Summer is coming!
Warmer weather, summer breaks, and plenty of rest and relaxation are almost here. All three of those things go perfectly with sitting by a pool and taking a dip on a hot day. However, as anyone with a pool knows, it’s not all fun and games. Keeping your pool clean in the summer is a lot of work.
From clearing out debris to balancing chemicals just right, keeping your pool sparkling and ready for swimmers can be exhausting. The best way to ensure it’s clean is to sign up for maintenance from your friendly neighborhood pool and patio company.
But we get it; sometimes, you want to manage pool maintenance by yourself. In that case, we’ve got some pointers to help you swim worry-free from May until September and beyond!
Remove Debris
Especially in Oklahoma, debris is a huge issue in the pool. Not only does it make your pool look less appealing, but debris can also throw off your chemicals and even clog your drains and filters.
Because of this, even if you do have someone to do scheduled pool maintenance as we mentioned, it’s a good idea to take some time throughout the week to use a net or skimmer to gather leaves, twigs, and any other small debris floating on the surface or bottom of your pool.
During the Oklahoma storm season, debris is ubiquitous and takes on many forms. It’s not uncommon for huge branches, stones, or even pieces of discarded paper or plastic to get blown into your pool area.
Removing debris from in and around your pool is an important first step. Sometimes you only have a few minutes for some quick pool maintenance tasks, and removing pool debris is one of the things you should prioritize.
Your Smart Skimmer can also help reduce the amount of debris that you end up fishing out of your pool!
Suck It Up
When we say “suck it up,” we don’t mean “deal with the fact that your pool is a mess.” No, we don’t mean to ignore the dirty stuff; we mean literally suck it up. Just like your house needs a vacuum to keep the floors clean and get rid of bacteria and allergens, your swimming pool vacuum is an essential part of your summer pool maintenance toolkit!
A pool vacuum is an excellent way to keep your pool clean. If you bought an automatic cleaner, though, you can skip this section! That’s because all you’ll need to do is empty your cleaner’s bag from time to time. If you didn’t buy an automatic cleaner, using a pool vacuum frequently to clear out debris and eliminate mess is going to keep your pool looking beautiful.
Know Your Filter
Every pool is different — from vinyl to concrete, chlorine to bromine, as well as the various types of filters. Knowing your filter is important if you’re trying to keep your pool functional and well maintained all summer long.
There are several types of filters, the most common being cartridge, sand, and diatomaceous earth, or D.E. Each one requires different care. There are a few key types of filters with differences in each category.
Your pool filter is vital to the cleanliness of your water. Just as you and your vacuum remove visible, aesthetic debris from the pool, your filter removes smaller contaminants, particles of bacteria, dirt, and grime. Keeping it clean and functional makes sure your pool is protected all summer.
Stay Balanced
This one is obvious, but it’s also vital, so, of course, we need to talk about it.
A variety of key factors keep your pool water safe and balanced all year long. One of the most important of these is chlorine. You should learn to keep your chlorine balanced; you want enough that the sanitizer protects you and your family from harm, but not so much chlorine that it harms you.
Depending on how hot it is, how much use the pool is getting, and the weather, you will typically find the correct chlorine level to be somewhere between one and four p.p.m. You should try to keep the pH level around 7.2 through 7.8 to stay healthy and keep you (and your clothes!) from harm.
To make sure of this, you can buy test strips that will instantly tell you the pH levels. You’ll also need to keep the proper chemicals around the house to manage this, from bringing the level up and lowering it back down.
Dealing with Leaks
Before summer starts, you should definitely make sure and check for pool leaks and any other problems that could hinder your swimming experience so you can get them fixed. However, it can be hard to find leaks, especially after the winter, since your water level is likely to be low regardless.
You may find leaks in your liner, along cracked pool jets or filters and where you have steps installed, among other places.
Unless you’re an expert yourself (which, let’s face it, if you are, you probably don’t need this blog post), dealing with a leak is not advisable. Simply check for them and see if there are any urgent ones that need fixing before the season, and then talk to a pool care specialist here in Oklahoma to get it repaired.
No matter your situation, a pool is just like owning a home; it requires vigilance and maintenance if you want to keep it clean and functional. Unlike a house, you won’t use it year-round, and therefore, before summer, it can be a lot of effort to get it sparkly clean. If you’d rather us do it for you, contact us today. And if you don’t have your pool yet, but you’re thinking about it, download our free guide!
