Other Things To Keep In Mind When Cleaning A Salt Water Pool
Every 3 months, make sure you open and inspect your salt water cell. Youll want to check for scale build up, as well as deposits.
If its clear of any debris, you can reinstall it, but if there are deposits, you can use a high-pressure hose to flush them off. Now, if doing this doesnt get rid of the deposits, you can use a mild acid wash.
Another thing to do is to winterize your pool and equipment. If you have a removable unit, this is a simple step. Otherwise, refer again to your owners manual for instructions on how to winterize your salt chlorinator.
Balancing Your Water Chemistry
Step away from the Bunsen burner. Pool chemistry might sound intimidating and complicated, but you dont have to worry. While it is an essential part of effective pool maintenance and water care, basic pool chemistry is surprisingly straightforward.
The most important tool in your bag of water care tricks is your water testing kit. You wouldnt season your stew without tasting it. So before you reach for the chemicals, do some pool water testing. Understanding whats in your water, and what isnt, is the first step to balancing it.
The three most important parts of pool water chemistry are:
- pH levels: The measure of how acidic or basic your pool water is. Low pH levels are acidic, while high levels are basic. The ideal range for your pool is 7.4 to 7.6.
- Alkalinity: Works as a pH buffer and helps avoid huge spikes in basicity or acidity. The ideal range is 100 to 150 parts per million . And you can use baking soda to increase your pools alkalinity level.
- Sanitizer levels: The amount of chlorine, bromine, etc. in your pool water. Proper levels vary depending on which type of sanitizer you choose.
Once you know your pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels, you can start to add chemicals to tweak your water balance. Take your time, follow all the directions, and be sure you know what each chemical does and how itll affect the water, and the folks who swim in it, before you add it.
Chemistry For Intex Pools
Anytime youre adding chemicals to pool water, you need to know the volume of the pool for accurate dosing.
Checking the manual can tell you your pools volume, or you can simply Google the model you purchased.
A pool calculator can come in handy too, as all you need to do is take some measurements and plug in the numbers.
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Clean Your Pool Filter
There will be times where you will need to clean your pool filter. This filter cleaning is also known as backwashing your filter. Because the filter is used to remove small debris and substances from circulating in your pool, an excess of these substances in your pool could mean your filter is full. You can check the pressure gauge of your filter to see if you need to clean the filter. Use the numbers and advice from your filters instructions to determine whether or not you need to clean your filter.
Some filter systems have backwashing modes that can handle cleaning in the push of a button, but many filters will require you to empty or replace the filter to be able to continue using it effectively. A dirty or full filter system could turn into the equivalent of not having one at all, so make sure it is clean at all times before you use your pool.
Removing Debris And Taking Care Of Pool Water
The easiest part of above ground pool care is removing debris from the pool water. The right landscaping and the best trees around pools keep leaves and branches from getting into the water.
Do you know what causes green algae in the pool? If you do not stay on top of getting rid of debris, the contaminants lead to an algae problem. It is faster to clean debris regularly than to treat a severe algae problem.
Tools to Clean Pool Debris
- Pool skimmer
- Vacuum
Your pools skimmer baskets suck in the top water level and run it through the pool filter. Once every three days, clean out your skimmer basket to prevent blockages.
Another way to prevent debris build-up is to brush pool walls with a brush to break off stuck-on algae and then vacuum it up. How does a pool vacuum work? Much like your house vacuum, a pool vac sucks up algae and debris. Ensure you are regularly vacuuming your pool to remove any debris that collects at the bottom of your pool, as well as to clean stains on bottom of pool.
Learning how to take care of a swimming pool is simpler when managing the filter system and keeping up with debris in the water.
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How To Maintain An Above Ground Pool
What does it take to maintain an above ground pool? Learning how to care for an above ground pool is very similar to caring for an inground pool, but with a few minor differences. For one, the size of the pool and the equipment capacity is often much less than an inground pool. Also, all steel above ground pools are technically vinyl liner pools, meaning youll have to take special care to preserve and protect your pool liner. Its really not too hard to care for an above ground pool. We have a few tips to help you keep the water swim-ready all summer long.
Brushing The Pool Sides
You need to brush the sides right before your vacuum to make vacuuming more effective. There usually isnt much dust or grit on the sides of the pool, but there is just enough to make a difference in how clean your pool is.
Scrubbing the sides of your pool can also help algae and slim growth, keeping your pool more of a joy to swim in.
There are pool brushes and sponges that can help you keep your pool cleaner, but this is also a job that can be done by hand or with other common cleaning tools.
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Deep Clean Your Pool Filter
Using a pool filter cleaner removes oils and mineral scale from sand and cartridge pool filters. Used regularly, Sand Filter Revitalizer or Cartridge Cleaner improves the dirt trapping ability of your filter, and extends the lifespan of your filter media. At some point, however, your filter media will require replacement. This happens more often for filters that are small or marginal in size. Pool filter cartridges for above ground pools are typically only good for about one or two seasons. Filter sand usually lasts for three to five years.
Cover Your Intex Pool When It Is Not In Use
The most important tip we can give you is to cover your pool when you are not using it. By doing so, you can prevent many problems, no dirt such as leaves and insects get into the water. You also protect the pool material with a cover.
The SunnyTent can be used perfectly for this. The additional advantage of the SunnyTent is that it is foldable and that the SunnyTent not only ensures that your water temperature is maintained, but that it even heats the water.
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Create A Pool Maintenance Schedule
The implementation of a pool maintenance schedule will help you keep your pool as clean as it should be. Adhering to your schedule can also help avoid larger maintenance costs in the future. There are three pool maintenance schedules you can create a before each use schedule, a weekly schedule, and a monthly schedule. Based on the maintenance tasks you learned about previously, here we discuss each schedule and list the maintenance tasks that should be included.
A Beginners Guide To Above Ground Pool Maintenance
With an average April high of 80 degrees in Austin, Texas, its about time to get back in the pool!
Whether youre installing an above ground pool in your yard for the first time or taking off the cover after a long winter, its important to understand above ground pool maintenance.
While there may be a bit of a learning curve at first, once you know how to take care of your above ground pool, itll become second nature!
Read on for our beginners guide on how to maintain an above ground pool.
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What Is The Best Way To Clean Above Ground Pool
Youll need a pool skimmer, clean filter, and scrubbing brush to properly maintain your swimming pool. These minimal tools will remove leaves from the surface of the water as well as other debris that might have found its way into it and make sure that the water is clear for all when you go for your next swim.
Find Your Inner Swimmer
Remember why you wanted a pool in the first place?
It probably started when you were a kid, going to pool parties at your friends house and declaring that someday you too would own a pool.
Was it for status? Okay, maybe a little, but more than that, it was about fun.
When you had this pool installed, you were probably imagining all those hot days that your kids would spend splashing around with their friends, filling your backyard with noise and laughter.
Or you imagined the pool parties you would have, grilling out and eating poolside with your neighbors and friends.
Dont lose that.
On days when your water is cloudy and youre ankle-deep in algae and leaves, you’ll need to remember why youre still cleaning this thing and not filling it in with cement.
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Managing Chlorine Levels Is Critical For Above Ground Pool Care
No matter what kind of filter system your pool has, keeping the right chlorine level and regularly cleaning pool filters ensures your water is safe to swim in. Many products are used to boost chlorine levels.
In warmer weather, Bromine is the most effective product. Pool water chlorine levels should stay between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm for clear water. Test your pool water before adding a chlorinator to the water.
The easiest product that balances chlorine levels is chlorine tablets and dispensers. This hands-free process is more efficient than dumping liquid chlorine in your water.
After you test the water, follow the directions on the tablets packaging and place the correct amount of tablets in the dispenser for above ground pool care.
Measuring Is Knowing: Be Careful With Chlorine
To keep your Intex pool clear and clean, chlorine tablets are often indispensable. However, you should use them with caution and follow the directions for use carefully. Too much chlorine can damage your health.
When adding chlorine, you must always measure carefully to achieve a sufficient level of chlorine. The normal chlorine value is between 1 and 2 ppm / litre. If there are algae in the swimming pool, the chlorine level may be increased to 3 ppm / litre. This can also be measured with test strips.
Excessive chlorine can be counterproductive. Bound chlorine is chlorine that has been used up. It is still in the water, but it is no longer available for disinfection. This chlorine smells and causes irritation to eyes and mucous membranes. So be cautious with chlorine, too high a concentration can have unpleasant consequences. Therefore, always follow the guidelines, as supplied with the chlorine products.
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Good Pool Maintenance Begins With Knowing Your Pool
Before you can properly enjoy or care for your pool, you might need to brush up on all the parts of your pool. You dont need to take an annex course or go for your doctorate in swimology from Harvard. But knowing the basic parts of your pool, and their functions, helps you keep everything running smoothlyand makes it easier to resolve issues when they occur.
Looking for even more pool maintenance tips? Weve got just the thing. Check out The Pool Care Handbook and Video Course and become a pool care master.
A Pool Cleaning Schedule
If it has proper circulation, youve already made cleaning your pool much easier. But youll still need to apply some good old-fashioned elbow grease. The basic tools youll need are:
Both Mother Nature and the folks using your pool bring all sorts of wild and wacky things into your pool, from leaves, mold, and the odd duck or frog to residues from shampoos, perfumes, and hair products. Add in the risks of bacterial contamination, and cleaning your pool becomes an absolutely essential part of safe swimming.
Skim, brush, and vacuum your pool weekly, at a minimum. This will keep debris out of your water, and your walls sparkling clean. Baking soda paste works particularly well as a basic scouring cleaner that wont damage delicate tile or a vinyl liner when you brush.
An automatic pool cleaner can significantly cut your pool cleaning time. It wont eliminate the need for regular skimming and brushing, but itll make both tasks easier, freeing you up to spend time enjoying your pool instead of cleaning it.
You can also make your cleaning life easier with a few unorthodox additions to your pool. Toss a few tennis balls into your skimmer basket, or even right into the pool, and theyll absorb surface oils left behind by suntan lotion, cosmetics, etc. You can also wrap your skimmer baskets with pantyhose to create an extra-fine filter thatll catch more contaminants than a skimmer alone.
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Shock The Pool Once Per Week
In order to maintain an above ground pool, you have to make sure the water is sanitary. Shocking, also referred to as super-chlorinating or oxidizing, consists of adding a large dose of granular chlorine, liquid chlorine, or non-chlorine shock to the pool. This is done to remove both visible and invisible contaminants, such as algae, germs, and combined chlorine. Follow package directions to ensure proper handling and dosage.
BONUS TIP: For granular chlorine shock, be sure to pre-dissolve it in a bucket of clean water before pouring into the pool. This protects the floor of your pool liner and helps prevent bleaching and discoloration.
Some Final Thoughts On Off
After reading this, it should now be apparent that closing a pool does not signal the end of your swimming pool maintenance season.
Unfortunately, to keep your above-ground swimming pool in top condition this is a year-round task.
The good news is that doing these simple tasks will significantly increase the lifespan of your pool and go a long way toward making the opening of your swimming pool so much easier. They wont take you long to do and they dont have to be done very often.
So, make a schedule of them so your above-ground swimming pool stays in great condition.
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Winterize Your Backyard Not Just Your Pool
With strong enough winds, patio furniture, grills, large outdoor storage boxes, large and small plants, and other outdoor equipment kept near or around your pool my easily find themselves wanting to go tear your cover, or damage your above ground pool wall. Be sure to tie down and/or relocate all loose items no matter how heavy they may be as high winds can even move large items.
Vacuuming And Brushing An Above Ground Pool
No matter how powerful your pump is, there will always be areas where the water circulates less freely. These are hot spots for algae growth. To keep your pool free of large and small debris, it is important to vacuum the walls and floor of the pool at least once a week. There are also automatic vacuums that can move around the floor of your pool and pick up stray garbage. However, even with an automatic cleaner, the pool walls and floor will need to be brushed one a week.
To brush the pool, use a brush attached to the end of a swimming pool extension pole. You can get an extension pole at any swimming pool store and many home improvement stores. Its a great tool to have. It can be fitted with a brush, a skimmer, or a vacuum and extends your reach so you can get at the whole pool easily. Almost all above ground pools require a brush with nylon bristles. This is what you should use unless the pool manufacturers instructions specifically say otherwise.
Make sure to brush the whole surface of the pools walls and floor. Even a small missed spot can harbor algae, which will quickly regrow if not knocked loose. Brush first, before vacuuming. Brushing loosens up all of the algae or dirt that is stuck to the walls and floor of your pool so that the vacuum can suck them up and remove them from the water.
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Complete Above Ground Swimming Pool Maintenance Guide
The benefits of owning a pool are numerous. You can cool off in the summer, enjoy time together as a family, get exercise, add value to your home, have a beautiful looking backyard, and so much more. However, that enjoyment comes with a lot of responsibility. If you want clean, sanitary water, proper pool maintenance is essential. Maintaining your pool is an ongoing and consistent process. Its a lot, but its totally worth it. Keep reading for all our pool maintenance tips and trips for your above ground pool.
Get Your Water Checked Before You Go
Take a sample of your pool water to your local pool store and get it professionally checked.
Make sure when you get it checked that you correct any issues before you go. You want to make sure that your pH and alkalinity are properly balanced and your sanitizers levels are correct.
- pH: 7.4 to 7.6
- Alkalinity: 100 parts per million to 150 ppm, with 125 ppm being ideal
- Calcium Hardness: 175 ppm to 225 ppm, or 200 ppm to 275 ppm for concrete and plaster pools
- For Chlorine Pools: 1 ppm to 3 ppm
- For Bromine Pools: 3 ppm to 5 ppm
- For Biguanide Pools: 30 ppm to 50 ppm
- For Salt Water Pools: 0.5 ppm of chlorine
- For Mineral System Pools: 0.5 ppm of chlorine
Also, make sure your pool is clean and crystal clear before you leave.
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