Pool Maintenance: The Essentials

On a perfect summer day, what’s better than relaxing in a pool with loved ones around, sipping a cool glass of drink, and soaking up the sun? Enjoying a private pool entails elaborate proper maintenance and care, without a doubt. Especially, families with small children should make it mandatory to clean the pool regularly and thoroughly. From basic cleaning to intensive water treatment, pool servicing includes more than just changing the water from time to time. A new pool owner can acquaint themselves with these essential maintenance tips to enjoy a safe swimming pool.

Water testing

Water is the first concern of a new pool owner. The water supply in one’s residence has a significant impact on the overall condition of the pool. Therefore, one has to undertake professional water testing to understand the nature of their pool water. While testing, one has to check the alkalinity, pH level, and hardness of the water. After regular usage, one can check the water condition once in two or three weeks. Experts claim that the ideal pool water has a pH level that ranges between 7.2 and 7.6. Test kit method and test strips are a few ways to undertake a water test. But the best choice is to avail the service of a professional. Since professional pool testers have advanced equipment to test the water, they provide detailed reports. It will assist one in planning the pool according to the nature of the water. Professional water testing is highly recommended, most especially for commercial swimming pools.

On the other hand, test strips are a budget-friendly alternative to professional pool servicing. There are many pool testing strip options available. However, not all may provide reliable results. Here are some tips to get the most from using pool test strips.

  • Opt For Trusted and Reliable Brands: Property owners should go for products with good customer reviews when choosing pool test strips. Positive reviews are good quality indicators, and particular pool test strips can provide accurate, real-time results. Do note that good-quality strips do not mean a higher price tag. There are cost-efficient ones whose brand quality is backed by the number of years in the market. Thus, before a pool owner makes a purchase, research is recommended to remove the guesswork.
  • Know How It Works: Using pool test strips is relatively easy. Many have a dip-and-go feature, wherein one has to dip the pool test strip in pool water for instant reading without bleed pads. Usually, the accurate color reading can be seen within 30 seconds. However, it is still best for pool owners to read the step-by-step treatment instructions beforehand as there may be external conditions that they need to take note of.

In terms of its usability, most pool test strips can also be utilized in testing hot tubs, spa, and jacuzzi water.

  • Check The Features: Many pool test strips have free mobile apps included. These mobile apps are available for IOS, Android, or both. Using the app allows pool maintenance managers and residential pool owners to record, monitor, and track test results conveniently and with better accuracy. When pool test strip results are accessible, it also makes it easier to maintain the safety of the water.

Cleaning a pool

Before embarking on cleaning a pool, one needs to make sure that they possess all the essential tools. The most primary tool used in pool cleaning is a telescopic pole. The pole is a piece of must-have equipment since it can reach the depth of the pool without the cleaner having to exert much force. Additionally, the telescopic pole is also durable and has a vacant upper part on which small cleaning supplies can fit. The owner has to ensure that the pole-stick and other cleaning tools are free of any contaminants that could pollute the pool. Most pools in the backyards of homes are in the vicinity of trees and plants. During weathers such as storms and winds, leaves, twigs, and other debris could fall into an uncovered pool, making it dirty. A leaf net or a leaf skimmer comes in handy during such situations. The skimmer only picks up the debris on the surface of the water. For heavier debris that settles on the bottom of the pool, it is advisable to use a pool vacuum that sucks objects that escape manual cleaning.

Chemical treatment

For maintaining the chemical balance of the water, specific treatments are essential. The most common chemical used in pool cleaning is chlorine. It is a cleaning agent that routinely kills dangerous bacteria like E. coli that harms the swimmers. Chlorine comes in various forms, such as gaseous chlorine, liquid bleach, and powder bleach. There are also chlorine pellets that help in deep cleaning. But it is necessary to take a few precautions while administering a chlorine treatment. On average, a healthy pool should contain one to three ppm (parts per million) of chlorine. Dirtier pool water may require a shock chlorination treatment, in which an excess of chlorine is added to the water to get rid of resilient algae and bacteria.

Conclusion

With each passing year, more families in Australia have been building swimming poolsin their backyards to make their summer dreams come true. With good foresight, pool servicing is a breezy affair. Proper care and vigilance can ensure a crystal clear pool that is always ready to use!

Ester Adams is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.