Best Above Ground Pool Maintenance Tips
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Promote Water Balance
When your pool water is in proper balance, you arrest the growth of bacteria and help prevent corrosion and scale buildup. Balanced water also means fewer eye and skin irritations as well as having smoot water.
Ensure water balance regularly by using test strips to determine chemical levels. A low pH indicates water with too much acidity while a high pH means that the water is too alkaline. Many products are available that are capable of adjusting pH levels in your pool. Alkalinity control, pH plus and pH minus products should all be in your pool maintenance kit. Read manufacturer instructions to judge the appropriate water balance for your pool.
Sanitizing the Pool
Clean, sparkling water entices everyone to swim. Most people use chlorine in tablet or granular form to keep their water relatively algae and bacteria free. No matter which form you use, make certain that it is stabilized chlorine, which is specially processed to protect the chemical from the sun’s rays. This ensures that it lasts longer and is more effective. Many pool owners use an automatic feeder, skimmer or floater to distribute chlorine, and you should regularly check to make certain you’re not running low.
Image via: Nick Noyes Architecture
Brush and Vacuum
Like any other pool, your above ground pool has sections where there is little water movement. These sections are particularly prone to the growth of bacteria and algae. To prevent build up, clean your pool once a week with a specially designed brush or vacuum. It’s not a particularly time consuming chore, but it’s absolutely indispensible for keeping your pool clean and usable.
Check that Filter
A pool filter that’s operating at optimum levels does quite a bit of your water maintenance for you, especially if you care for it properly. When your filter is operating well, it’s able to capture debris and even microscopic particles to help keep your pool cleaner. Of course, it can’t do that if it’s full, dirty or requiring replacement. Review your filter manufacturer’s instructions for proper cleaning techniques, and always replace the filter in accordance with the stated guidelines. Doing so helps make pool maintenance a breeze.
Be Aware of the Effect of Hot Temperatures on Chlorine
Those hot days of summer can wreak havoc on the effectiveness of chlorine. During the hottest months of the year, it’s wise to adjust how long your pool pump is running. Set your pump to run longer in the early morning and after the sun sets to optimize chlorine performance.
Image via: D-CRAIN Design and Construction
Shock the Water
On a weekly basis, a shock treatment gives your pool the proper level of sanitization. More swimmers and higher temperatures can cause chlorine level fluctuations that a weekly shock treatment helps to control. Usually, it’s advisable to shock the water in the evening and then wait to use the pool until the next day.
Close the Pool Properly
As the swimming season draws to a close, you’ll need to follow shut down procedures to keep your pool ready for use next year. Use a winter kit to treat the water so that appropriate pH levels are maintained during the colder months. Then, the pool should be drained to a level that’s just below the pool inlets. If the water is likely to freeze, make sure to remove the skimmer, which could become damaged during the freeze. Clean the filter. If you have a cartridge filter, clean it and then place it in a dry, safe place for next year. Use a pool cover to prevent debris from falling into the pool. The cover should be water resistant and able to withstand the chemicals used in the water. Properly secure the cover to make certain it won’t be dislodged by the weather.
Bob Quigly is a landscaping and family fun enthusiast who writes on a variety of blogs about above ground swimming pools inflatable pools and above ground pool pumps at BackYardOcean.com.
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