A swimming pool has the potential to be a homeowner’s greatest pride during the summertime. But that source of pride can only be achieved if the pool is properly maintained. Pool maintenance isn’t as easy as it may seem, and many experienced pool owners can also succumb to pool cleaning mistakes. That’s why we’ve listed 6 pool mistakes to avoid when taking care of your pool.
Ignoring or Not Maintaining Proper Pool Chemical Balance
One of the most important things to do when it comes to taking care of your pool is to maintain its chemical balance. Many people overlook chemical balance because they figure that if the waters look clear, then there’s no need to check it. But just because your waters are crystal clear, doesn’t mean the chemical balance is right.
It’s important to check on your pool’s alkalinity levels as well as its pH. Low alkalinity can cause your pool finish to stain, and causes metals to corrode, meaning your pool equipment will be at risk of becoming damaged. It can also cause swimmer’s eyes — an unpleasant burning sensation in the eyes after swimming. High alkalinity, on the other hand makes your pool water much more difficult to maintain because it will require more acid and the chlorine will lose its effectiveness. You therefore want to keep your pool water’s alkalinity between 80-120 PPM.
Alkalinity and pH are closely related, because if your alkalinity isn’t properly maintained, then the pH will fluctuate. Unbalanced pH can therefore have the same effects as unbalanced alkalinity. The best measure for pH is to keep it between 7.2 and 7.8.
For a full guide on pool chemical balance and maintenance, consider these tips.
Ignoring the Water Levels
Another thing most pool owners tend to view as inconsequential are the pool’s water levels. Little do they know, water level can play a huge role in the effectiveness of your skimmer. It can even damage you pool pump if kept at levels that are too low.
In fact, if the water level is too high, your skimmer won’t be working as well as it should. It will stop debris from being pulled into it, which will lead to greater need for manual cleaning. When the level is too low, you skimmer will draw air instead of water into the filter system which may cause your pool pump to burn out. The optimal water level is at the halfway point of your skimmer’s opening.
An important factor to take into consideration when maintaining proper water levels is the weather. You want to watch the levels after a heavy rainfall or even after a particularly sunny day. Keep in mind if you have a lot of people swimming in your pool — cannonballing or splashing around — your water levels may be affected, too.
Chlorinating Your Pool During the Day
Another mistake to avoid is to add chlorine to our pool when the sun is at its peak during the day. This is because the sun affects your chemicals — chlorine in particular — and will cause it to burn off. That means that you’ll find yourself having to use more chlorine in the long run. This is something you really don’t want to be doing during a chlorine shortage. So in order for your chlorine to be as effective as possible, consider chlorinating your pool in the evening, right as the sun is starting to go down.
Not Treating Algae Correctly
Many pool owners believe that shocking their pool is the best way to get rid of algae, but that’s far from being true. In fact, if algae starts growing, it can be difficult to get rid of it, and you’ll find yourself with “algae problems”, i.e. it will keep growing back. The best way to get rid of those pesky greens is to clean your pool, shock it, and then scrub it. You may even need to repeat the process in order to fully get rid of it. After finally getting rid of them, remember to keep your pool water chemically balanced, or you might just find yourself having to deal with more growth.
Not running the pump often enough
Although pool’s can be expensive, one of the biggest mistakes pool owners make when trying to cut down on costs is to stop running the pool pump as often. In fact, not running the pool pump long enough or often enough will usually cost pool owners more money down the line.
In terms of proper pool maintenance, all of the water in your pool should be filtered (or turned over) once daily. This means that all of the water has to pass through the filter. This entire process usually takes between 8 to 12 hours depending on the size of your pool. If you don’t run the pump long enough, you’ll have to spend a lot more time cleaning your pool and using many more chemicals than you normally would. Since pool chemicals cost a lot, you’ll just be interchanging costs rather than saving any money at all.
Alternatively, you don’t want to be running the pump for too long either. Not only is it unhelpful in any way, but it’s also wasteful. It can also put a lot of strain on your pool pump, causing its lifespan to decline faster than it should.
If you’ve followed the tips above but are still having trouble properly maintaining your pool water, contact a pool professional today. You can have your pool professional do a weekly cleaning on your pool for a low price, or you can ask them to train you so that you can feel confident about your pool maintenance skills. Follow their tips, and your pool is sure to be the talk of the town!
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