Adding a pool to your property is a big decision, one you’ve probably mulled over for a while. However, while you may have considered the hassle of installing a pool, the effort required to maintain it might have eluded you.
Once you finish constructing your beautiful new feature, you must continuously inspect, clean and care for it. Here are a few tips to simplify the process and keep the pool pristine for tenants.
1. Check the Water Level
Check the pool’s water level every few days to ensure it’s not too low or too high. If you experience an especially sweltering few days and the level is lower than the skimmer, refill the pool until the filter can catch debris on the water’s surface.
However, if it has rained, the water level might be too high and overflow the pool, which can be even more problematic if it’s above ground. In this case, you can use a submersible pump or the multiport valve on your pool pump to drain it to the correct level.
2. Skim and Scrub
Of course, your pool skimmer will catch most floating debris. However, manually skimming the water with a net will prevent most debris from sinking to the bottom. Plus, your filter won’t have to work so hard and you won’t have to empty the filter basket as often.
Scrubbing your pool can also minimize the amount of debris buildup and prevent algae growth and calcium deposits. Use a soft bristle brush to scrub vinyl, fiberglass and tiles and a more rigid brush on concrete and plaster. Ideally, you’ll want to scrub the pool’s interior walls at least once a week.
3. Maintain Proper Chemistry
Pools don’t just contain water and occasional debris. They also hold various chemicals that are essential to successful operation. If these substances fall out of balance, the water could become potentially toxic and cause skin irritation. Imbalance chemical levels could also create the perfect environment for algae growth, causing the water to become dirtier faster.
Therefore, maintaining proper chemistry is essential. Test the water’s pH levels regularly to determine how alkaline or acidic it is. You can then use those test results to restore the chemical balance to a neutral state between 7.2 and 7.8 on the pH scale.
4. Tend to Your Filter
If you don’t have time to skim and scrub the pool manually — or simply don’t want to — you can get a filter to reduce the amount of debris and keep the water clean. Depending on your setup, this system may include a cartridge filter, sand filter or diatomaceous earth filter. Saltwater pools may also use a water chlorinator.
Tend to your filter and keep it clean by practicing frequent backwashing. This process reverses the flow of water through your filter to push built-up contaminants into a waste port. Your method of accomplishing this will vary depending on the type of filter. Regardless, you should still learn how to flush it out and care for it properly. Otherwise, you may end up with a cloudy pool and lots of unhealthy tenants.
5. Vacuum the Bottom
Regardless of whether you choose to skim your pool or use a filter, you’ll still have to vacuum the bottom. Pool vacuums use the pool circulation pump to suck sediment off of the floor and walls. After the pump pressurizes the water, the settings on your multiport filter valve will determine which way the water goes.
Run the vacuum at least once each week to keep the floor and walls sparkling clean. Remember to close the pool while you vacuum to keep residents safe. Most contraptions use electricity and, although they’re unlikely to malfunction, you don’t want to risk someone’s life if something short circuits.
6. Monitor Pool Structure
Water quality isn’t the only thing you have to worry about maintaining. Your pool’s physical structure matters, too. Check for rust or corrosion on the returns in the sidewalks and search for cracks around the perimeter. These may be signs of a serious issue that can threaten your pool’s integrity. To keep the area safe for residents and visitors, you must attend to these warning signs immediately. Otherwise, you may have to pay a hefty repair bill or completely rebuild.
Monitor pool barriers as well to ensure the area is safe for passerby, children and animals. Check gates, locks, alarms and security cameras and make sure they all work correctly. Doing so will keep everyone safe, whether they’re within or without the barrier.
When to Hire a Professional
If you want to install a pool but can’t commit to maintaining it, consider hiring a maintenance team. Doing so will allow you to focus on managing your property and responding to tenant concerns. If your maintenance crew has an issue they can’t resolve, they can alert you so you can contact a professional to fix it.
Author Bio:
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.
