How do you keep your swimming pool free from debris and algae, and make sure chemical levels are safe?

Well, there are a few basic pool maintenance procedures one should follow. These are in the form of daily, weekly and ‘as required’ pool care routines.

DAILY POOL CARE ROUTINES

• Look at the water on a daily basis. Notice clarity and colour. If any of these look out of the ordinary, one may then delve deeper into the cause of the difference;
• At the very minimum, check weir and skimmer baskets (socks) for collected debris and remove debris. This will ensure the system operates at peak performance;
• Remove any surface debris with a pool ‘scoop’ net;
• Ensure your filtration system runs daily for at least 8 hours, preferably during the day. Circulation is critical to maintaining a sparkling pool; and
• Check that automatic pool cleaner is moving correctly.

WEEKLY POOL CARE ROUTINES

Perform the daily pool care procedures plus the following:

• Check pump basket for collected debris and remove debris;
• Backwash and Rinse your filtration system;
• Check pool water chemical balance. Unbalanced chemical levels can affect water clarity, damage equipment and cause corrosion.
• Use the following amounts to ensure correct chemical levels in your swimming pool. Commercially available pool test kits can be used to check water chemistry.
  • Salt Concentration (if applicable): 5000ppm (0.5%)
  • ph: 7.2 to 7.6
  • Chlorine Stabiliser (cyanuric acid): 50 to 90ppm
  • Total hardness: Less than 400ppm
  • Total alkalinity: 80 to 120ppm

‘AS REQUIRED’ POOL CARE ROUTINES

• For those of you who do not have an automatic pool cleaner, ‘vacuum’when necessary;
• Backwash your filter after ‘vacuuming’, or when automatic cleaner has cleaned dirty pool;
• If you have a pool heater, check it for debris;
• After power outage, check system timer ‘current time’ setting
• Clean pool equipment regularly, and look out for leaks