Pool Maintenance Basics

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Many people worry about all the maintenance and upkeep when deciding whether or not to install a pool in their yard.

There are no shortages of horror stories about what is required in order to a keep a pool safe and clean.

Many people, however, have found that the maintenance required on their in ground pools is much less than they anticipated. How can you make your pool as hassle free as possible? Below are some great tips.

If you live in a climate that is relatively warm all year long, it may be best not to invest in a pool cover. While you may not be swimming during the winter months, you don’t necessarily need to keep the pool covered. If you keep the pump and filter running you can avoid a frozen pool, as the pump will automatically come on if the water temperature drops below 40°F. So this is your first tip, it is not always necessary to cover your pool.

This step alone can save you the expense of replacing your pool cover every few years. Of course the electricity used to run the pump and filter during the winter may eliminate this savings in the long run.

Besides the cost of the pool cover, you save yourself the hassle of re opening the pool at the beginning of swim season each year. You can save yourself the hassle of removing all the debris and water that have accumulated on top of the cover over the course of the winter. Those who do choose to cover their pools, however, can make this job much easier by periodically removing this debris over the course of the winter months.

Pools that are left uncovered will tend to accumulate debris each day. To fight this it is a good idea to run an automatic pool cleaner at least 2 to 3 hours every day. This simple solution will keep your pool clear of any bugs, leaves, and other debris.

When your pool sits idle for long periods of time you end up with a layer of stagnant green algae on top of your pool. You can combat this by leaving the pool uncovered and keeping the pump and filter running throughout the winter.

Since your water will stay clean and uncovered all winter long, another great benefit is that you can take a swim whenever the feeling hits you. While many people have no intention of swimming in the dead of winter, you should be happy knowing that your pool will stay clean and clear enough for it to be a viable option. All you would need to do is take a quick test to see if your pool is balanced, and then add whatever chemicals it requires. You could be swimming in no time without any real effort on your part.

Other important steps to making your pool maintenance a breeze include:
  • Weekly cleaning of the automatic pool cleaner and filter trap
  • Keeping the chlorine reservoir almost full with chlorine sticks
  • Ensuring that the water level does not become too high as this can impact the ability of the skimmer to function correctly

Remember that these tips are designed for those who live in warmer winter climates. If you live in much colder climates, these tips are not likely to be very helpful. Those who have in ground pools in the Northern part of the country should contact their local professionals for tips on reducing their pool maintenance tasks.
 

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