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Maintaining Your New Swimming Pool

9 November 2015 by Anton Leinonen

If you are in the process of installing a brand-new swimming pool in your yard, you are most likely anticipating this coming summer when you will be able to use it. New pool owners are often taken aback by how much maintenance is needed to keep a swimming pool in the best of conditions. There are several steps that need to be done to keep the water safe and your pool from deteriorating. Here are some tips to use when just getting started with pool maintenance.

Hire a Professional

Even if you plan on doing maintenance yourself, the first summer as a pool owner you may benefit from the assistance of a pool service. A professional will come to your home and do the cleanings and mechanism checks for you, saving you valuable time in the process. When the professional arrives, watch all the steps they take to care for your pool. Ask questions about the procedures they are administering as well. This will help you prepare to take over the following season.

Skim Visible Debris

Pool maintenance needs to be done every few days during swimming season to keep your pool in the best condition. You will need to remove any visual debris from the pool surface using a skimmer. This is a long pole connected to a net and used to scoop debris out of the pool. Doing this along with dumping debris from the strainer baskets and replacing the filter will increase the circulation of chlorine throughout your pool.

Vacuum Unseen Debris

The walls and floors of your pool will become dirty as well. This debris is not as easily seen, but it will still need to be removed to keep your pool in the best shape. Calcium deposits and algae will become abundant if vacuuming is not done. Walls should be brushed first  to loosen this material. The vacuum has a long attachment that sucks up dirt from walls and floors as you brush it over them. Use a pool vacuum at least once a week to remove this grime. 

Test the pH Level

Your pool's pH level needs to be tested regularly to make sure it conforms to health limits. Water is tested on a scale from zero to 14 to determine its acidity or alkalinity level. A swimming pool should remain in the 7.2–7.8 range. If it goes above or below, chemicals need to be added to neutralize it until it falls back into the safe range. The pH is tested using test strips. This should be done weekly so you can treat your pool right away to bring the water back into the right range if necessary.

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