Proper Pool Maintenance

Pool maintenance can be time consuming and expensive.

The cost of pool maintenance is not a one-time thing, but rather a year-round necessity, and can amount to a lot of work. Consider the the following:

In the Midwest, winterizing your pool and draining all water from it so that it doesn't freeze during the winter months is a necessity. A winterized pool requires opening again in spring when temperatures rise above freezing and melting snow starts flowing into your backyard oasis. Your pool will also need regular cleaning throughout the summer months as algae can grow on walls, floors, filters and other surfaces. You'll have to change filters periodically or replace tiles if they break in the winter months when the water is freezing in your pool coverings or walls (though this doesn't happen often).

Sample Pool Maintenance Schedule

2-3 Times Per Week ------

Weekly------

\*Note: This is recommended for vinyl finishes. Levels may vary for other types of finishes.

Monthly------

• Clean out the skimmer and pump basket
• Turn off the pump when you clean either basket
• Close the skimmer and main drain valves when you clean the pump basket
• Always check for any damage and replace the baskets when needed
• May need to be cleaned more frequently than 2-3 times a week
• Use a leaf scoop to remove litter
• Vacuum the bottom and sides
• Even if you have an automatic pool cleaner, you should still brush off the sides and bottom of the pool to loosen dirt and other particles to make it easier to clean.
• Test and adjust
• Sanitizer Level
• Free Chlorine levels should be between 1-3 parts per million (ppm)
• Free Bromine levels should be between 3-5 ppm
• pH Level
• Levels for pools should range from 7.4 to 7.7\*
• When levels are too high or low, use pH balancer products accordingly
• Don’t correct pH levels more than once a week
• Alkalinity Level
• Total Alkalinity (TA) levels can should stay between 100-150 ppm\*
• Calcium Hardness (CH) Levels
• CH levels should be between 250-350 ppm
• Salt levels (only in salt water pools)
• Salt levels should be between 2700-3400 ppm, the ideal level at 3200 ppm
• You can also calculate what your pool’s exact salinity level should be with a salinity calculator
• Apple and Android both offer calculator apps to help you determine these chemistry levels specifically for your pool.
• Check the water level and adjust as needed
• The standard rate for adjusting is 1 inch (25 millimeters) per hour
• Clean coping around the water surface
• Use algae removal products as needed
• Shock the pool as instructed on the product label
• Shocking the pool destroys bacteria and also puts sparkle back in the water. Shock oxidizers can be used once every 2 weeks.
• Continue checking levels listed in the “Weekly Maintenance” section
• Even if you have an automatic pool cleaner, you should still brush off the sides and bottom of the pool to loosen dirt and other particles to make it easier to clean.
• Test for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
• Acceptable levels of TDS are 1,000-2,000 ppm, the ideal level being under 1,500 ppm
• Conduct a Langelier Saturation Index evaluation
• A Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) evaluation assesses water quality to determine if it has a tendency to form a chemical scale or corrosion.
• Information needed for LSI evaluation: pH level, TDS level, TA level and CH levels (or Total Hardness \[TH\] level if available)
• You can use an LSI calculator for quick results
• Chemically clean the filter
• Check for holes and tears in the liner
• Check the seals in the pool’s motor and pump
• Check that safety equipment (railings, steps, etc.) is still working properly

You'll save time by hiring a professional pool maintenance company.

While it can be tempting to handle your pool maintenance yourself, it's important to remember that doing so will require a significant amount of time (see above!). If you're short on either one, then hiring a professional pool maintenance company is the best option for you!

Instead of spending hours trying to figure out how much chlorine is needed or searching online for answers about how often you should replace filters, hire a professional team take care of these tasks. They'll make sure that everything is done properly so that when summer rolls around every year, all you have left on your mind is enjoying yourself with friends and family in your beautiful pool from our Splash City Sioux Falls pool sales experts!

Ready to start shopping? Splash City has so much to choose from! Stop by any of our showrooms or call us at 877.289.2713, email info@splashcityinc.com or visit www.splashcityinc.com