Attention new pool owners: The complete beginner's guide to pool maintenance

Your swimming pool is an impressive highlight in your home and offers a wonderful place for fun and relaxation for the whole family. However, to get the most out of your pool and ensure its longevity, regular maintenance is essential.

Here we present a comprehensive guide to maintaining your swimming pool, covering all aspects from regular cleaning and water analysis to chemical treatments and the servicing of technical equipment. We were assisted in this by the pool experts at Poolmegastore , who have been gathering experience in this field since 2004.

Pool maintenance

It is important that you develop a plan for the proper care, cleaning, and maintenance of your pool. This includes general weekly tasks that should be completed while the pool is in use, as well as the upkeep of the equipment and machinery necessary for its operation.

Weekly tasks

Careful weekly maintenance is crucial to extending the lifespan and maintaining the cleanliness of your pool. Once installed, regularly performing small, straightforward tasks will minimize the cost of repairs and other expensive maintenance, should minor issues develop into something more significant.

It is advisable to establish a fixed routine for cleaning and maintaining your pool and to carry out these tasks weekly on a specific day.

Your weekly duties should include:

• Check the water level and refill if necessary.
• Clean the filter.
• Clean the skimmer baskets.
• Vacuum the pool floor.
• Brush the walls of the pool.
• Clean the area around the pool terrace.
• Check the pH level and adjust the water chemistry.
• Check your pool chemicals and reorder if necessary.

Equipment maintenance

The equipment and machinery used to operate your pool can have a significantly longer lifespan with careful maintenance. For example, boilers and heat pumps generally be serviced annually according to the manufacturer's specifications.

Gas boilers , if present, must also be checked annually for leaks, in accordance with applicable gas regulations. Furthermore, it is advisable to hire a professional to inspect the system if you notice anything unusual. Examples include a strange noise in the utility room or if the pool does not reach the desired temperature.

General pool cleaning

General pool cleaning includes skimming and vacuuming to remove any debris that could enter the water, such as trash, leaves, and other organic materials. You should also check your pool's filter and whether a cover is needed. When cleaning your pool, don't forget to inspect potentially problematic areas like steps, ladders, and diving boards, which require regular cleaning.

Skim the water surface

If you notice any debris or dirt in the pool, you should skim the surface with a net to remove it as quickly as possible. Ideally, you should do this every time before entering the pool.

vacuum the floor

It is inevitable that dust, dirt, and other foreign matter will get into the pool water and settle on the bottom before you can remove them. This not only leads to an unhygienic swimming environment with a dirty pool floor, but can also cause an accumulation of algae and bacteria if the pool remains unused for an extended period.

Regular vacuuming should be part of your routine, but it may also be necessary to vacuum outside of your usual schedule to remove dirt that you notice on the pool floor. Once the pool floor is heavily soiled, which is typically the case after winter, vacuuming becomes essential.

The process involves vacuuming as usual before switching off the pump and then returning the multiport to the "waste" setting. Afterward, you can proceed with vacuuming; the water will be sucked out, so it doesn't need to pass through the filter. Please note that this will lower the water level in the pool. It is therefore advisable to slightly overfill the pool before starting the process and keep the hose running during this time.

The filter system

It's important to emphasize how crucial the filter is for the cleanliness of your swimming pool. The filter ensures that dirt and debris are removed from the water. Different types of filters exist, and it's beneficial to understand the differences in order to clean them properly and ensure their effectiveness.

• Sand or glass filters: Sand or glass filters are cleaned by backwashing or reversing the water flow. These filters work most efficiently when only slightly soiled and should be cleaned at least every two weeks.
• Diatomaceous earth filter: A diatomaceous earth filter is similar to a sand filter and also uses backwashing to remove debris. However, after backwashing, it is necessary to add diatomaceous earth to the filter to recoat it. It should be cleaned several times per season, and it is also advisable to disassemble and thoroughly clean the filter once a year.
• Cartridge filters: To clean a cartridge filter, you need to remove the cartridge and rinse off the dirt. Afterward, the elements should be soaked for at least 12 hours to remove oil and grease. Then rinse the cartridge thoroughly before setting it aside to dry. It's a good idea to have two sets of filters on hand so you can alternate between them to complete the time-consuming cleaning process without interruption.

The more frequently you use your pool and the more dirt gets into the water, the more regularly you need to clean your filters. It's similar to emptying a vacuum cleaner bag when the suction power decreases.

Lid on – the role of covers

If your pool doesn't currently have a cover, you should consider investing in one. Pool covers serve various purposes, but their most significant advantage lies in pool maintenance and upkeep. It's obvious that one of the main problems with dirt getting into the water is debris that ends up in the pool.

A pool cover, when not in use, can significantly reduce this problem. Additionally, pool covers are beneficial because they retain heat in the water. Therefore, if you have a heat pump, you won't need to run it as often. Ultimately, this not only means lower heating costs but also a longer lifespan for your pool.

Pool chemicals / water treatment products

Chemical treatments are an essential part of your pool maintenance routine. These measures are crucial both for ensuring the water is clean and safe for swimmers, and for the overall health of the pool.

The specific chemical treatments required for your pool depend on the type of water used and the materials employed in its construction. Therefore, it is advisable to consult appropriate water treatment

Balance the pH level

Maintaining the correct pH level in your pool is an essential aspect of pool care. The pH value is a scale that measures acidity and alkalinity, ranging from 0 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. Values ​​above 7 indicate alkalinity, while values ​​below 7 are acidic. The optimal pH level for swimming pool water is between 7.0 and 7.6.

If the value is below 7.0, metals and surfaces in the pool can begin to corrode; values ​​above 7.8 can cause deposit problems because calcium salts are present in the water and chlorine loses its effectiveness.

Safety instructions for handling chemicals

Please note that pool chemicals are generally potentially hazardous and should therefore be handled with care.

Here are some important safety instructions to consider when handling these substances:

• Chemicals should be stored in separate containers in a cool, dry place.
• Always read the instructions carefully and follow them.
• It is advisable to wash your hands after working with pool chemicals.
• When handling these chemicals, appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn.
• Chemicals must not be mixed before being added to water – mixing can make many substances highly reactive and release dangerous gases or even cause explosions.
• Chemicals should never be stored in containers intended for other purposes.
• Empty containers can be cleaned with pool water, rinsed, and then disposed of.
• Empty containers should not be used to store other chemicals.
• Children are never allowed to handle pool chemicals.

Shock treatments

Shock treatments become the instrument of choice whenever you want to prevent algae and bacteria growth, which is not possible with conventional methods.

A FreshWater pool system can significantly reduce the need for such treatments. A strong chlorine odor is often assumed to indicate excessive chlorine levels; however, this is frequently the result of an incorrect pH level or chloramines produced by bodily fluids.

To eliminate these, it is necessary "shock" the pool with a high dose of chlorine or special chemicals . Products such as calcium hypochlorite or unstabilized dichlorine should be used. Important points to consider:

• Shock treatments must be carried out after sunset (often also depending on pool usage).
• Additional shock treatments are required in cases of high traffic or external influences such as strong winds.

Controls and monitoring

It is necessary to test and adjust the pH level of your pool water weekly to ensure optimal swimming conditions and prevent damage to the pool. Easy-to-use test kits available for this purpose, either through color comparisons or dipsticks.

Automatic dosing systems offer a modern alternative by continuously monitoring the pH level and automatically dosing chemicals as needed. Alternatively, you can hire a professional to balance the water parameters weekly.

How to get your pool through the winter

Outdoor pools are generally not used frequently in winter, so it is advisable to take some time to adjust to the colder temperatures.

First of all: If you're planning extensive work on your pool, now is the perfect time to do it. While it might seem tempting to drain all the water from your pool, this is a bad idea without prior professional advice, as it could damage the pool.

The most important thing you need is a suitable winter cover to protect the water from impurities and sunlight. It should also be considered that the pool needs to be treated even when not in use to prevent the growth of algae and bacteria. Furthermore, the pool water should be tested regularly.

Many more tutorials and valuable information, as well as a clear cheat sheet on pool maintenance, can be found at Swim University .

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de