Whether you’ve just recently gone through pool remodeling or are attempting to extend the life of your current pool, proper maintenance is essential in keeping every element looking its best. Everything from pool water features to surface finish can be affected by improper care. See how the 3 C’s of pool maintenance—circulation, cleaning, and chemistry—can help you best care for each part of your beautiful pool.

Water
You can’t have a pool without water, so maintaining a proper chemical balance is important in ensuring your pool is always ready for a swim. This balance, along with regular cleaning, will help preserve your pool finish by preventing the corrosion and mineral buildups that can create issues down the road.

There are many aspects of pool chemistry such as pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer. It is recommended a pool’s pH levels measure between 7.2-7.6 and its alkalinity sits within the 70-100 parts per million (ppm) range. For calcium hardness we recommend 150 – 300 PPM. There are also a variety of sanitation methods for pool owners to choose from. Traditional sanitizers include chemical tablets and liquids that are introduced directly into the pool water. More modern, alternative options, such as ozonation or ultraviolet sanitation, work behind the scenes in filters and pipes to clean water without exposing swimmers to high levels of chemicals. While such methods are rising in popularity, the most commonly used sanitation styles are still chlorine, salt chlorine, and bromine additives.

Checking your pool chemistry 2-3 times per week will help ensure you’re maintaining the right balance. At home kits are available to pool owners who wish to test their own chemical levels. However, most pool stores offer more accurate computer testing for pool owners who bring in water samples. The additional detail and information may help you better identify how to best care for your pool.

Aside from weekly chemical adjustments, pool owners should also consider shocking their pool periodically. Whether it be after a particularly bad storm or a busy season of use, shocking your pool is a powerful way to purge water of even extreme levels of harmful substances. The introduction of algaecide after shock treatments is also a useful additional defense against algae growth. Be sure to follow pool shock instructions to both achieve the best cleaning result and keep pool users safe.

In addition, when you register your pool finish online, we will send you start-up and maintenance guidelines for your finish.

Filters, Skimmers & Pumps
Pool circulation systems are comprised of filters, pumps, skimmers, and drains—sanitizers may also be added into a circulation system, though many are independent. Powered by the pump, skimmers, and drains pull water into the filter for cleaning before the pump then pushes it back into the pool. This continuous cycle is what helps keep pool water clear and clean.

The pump is essentially the heart of the pool, circulating the water through the system. Moving water is substantially cleaner than stagnant water, so it is recommended that pool owners run their pump as frequently as possible. Ten hours a day is generally considered to be the minimum amount of time a pump should be running, but the more time you can have the system running, the better.

Powered by the pump, skimmers pull water into the filter for cleaning. There are also net skimmers, used to manually fish debris and other items from the water. However, these are different than the skimmers used in a pool circulation system and once the water is in the filter, dirt and grime are separated from the water before it is pumped back into the rest of the pool.

There are different types of filters including a cartridge, sand, and diatomaceous earth (D.E.). Remember to regularly backwash your pool filter to prevent the dirt and grime build up that can make your system less effective, resulting in cloudy water.

Interior
While chemicals, circulation, and filters are generally effective in keeping pool water clean, dirt and grime can build up almost anywhere and cause a domino effect if left untreated. This makes it necessary to perform some manual cleaning, including brushing and skimming, to ensure the highest quality maintenance.

Weekly brushing will help prevent the buildup of minerals, algae, mold, and other substances that are harmful to your pool. This applies to any external pool water features as well as your pool surface as they can attract and harbor the same substances. It is also recommended that pool owners run their vacuum at least once a week to help properly maintain the interior of the pool.