How To Keep Above Ground Pools Clean: Tips For New Pool Owners
Owning an above ground pool comes with responsibilities, and the most significant responsibility is keeping your pool clean. After all, how can you enjoy fun & games in your pool if it is not clean?
Maintaining the cleanliness of your pool happens on a daily, weekly, and monthly period, and knowing how to keep your pool clean is vital to help avoid more expensive maintenance or dangerous swimming conditions. In this article, we discuss the main reasons for cleaning your pool and the variety of ways how to keep above ground pools clean.
How Do I Make My Pool Water Crystal Clear
How do I get clear swimming pool water? The question has been around for decades. Answers vary from adding more chemicalseither to shock, floc or clarify the waterto swapping out filters. Does adding all that stuff really work? Keep reading for the answers!
Chlorine, flocculent, and clarifier help correct one issue, but their effectiveness can vary depending on pH, chloramines, temperature, phosphates, CYA and . . . well you get the idea. Maybe you can just keep dumping more chlorine! But that can lead to an endless loop of additives. So you are left wondering: what really works to get the pool water clear?
Does Chlorine Keep Pool Water Clear?
Chlorine serves a vital purpose in keeping swimming pool water clean and healthy. In theory, if you have a cloudy swimming pool, you can add chlorine to shock it and clear things up. Chlorine will get the job done. But, the amounts may vary and you may have to really pound the pool with chlorine to get the water totally clear.
The environment and weather can also play a factor in how chlorine affects water clarity. If youve got a lot of contaminants in the pooldebris, leaves, and buildup of hair, suntan lotions, etc.the chlorine gets kept busy with all that junk instead of sanitizing.
And then it can get tied up by binding with other compounds in the water, creating chloramines and reducing free available chlorine. Essentially this means you now have less chlorine to keep the water clear and safe.
Raise A Pools Alkalinity With Baking Soda
Adding chlorine to a pool can lower the pH of the water. When you test your pools pH, you may find that it is lower than the ideal of between 7.2 and 7.8. A pool with low pH will also have low alkalinity.
To increase the pH, you can amend the pool water with a product to raise its alkalinity or by adding sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda. The pH of baking soda is 8, which means it is alkaline.
How to clear a cloudy pool with baking soda:
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Can I Add Bleach To An Inflatable Family Pool
The bleach recommended for pools is chlorine. If you don’t want to keep emptying and refilling your small inflatable pool often, this is an option.
But, use the right amount of chlorine bleach for pool sanitization.
The standard measurement is a quarter teaspoon for 10 gallons. Moreover, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on the manual.
How To Check And Clean The Pool Filter
Your pools filter system helps to keep the swimming pool water clean and sparkling. The pool pump circulates water through a filter to remove bits of dirt and debris, and its vital to check the filter regularly to keep it running smoothly.
Pool Filter Cleaning
The best way to clean a pool filter is to first check the filter regularly by pulling it out of the housing. Inspect it for large debris, such as leaves and other bits of material. If it appears dirty, take it out, clean it, and remove the pieces by hand before replacing it.
Unlike cleaning hot tub filters with vinegar, there are other ways to clean your pool filter. A brisk hosing down is usually enough to do the trick.
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Tip #: Make Sure Your Filter Is Working Properly
A pool filters full-time job is to clean your water around the clock. Usually if something is wrong with your filter you will be able to tell pretty quickly. But think of your pool as a large fish tank. It is important to make sure your filter is up to date, clean, and not clogged in any way.
If your pool filter is compromised in any way you will want to know as a pool owner. Fixing this problem may hurt your wallet in the short-term but will keep those swimming safe and save you a lot of time in pool maintenance.Which type of pool filter is right for you?
How To Clean A Pool With A Leaf Skimmer
The first step in pool water cleaning is to remove all the leaves, dirt, and other floating debris from the waters surface. Its essential to perform this routine daily to prevent clogging in the filter system and keep the water clean.
- Telescopic pole
Attach the leaf skimmer net to a telescopic pole to reach the furthest areas of the water. Skim the surface with the net to pull out the leaves and foliage and remove the excess debris as needed while you work.
Begin at one side of the pool and make your way across to the other side as you clean the water surface.
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Think Carefully About Where You Place Your Pool
How do you determine exactly where you should place your pool? Is it because there is enough space or just because the swimming pool has always been there? The location you choose is also important for the cleaning of your swimming pool. For example, do not place your pool under or near a large tree. Everything that drops from the tree ends up in your swimming pool. So, try to place the pool in as free an environment as possible, where there is often more sun, which makes swimming more pleasant. If you have a SunnyTent, you can place the pool near trees, as the SunnyTent covers your swimming pool.
Keeping Algae Out Of Your Pool
Algae doesnt want you, or anyone, to know how to keep your pool clean. The cleaner your pool is the worse things are for algae. A dirty pool is a perfect home for algae.
Keeping your pool clean means not letting any algae anywhere near it. Your pool maintenance should be focused on preventative measures.
Even if you dont have any algae at the moment, you or a pool maintenance team need to be ever vigilant of this menace. It is a lot easier to prevent it than to get rid of it.
Be sure to keep an eye out for any algae that is beginning to grow around the walls of your pool. If left to its own devices, your water will turn some unappealing colours.
If you manage to get some algae growing in your pool, you need need to administer some treatment. Treating algae is a big process that involves draining and thoroughly scrubbing your pool a few times. Hard work if you dont use a pool maintenance service.
In the summer heat when youd rather just be in your pool, scrubbing away at the walls is the worst-case scenario. If you know how to keep a pool clean, then you can avoid having to deal with an algae infestation.
Using algaecide as a regular treatment for your water helps prevent the algae growing in the first place. You should be administering it once a week while your pools pH level is just right.
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How To Clear Cloudy Pool Water
- |October 13, 2020
I hate cloudy pool water as much as I hate cloudy lemonade . Theyre ugly, dirty, and generally not ideal for swimming thanks to a number of potential health risks.
The worst part? Cloudiness can strike your pool in a matter of hours, leaving you scratching your head as to what exactly went wrong.
In this article, Ill walk you through the exact steps to identify, clear and prevent a cloudy pool for both inground and above ground pools.
Need a quick answer? The cause is either chemical imbalance, circulation/filtration issues, or environmental effects. To fix it, youll first want to test your pool chemistry to make sure everything is in balance, then throw in some clarifier or flocculant to clump the debris. Your filter will take care of the clumps and voilà clear water.
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Ways To Keep The Pool Clear Without The Pump
Pool maintenance has never been easier with the advancement of built-in technology like pumps and filters. And theyre great until theyre not. Lets face it. In Middle Tennessee, weather and other things beyond our control can impact daily life. Whether a water pipe has burst or weather has knocked out power, these things may render the pump, filter and other automated equipment used to keep your pool clean and clear temporarily unusable. And, sometimes, equipment just wears out.
If you find yourself with a pool that is no longer automatically maintained, there are a few things you can do to not only keep it usable and enjoyable, but also prevent build-up of residue, debris and scum. This makes the automated equipment more efficient once it becomes operational again.
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Keep Your Pump Running
Your pool’s circulation system includes the skimmer, pump, pump strainer, drains and filter. The system helps chemicals work effectively and ensures that water is properly filtered.
Run your pump long enough each day to make sure the water is properly filtered and each item in the circulation system is clean and in good condition.
Before Each Use Pool Maintenance Schedule
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Shock Your Pool Water
Shocking is a term that means adding a concentrated amount of chlorine or other chemicals to your pool to destroy the chloramines that have built up in your pool. Shocking is also known as super-chlorination, and essentially means you are super-chlorinating your pool when needed.
You only need to shock your pool water if it hasnt been maintained well enough or adequately treated with the right amount of chemicals. Your water could need a shock treatment solely for excess use of your pool. Too many people in a pool can cause products and chemicals from suntan lotion, sunscreen, face cream, makeup, hairspray, oils from your hair and skin, to be added to your pool. These unnatural additives can quickly lead to excess bacteria and other chemicals that can cause algae buildup and can cause your pool to become unbalanced.
Testing your pool for chlorine and chloramine can help you decide whether or not it needs a shock treatment. Shock treatments might be necessary every week or hardly ever depending on how well you maintain your pool and how often it is used.
Install A Sump Pump In Your House
This tip isnt so much for your pool as it is for your house, but its an important one. Chuck Naish, founder of City Residential Foundation Repair, says many people neglect to install a sump pump in their basement when they buy an above ground pool. If any leak were to spring, a sump pump would prevent all kinds of water damage and hazardous mold and mildew growth, he explains.
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Use Algaecide To Prevent Algae Growth
While pool shock helps you avoid the conditions that foster algae growth, its not the most effective prevention method.
The most effective method is using an algaecide. Alagaecies are special chemicals that are designed to not only kill algae but inhibit any growth that could be occurring in the background.
For the best results: use an algaecide at least twice a month twice a month during the summer
While the value of good filtration and chemical balance cant be stressed enough, theres one other thing every pool owner needs to do if they dont want all their hard work to go in vain.
Maintain good water circulation
Water that doesnt circulate properly gets poorly filtered, which mean more debris and cleaning.
And when water doesnt flow freely through the pool system, it doesnt distribute chemicals evenly. When that happens, balancing your water becomes a lot harder.
So how can you maintain the best water circulation possible?
Heres how:
Extra Tips For Keeping The Pool Clean
Here are more valuable guidelines that you never thought would be so important.
Ensure to read the manual and manufacturer’s instructions first. Besides, master them to know how well you can undertake procedures such as draining. By this, you will get to learn about the endorsed chemicals, cleaning agents, and detergents.
Exceeding the stated chlorine quantity will not make your pool cleaner. It’s wrong because overusing chlorine is harmful to your health. Again, this is where your manual comes in handy.
If you are using a second-hand inflatable pool and don’t have the leaflet, call the manufacturer. They will help with directions on how to use chlorine for water safety.
Chlorine is also not a guarantee that your water will be 100% safe for use. That’s because there are stubborn bacteria that will survive in chlorine water. Even if you use the right amount of treatment without a backup, you are unsafe. Thus, introduce the suitable algaecide to help in controlling such germs.
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Clean Your Pool Often And Properly
You need to clean your pool for the same reason you need to wash your bathtub. The soaps you use for yourself are good at cleansing your body , but they arent going to prevent debris from accumulating, nor will they stop scum from building up on the floors and walls.
To effectively clean your pool, make sure you:
- Clean the surface of the water with a skimmer to get rid of any matter thats accumulated on or just below the surface. You can choose between two types of skimmers: flat or deep-pocket. Flat skimmers are typically easier to use , though a deep-pocket skimmer will be able to hold more. Most pool owners need to skim once a day.
- Brush the sides to scrub the walls and floors, making sure you really get into those nooks and crannies around ladders and stairs. If you have a vinyl pool liner, look for a nylon-bristled brush. Youll want to brush your pool once or twice per week.
- Vacuum thoroughly to lift any dirt and debris that has fallen to the bottom. You can choose a manual pool vacuum, though an automatic cleaner will make pool maintenance much easier .
Dont forget to look after the areas around your pool as well. If anything has begun to gather in certain spots, make sure you sweep or rake it away before its blown or tracked into your pool. You might also need to periodically clean your deck with a disinfectant so that things like algae arent able to grow and turn into slippery safety hazards.
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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Testing The Pool Water Ph Levels
Cleaning a swimming pool is essential, but checking the pH level is just as important. Everyday use and weather affect the chemical levels that help keep the water clean, and monitoring the level helps you make proper adjustments.
Pool Chemical Management
Purchase a pH test kit at an online shop or your local pool store and test your pool three times a week. Take a water sample about 12 to 18 inches below the surface and follow the instructions for your kit.
The pH level of the water should be between 7.2 and 7.8 with a free available chlorine level of 2.0 to 4.0 ppm, total alkalinity of 80 to 120 ppm, a bromine level of 5 ppm, and a cyanuric acid level of 30 to 50 ppm.
