How To Maintain Your Pool

Your swimming pool can be relaxing and enjoyable—if it’s properly maintained. Following are suggestions made to keep your pool at its very best.

If your pool isn’t yet ready for the swimming season, refer to the video and printable instructions on How to Open Your Pool.

PREPARATION

Once your pool is open for the season, pool maintenance can be a simple weekly process that keeps it clean, healthy, and ready for swimming. The five components of pool maintenance include:

  • Balance
  • Chlorine
  • Shock
  • Algaecide
  • Skim, Brush and Sweep

In addition, the following instructions include tips to keep your pool in top condition. Refer to the Materials and Tools list (left) for products you may need to maintain your pool.

  • TIP: Keep a pool maintenance notebook, recording test readings and dates as well as maintenance steps taken. Records can help you determine the most effective products, amounts and methods for maintaining your pool.

MAINTAINING WATER CHEMISTRY

  • It’s best to test your pool water twice per week.
  • CAUTION: Always wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when working with the chemicals. Also make sure you read and follow each product’s directions including how to use and how to store the chemicals.
  • TIP: Maintenance of pool water chemistry requires that you know the capacity of your pool in gallons. Refer to the printed instructions for How to Open Your Pool for calculations.
  • Keep the included Water Chemistry Chart for quick reference.

01 Test pool water pH balance and adjust as needed using pH increaser or pH decreaser products following manufacturer’s instructions.

  • pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6.

02 Chlorinate the water as recommended by the water test. Maintaining a free chlorine level of 1-4 parts-per-million (ppm) in the pool water to help fight off bacteria, viruses and germs.

  • TIP: If chlorine levels are very low, or after a heavy rain or extensive use, you may need to add a high concentration of chlorine, about 5-10 ppm, called a shock treatment, to pool water. The best time for a shock treatment is in the morning or evening because UV rays destabilize chlorine. To apply a shock treatment to pool water:
    1. Add the shock treatment (concentrated chlorine).
    2. Test the chlorine levels. CAUTION: Do not enter the pool until those levels are between 1 and 4 ppm.
Pool Shock Treatment

03 If pool walls and floor feel slick and oily, treat the pool for algae buildup. Refer to the algaecide bottle for specific instructions.

  • Use an algaecide on a regular basis to prevent algae.

04 Manually clean the pool as needed.

  • Use a pool skimmer to skim the top water clear of debris.
  • Use a pool brush to clean the walls.
  • Use a pool vacuum to sweep the pool floor.
  • Clear debris from the skimmer baskets.

Pool Skimmer Basket

ADDITIONAL CLEANING

01 As needed, add a maintenance dose of water clarifier to keep pool water clean and clear by trapping tiny particles in the pool filter. Refer to product instructions for specifics.

02 As needed, add scale, stain and metal control. Scales are heavy deposits of calcium that can damage your filter system, so preventive action is best. Refer to product instructions for specifics.

By performing some simple tasks on a regular basis, your pool will be in great shape for swimming. Before the swimming season is over, view the video and download the printable instructions on How to Close Your Pool.

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Project Details
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials
  • Water Test Kit
  • Chlorine
  • Water Shock
  • Algaecide
  • Pool Skimmer Net
  • Pool Brush
  • Pool Vacuum
  • Water Clarifier—optional
  • Scale, Metal and Stain Control—optional
  • Chlorine Floater—optional
  • Safety Goggles
  • Rubber Gloves
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