» backyard pool

How to Fix and Maintain Your Pool

Comment First

How to Fix and Maintain Your Pool

Along with all the fun-in-the-sun and exciting splashes a backyard pool can offer come some responsibilities. A pool can be costly and difficult to maintain, especially if you've never managed a pool before. For many people, this is reason enough not to purchase a pool in the first place. But if you know how to manage your pool effectively, you can maintain a clean swimming pool all summer long. Here are four tips for accomplishing just that.

Tip #1: Make a daily to-do list.
Part of maintaining a pool means going out on a daily basis and making sure that your pool is up to high standards for cleanliness and pH level. You want to check the pH level of your pool frequently in order to tell if it's maintaining balance. An unchecked pH of a pool can lead to erosion or even change the chemistry of the water. Needless to say, this is something serious you'll want to avoid, and you can make sure that your water is always safe and balanced by checking it on a daily basis. If a spontaneous party should ever occur - not that it will - you don't want to get caught with an unbalanced pool.
Tip #2: Disinfect and sanitize frequently.
In order to keep your pool clean, you'll have to add chlorine or bromine - usually chlorine. The presence of chlorine will kill bacteria and other organic material growing in the pool - needless to say, this goes a long way in making sure that it doesn't become a mess. Make sure you find out the right amounts to add so that you don't make a pool uncomfortable for the people who will be swimming in it - once you get the hang of this, you won't have to think quite so hard.
Tip #3: Frequently check your "skimmer basket."
Your skimmer basket will usually have debris around it - when you clear this debris out on a regular basis, you'll help maintain a constant flow of fresh and clean water around your pool. This is a great habit to add to your daily to-do list from Tip #1.
Tip #4: Add a weekly to-do list of the less frequent routines.
Set aside a day - say every Saturday - in which you can tackle some less-frequent but equally-important routines. Skimming the surface for leaves, adding algaecide, shocking the water, and checking your filter are the types of routines you'll want to add on this weekly to-do list. You don't need to do these things every day, but you'll want to make sure you make a habit of them so that your pool is kept clean and fresh.

Photo Credits: peasap

Originally posted 2009-07-22 03:30:53.

This post involves: