Do you ever avoid maintaining your pool because you’re not completely sure how to do it well? Or maybe you’ve made mistakes in the past, and you don’t know what you did wrong.
Or maybe you forget to keep on top of it! Well, you’re not alone. Of the 10.4 million residential pools around the USA, you can bet that a decent number of them aren’t in pristine condition all year round.
We want you to feel confident when cleaning your pool – keep reading to find out about some pool maintenance mistakes and how to avoid them.
Table of Contents
Not Testing the Water Regularly
The pH balance of your pool must be monitored closely, as too far one way or the other can cause significant damage to the pool itself and the equipment.
A pH higher than 7.8 (just above neutral) could make your pool cloudy, and you may start to see scale appear. Regular testing of the water will allow you to remedy this issue before it causes any problems.
Not Following a Cleaning Schedule
Life can get in the way of our plans and routines, that’s for sure. But delaying or forgetting about cleaning your poor will add more and more to the job when you do get around to it.
Areas of the pool such as the waterline and steps can suffer from limescale buildup even in a pool with a good chemical balance.
Also, things like cracked tile seals can let contaminants into the water. A decent pool tile sealer can stop this in its tracks.
Shocking the Pool During the Day
Maintaining a balance of chlorine in your pool is one of the most important things you can do. The pool shock goes a long way towards preventing germs from taking over your pool and making you and the family sick.
If you have forgotten to shock your pool, don’t assume that it’s ok to do it at any time. If you do it during the day, some of the chlorine will convert to gas in the heat before it has a chance to treat the water.
Putting All Your Trust In an Automatic Pool Cleaner
Automatic pool cleaners are great and can keep your pool in good condition with minimal effort from yourself. But note that it still takes effort on your part.
Neglecting to keep an eye on your pool just because you have a pool cleaner is a sure-fire way for algae and other contaminants to sneak in, so make sure you still have a regular schedule in place.
Shocking the Pool Water Directly
Throwing your shock into the water may seem like an easy and harmless way to keep on top of the chlorine balance in your pool, but it won’t disperse particularly well.
Try dissolving the shock in a bucket of water first – this will allow it to spread through the pool water much more effectively.
Avoid Pool Maintenance Mistakes
Now that you’re aware of these tips to stop you from making pool maintenance mistakes, you can enjoy your pool all year round!
When it comes down to it, it’s really just about being aware of what is good for your pool and keeping an eye on it, even when it’s not in use.
If you enjoyed this article, read more like it in the Maintenance and Repair section of the website.