can also be difficult to maneuver. Remember, you need speed as much as you need comfort. Generally, the best pool brushes measure between 15” and 18”.
Material: the best swimming pool brushes are usually made from scrapping bristles and synthetic fibers. These materials are hard and efficient enough to get rid of algae and anything else that affects the quality of the water. The pole or handle can be made of wood, hard plastic, or aluminum.
Pool Shock treatment
Choline levels in your pool water can fluctuate from time to time due to contaminants. Although pool chlorine attacks and sanitizes bacteria, it also bounds to nitrates and ammonias in water. Shocking the pool is the only way to release chloramines (bound chlorine).
This is achieved when you reach breakpoint chlorination. You can do this by raising the chlorine level very quickly before allowing it to balance out.
Breakpoint chlorination burns off all the contaminants in your pool and turns the combined chlorine into an effective sanitizer. It’s recommended that you use a calcium hypochlorite shock when shocking your pool. However, you should keep in mind that calcium hypochlorite contains a small amount of chlorine and might cloud your pool water for 12 to 24 hours.
Pool skimmer and pool cleaner
Despite having no moving parts or motors, pool skimmers enhance pool circulation by acting as a gateway to the filtration system. The pool pump sucks water into the pool skimmers and as water passes through the pool skimmer basket, it is cleared of large debris that causes blockage when it makes it all the way to the filter or pump.
This enhances the efficiency of the filter so the water that goes back into the pool through the pool returns is cleaner.
In addition to collecting larger debris from the pool water, pool skimmers and pool cleaners also help keep your filter and pump in great shape by getting rid of things that can cause problems for them.
Besides helping you save money, maintaining your pool by yourself also allows you to learn the specific intricacies of your pool and pool maintenance equipment. You’ll also learn factors that affect each parameter of your pool and you’ll gradually perfect your pool maintenance skills.
You might like our article on the top 5 automatic pool cleaners!
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