Maintaining a pool’s hygiene along with its visual appeal can be a demanding task, thus the importance of creating a pool maintenance schedule. Knowing how to take care of a pool can differ between crystal-clear water and a cloudy, algae-packed pool. Consider this blog post to be your pool care 101 – an initial walk-through of the basics you need to know for how to take care of a pool.
What Chemicals Are Needed for Taking Care of a Pool?
Naturally occurring water bodies like lakes and oceans maintain their clear waters because they have plants and animals taking care of the algae and bacteria buildup. Since most people don’t want plants and animals in their pools, chemicals are the go-to solution in keeping a pool clean.
Depending on your requirements and the condition your pool is in, you can use different chemicals or chemical combinations.
Here are some of the most common chemicals used to maintain pools and how they work.
Chlorine
Chlorine is the most commonly used pool cleaning agent due to its relatively low cost and efficiency. Pool cleaning chlorine exists in two forms, stabilized or unstabilized chlorine. The unstabilized chlorine tends to be broken down by the sun’s rays, losing its pool disinfecting abilities. Stabilized chlorine works best for outdoor pools as it is not affected by the sun’s rays.
When chlorinating your pool, the most effective and efficient way is to use an automatic chlorine dispenser. This device ensures that the water is evenly chlorinated and that there are no pockets of unchlorinated water in your pool.
Though not as efficient, the other option is to pour chlorine directly into the pool water, and in turn, have it distributed across the pool by the filtration system.
Water Balancers
You should regularly check your pool’s pH to ensure that it stays within an acceptable range of values. The ideal range for pH is between 7.4 and 7.6. You can use test strips to keep tabs on your overall pool chemistry including your pH level, chlorine level, calcium hardness, and alkalinity.
As suggested in the name, water balancers will work to keep your pool’s pH levels within the standard range. These chemicals work to increase or decrease the pool’s pH, depending on the current pH values.
Water Oxidizers
Like chlorine, oxidizers work to get rid of any algae and bacteria that may form in your pool. Though they do the same job, oxidizers are a chlorine-free alternative for getting the job done. This can be a good option to take care of your pool without dealing with the smell of chlorine.
Algaecides
These are non-metallic-based polymers that help in getting rid of algae that may grow in your pool. Regular use of algaecides and other pool cleaning chemicals helps ensure that algae do not return to the pool.
How Often Should You Clean Your Pool?
Depending on your pool’s location and how regularly it is used, the frequency of pool cleaning may vary. On average, a pool should be cleaned once or twice every week, but the use of chemicals depends on the specifications of which specific chemicals you use.
How Long Should You Wait Before Using Your Pool After Shocking It?
Shocking your pool is the process of shocking your pool, check out our pool shock guide.
After chlorinating or using any other chemicals on your pool, it is best to wait for not less than twenty-four hours before using the pool. This period is enough to ensure that the chemicals settle in on the pool, and your pool pump and filter system evenly distributes the cleaning agents all across the pool.
Non-Chemical Methods of Taking Care of a Pool
Ensuring that your pool is clean and well-taken care of can be done even without the use of chemical reagents. Here are some methods on how to take care of a pool without the risk of messing up the chemical amounts, the choice of chemical substances, or their quantities.
Metal Magnets
Metal magnets work on the basic principle of magnetic effects. Having a metal magnet inside your pool will ensure that no metal pieces are floating around or on the base of your pool. If your goal is to be more environmentally friendly, check out our eco-friendly pool guide.
This metal magnet can work best if placed near the inlets of your pool’s filtration system. With this, it will attract any metal pieces in the water to the magnet before they make their way to the filtration system.
Brushing
This is one of the most basic forms of pool cleaning. It can be done either on a drained or full pull by using a brush to clean any stains on the pool’s walls. To clean the floor of the pool, you must drain it.
Vacuuming
By using a swimming pool vacuum pump of your choice, you can suck dirt from the floor of the pool. If you’d like a simpler solution that requires less elbow grease, you can also consider a robotic pool cleaner, which works on its own to crawl around your pool to scrub your floor and walls. These robotic vacuums vary greatly in prices and features, so do your homework to find one that best suits your pool maintenance needs.
Once you have your maintenance program figured out, you can also beautify and improve your pool by adding the right equipment and accessories. Global Pool Products is your source for American-made pool slides, ladders, railings, games and swim-up bars designed to maximize your pooltime fun.