Did you know that there are more than 10.4 million residential swimming pools in the United States of America? Having your own swimming pool in your backyard is wonderful because there’s never a time when you can’t take a refreshing swim. Your home swimming pool is your personal oasis on those sweltering summer days.
An overlooked part of having your own residential swimming pool is the amount of swimming pool care that goes into keeping it clean and safe for your enjoyment. You also need to know about the maintenance required for different types of pools for your home.
Luckily, you’re in the perfect place to learn more about swimming pool care for your backyard oasis. Keep reading this article to learn more today!
Chlorinate Your Pool’s Water
One of the most important parts of any decent swimming pool care routine is chlorinating the water in the pool. Chlorine is important because it helps you keep the pool’s water sanitary and safe for you and your family to enjoy. Without chlorine, bacteria and other harmful germs would spread like wildfire through your pool’s water and could cause serious illnesses.
You’ll also stop the growth of different types of algae which will end up turning your pool a color that isn’t the most inviting for a relaxing swim. Look to add between one and three parts chlorine per one million parts water for a healthy balance between chlorine in your pool and water.
Test Your Pool Water
Another big part of swimming pool maintenance is taking time to test the pool water on a consistent basis. There are a lot of things that go into healthy water chemistry, and the only way to monitor changes to the pool’s water is by checking it regularly. You don’t want to have high levels of alkalinity since it will lead to water that looks cloudy in your pool.
A pH imbalance is another big issue to keep your eyes peeled for when it comes to keeping your residential swimming pool in great condition. Your pool equipment could start corroding if you’re not checking the pH levels of your pool’s water. Another big risk to failing to monitor your pool water is increased levels of calcium which will cause damage to your pool’s liner over a period of time.
There are a number of DIY pool water test kits on the market that you can try out for better swimming pool care at your home. A good rule of thumb is to test your pool water once each week.
Know When to Shock the Pool
Arguably the best approach to take when it comes to swimming pool water imbalances is to shock the water. Shocking the pool’s water involves adding more chlorine to the mix as a way to destroy algae, bacteria, and chloramines. It’s a good idea to use pool shocking if your area experiences heavy storms or severe weather.
You can also shock your pool if you’re noticing an uptick in the algae levels in your pool and heavy use. If you have kids that you host a pool party then you should definitely consider shocking the pool water after the party’s conclusion.
It’s the best way to keep yourself and your family safe the next time you decide to take a dip. Make sure you keep in mind the amount of swimming pool maintenance you have in your future when you’re looking for houses for sale with pool.
Run the Pump
Running your pool’s pump is another key ingredient to keeping a healthy and safe swimming pool. Water circulation is vital for keeping the water in your residential swimming pool spotless and ready for your next swimming session. The pump keeps the water moving so that algae and bacteria can’t grow at a rapid rate.
It also gives your pool’s filter a chance to catch anything harmful that would otherwise be in your pool’s water. For the best results, look to keep your pool’s water running for eight hours each day.
Clean Your Pool Filter
You should also remember to clean your pool’s filter when you start your seasonal swimming pool care. There are a ton of different types of pools and pool filters, so read the instructions for taking care of your pool filter before taking any further steps.
Cartridge filters are the most common option because they’re easy to take care of. You’ll need to remove these filters once or twice a year to clean them with a pressure hose before returning them to their compartment.
Sand filters are another popular choice when it comes to swimming pool maintenance. You need to clean the sand filter when you notice the pool’s water getting cloudy. Cleaning the sand filter requires cleaning with a high-pressure hose as well as some chemical treatments.
Skim the Surface
Never forget to skim the surface of your pool when you’re handling swimming pool care. It’s an easy task that you need to do each day if you want to keep your pool nice for decades to come. Skimming the pool helps by removing debris and leaves that fall into the water in your residential swimming pool.
Failure to remove this debris will result in it sinking to the bottom of the pool. You’ll need to get a residential swimming pool vacuum in order to access the debris that you don’t get to in time. The easier approach is taking around ten minutes each day to skim the surface of your pool in order to keep it from becoming neglected.
Take Your Residential Swimming Pool Care up a Notch
Getting a residential swimming pool might sound like a relaxing experience, but there is a lot of work that goes into swimming pool care if you want to keep your pool healthy and clean. Consider shocking the pool’s water if a big storm hits or you notice an algae increase. You should also set some time aside to test the water and skim the surface.
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