The Basics of Pool Care

Summer is approaching so that means pool season is almost here! Swimming pools are so much fun to have in your own backyard. You can swim whenever you want to! There are no crowds to fight with. You don’t have to find a spot on the grass, and you don’t have to load up in a car. You can just sit back and relax next to your garden by the pool. Maybe even have a drink in your hand. Before you start digging to install a pool, keep in mind all the work it takes to maintain one. There are many things you need to do to make sure your pool is swimmable. Pool care can get complicated, so let’s just keep it simple. Here are the basics of pool care for a pool care beginner.

Circulation

Water needs to move to prevent it from going stagnant. A pool is a big hole filled with still water. This can be problematic. The water doesn’t circulate itself like the ocean does. A pool needs to be artificially circulated through the use of a pump. The pump has a filter on it that it sucks water through it, and puts back into the pool. The pump would run all the time in a perfect world, but that can get expensive very quickly. Run the pump a minimum of 12 hours a day. Decide what you can afford and keep your pump running as often as possible. There are many pump options that you can choose from. All the pumps will cost different amounts to buy and to operate. Do your research and find out which one is best for you.

Filtration

The pump sucks water into the filtration system. The filtration system removes dirt from the water. Inside the filtration system there is a skimmer basket that collects all the dirt and debris from the water. There will also be one in your pool to catch any extra stuff floating around. Both these skimmer baskets need to be cleaned out at least once a week. More if you have the time.

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Making Sure Your Water is Safe

Clean your pool regularly. Make a schedule of when you’re going to clean your pool to create a habit of it. Scrub the walls, steps, and floors of your pool to prevent algae from building up. Clean the dirt and debris from your skimmer baskets. Use a pool vacuum to suck up any particles in your pool. There are handheld ones, or it can be automatic. Do this 2-3 times a week, the other tasks can be done once a week. Make sure that your water is chemically balanced by testing it. Make sure the chlorine and water levels are where they should be to prevent bacteria from growing in your pool. You can buy home testing kits.

Summing Up

Pool care doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re new to the game of pool care, don’t be overwhelmed. You can do it! Just follow these steps and do them carefully. Before you know it, you’ll have a sparkling pool that everyone wants to swim in. You’ll be swimming all Summer long. Your Summer will be filled with family, sun, and fun by the pool.

Image Source: Pixabay