How To Maintain A Pool For Beginners

During the sweltering Queensland summer, having your own pool to cool off in is a must. But, whether you have recently installed a pool or have just moved into a new house with a pool for the Summer, like many others you may be at a loss as to how exactly the pool should be maintained. What chemicals need to be added? How often should it be cleaned? What happens when it rains?

To ensure that your pool stays clean and safe for the whole family to enjoy it is important to keep chlorine levels stable, remove leaves and other debris from the pool surface, and regularly clean the sides and base of the pool. Below is our beginners guide to pool maintenance.

If you’re not sure which chemicals should be added to your pool or which tools should be used to clean it contact your local hardware and landscaping experts at Wellers Hill Hardware & Landscape Supplies, or visit us in store and take advantage of our free pool water testing service.

 

How To Clean A Pool (And How Often)

 

1) Skimming The Surface (Once A Week)

The first thing you need to do when conducting your pool maintenance is to remove any floating debris such as leaves, sticks, bugs, etc. This can be done by simply scooping any floating items out of the pool with a long handled net.

It is important to regularly clean floating debris from your pool as they will eventually sink to the bottom and become much harder to clean. Additionally, fallen leaves left to sit at the bottom of the water can actually stain the pool base.

Not only will regularly skimming the surface of your pool remove unwanted leaves and bugs, it will also reduce the amount of chlorine you need to put in the pool and increase the efficiency of the circulation system.

 

2) Empty And Clean Strainer Basket (Once A Week)

Floating debris, leaves, sticks and other fallen objects can also block up the strainer basket in your circulation system. That’s why it is important to regularly empty and clean the strainer basket in your pool (the basket is generally located on the side of above ground pools or in the deck of below ground pools).

Cleaning the strainer basket will also help to reduce the amount of chlorine you need to add into the pool and increase the efficiency of the circulation system.

 

 

 

 

3) Vacuum The Pool (Once A Week)

In addition to skimming your pool and emptying the strainer basket, you will also need to vacuum the base and sides of your pool every week. If you have a manual vacuum this means vacuuming back and forth over the walls and base of the pool, overlapping each stroke to ensure that the entire surface is covered.

Conversely, with an automatic pool vacuum simply turn it on once a week and leave it to vacuum the pool for you. Not only will this clean the water, it will also reduce the amount of chemicals required.

 

 

 

 

 

4) Clean Pool Filter

There are many different types of pool filters, each with a different maintenance procedure. However, they all require regular maintenance to efficiently filter the water in your pool. The frequency with which you will need to clean the filter depends on both the type of filter and how often the pool is used.

It is important not to leave the filter too long between cleans as a clogged up filter can cause dirt and other unwanted particles caught by the filter to be circulated back into the water. However, changing the filter too regularly will also negatively affect the filtration process. This is because, as the filter begins to collect dirt and dust particles, the trapped dirt helps to catch other other undesirable particles.

A good indication that your pool filter should be cleaned is if there is an increase in water flow between the pressure gauge and the flow meter.

 

5) Maintain Water Level

When cleaning and maintaining a pool it is also important to ensure that the water level does not get too low. The water level changes because water is lost through evaporation and regular use from splashing, swimming, bombing, and exiting the pool.

The water level should be checked regularly because if the water level is lower than the skimmer or pump, the filtration system could become damaged. If you find that the water level of your pool is too low, simply use a hose to fill the pool back up to a safe level.

Although many pool owners will empty their pool during the colder months of the year, it is better for your pool to ensure that it is not left to sit empty for too long. This is because, when the pool was built, the weight of the water was factored in. When you remove that weight, the force from the ground pressing against the bottom of the pool can become unbalanced and potentially cause damage.

 

What Chemicals Are Needed?

To keep your pool water clean and safe it’s important to maintain the right chemical balance. The chemical balance of the pool should be checked weekly which can be done by using a basic pool testing kit. After completing the pool test, follow the instructions given on whether to add acid or chlorine to balance the chemicals.

If you’re not sure what chemicals to add to your pool visit Wellers Hill Hardware & Landscape Supplies in Tarragindi. We offer a free pool testing service where one of our experienced team members will test your pool water and tell you exactly what needs to be added to keep it clean and safe to swim in.