Nothing’s more refreshing than a plunge in a splashy pool on a hot summer afternoon. But it won’t occur naturally—the secret to getting your pool to shine is maintenance, a dash of know-how, and the periodic hiring of professionals. Whether you are a new pool owner or someone who’s been maintaining one for years, these simple steps can help ensure your pool stays swim-ready at all times.
Following are some basic steps to keep your pool clean, clear, and safe and this is where regular swimming pool service and on-time pool repair in Chandler come into play.
Skim and Clean Daily
Among the simplest things to do so that your pool remains clean is to skim the water surface every day. Leaves, bugs, and other material that splashes on the water can quickly mount up and impact pool clarity.
In addition to skimming, don’t forget to:
Clean pool walls and bottom once a week to stop algae bloom
Vacuum the pool once a week to clear dust and sediment
Clean pump and skimmer baskets for proper circulation
These small habits will go a long way to prevent stress in your filter and your dazzling clear water.
Balance Your Water
Balanced water chemistry is the foundation for a healthy pool. If your pool’s pH, chlorine, and other chemicals become unbalanced, it can create cloudy water, algae, and even eye and skin irritation.
Don’t lag behind on testing and balancing at least once a week.
- pH level: 7.2–7.6
- Chlorine: Optimal level 1.0–3.0 ppm
- Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
- Calcium hardness: 200–400 ppm
You can actually test your water using a test kit from your local store or even have it tested by your local pool equipment store for the ideal balance.
Daily Operation of the Pump
Running your pump circulates the water, which is as essential to circulation and dispersal of chemicals of filtration as anything else. Without circulation, grit settles out to the bottom, and water gets dirty with rapid speed.
By default, run your pump at least 8–12 hours a day during swimming season. If you find that there isn’t adequate water flow through the pool or your electricity bills are extremely high, then a pool repair inspection of the filter system or the pump needs to be done.
Shock the Pool When Necessary
Shocking your pool refers to treating your pool with a huge quantity of chlorine to kill bacteria and rid your pool of cloudy or green water. Do it every 1–2 weeks if your pool is used intensively or following parties, storms, or periods of inactivity.
Special care should be taken to shock the pool at night or in the evening, and make the system run for at least 8 hours after that. If your water won’t clear with shocking, there is probably something seriously amiss that only a professional pool maintenance service will be able to rectify.
Watch for Signs of Trouble
Preventative maintenance will catch problems before they are expensive repairs. Look for:
Cloudy or tannin-colored water
Algae growth on stairs or walls
Decreased water pressure
Squeaking or strange noises emanating from the pump or filter
Leaks on pool deck
When you forget all these signs, you will be charged a lot of money for repair work in the future. Repair your pool immediately if you ever notice something wrong by hiring a swimming pool service company to prevent further damage.
Replace or Clean the Filter
Your pool filter removes the dirt, dust, and trash to keep the water clean. Filters become clogged and slow over time.
There are three most typical forms of filters—sand, cartridge, and DE (diatomaceous earth). They all use a cleaning schedule.
- Cartridge filters: Water flush every 2–6 weeks
- Sand filters: Backwash every 1–2 weeks
- DE filters: Backwash monthly and reload with new DE powder
If your water remains cloudy after removing your filter, then it is probably time to get a new filter or hire a professional pool maintenance technician to service your system.
Use Regular Professional Maintenance
While in-house maintenance is most important, nothing compares with a trained swimming pool technician. Pool technicians can do superb inspections, chemical analyses, equipment maintenance and detect wear and tear before disaster strikes.
Periodic scheduling, monthly or seasonally, eliminates the surprise factor and just keeps everything humming along and performing nicely—saving time, trouble, and expensive emergency service.
Final thoughts
Your pool’s cleanliness and clarity don’t have to be a headache. Proper cleaning, proper water chemistry, and the assistance of a reliable swimming pool service in Chandler, AZ, can make your backyard beautiful and inviting year-round.
If it smells, don’t wait. That one small change today will avoid a huge pool fix later on. Your sparkling, shining pool is worth it.
