How To Take Care Of Home Swimming Pool

Cost Estimate Source: Homeguide

National average monthly cost to maintain a pool: $112Low and high end monthly cost to maintain a pool: $81 to $143Low and high end annual cost to maintain a pool: $960 to $1,800Average pool opening and closing costs: $300+

Methodology: HomeGuide annually tracks the cost estimates that their millions of users get from local companies, runs the stats to determine the national average, then shares those prices on its site.

What Happens When You Don’t Keep Your Swimming Pool Properly Maintained

If pool maintenance is ignored, your outdoor oasis can quickly turn into a backyard disaster. Not only will you run the chance of causing major damage to your pools plumbing and cleaning equipment, your pool will begin to turn green which can pose major health hazards to not only you and your family but your neighborhood and community as well.

Without the proper maintenance, dirty pools and other bodies of water can harbor all types of recreational water illnesses and become breeding grounds for pests like mosquitoes which spread other types of dangerous diseases.

Additionally, on things like ladders, steps, and general flooring, conditions can become very slippery and unsafe due to algae growth.

How Much Does It Cost To Have Someone Maintain Your Pool

Naturally, taking care of the day-to-day pool maintenance tasks yourself is better for your budget, but some people simply don’t have the time. If you would prefer to hire someone instead, expect to pay around $100 to $150 per month for weekly or bi-weekly maintenance from a professional, according to HomeAdvisor.com . This normally includes tasks like checking the water level, testing water chemistry, applying chemicals, and emptying skimmers.

You may also wish to hire a professional to open and close your pool. HomeAdvisor.com estimates that closing a pool for winter can cost around $150 to $300 . This includes jobs such as shocking the water, backwashing the filter, lowering the water levels and installing the cover. It tends to cost about the same to open it back up again when the weather warms.

Remember that there are other costs involved too things like repairs, electricity to run the pump, and water will all contribute to the overall price of keeping a pool. If you’re looking for ways to save in your backyard to balance out the costs, it’s worth checking out our cheap garden ideas feature.

Keeping on top of pool maintenance will ensure your water stays crystal clear like in this design by XL Pools

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Treating The Water In Your Inflatable Pool

• Written by Justin Stewart on Oct 02, 2009To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by Charles Ramos, Jr. on Apr 12, 2021

Once upon a time, inflatable pools were only for the kids. They were small, easy to inflate, and easy to drain and refill after each use without having to worry about bacteria or algae building up. However, now, many families are choosing to purchase inflatable pools that can hold thousands of gallons of water to fill an up to 4-foot depth, resembling a traditional, permanent above-ground pool. With these larger models, it is much more difficult to maintain a clean and safe environment. Without proper treatment, bacteria becomes a problem and not only does the pool become unsafe, it can look unsightly as well.

Larger Pools and Chemical Treatments

For larger inflatable pools, it is best to simply purchase all the traditional chemical products available at any pool supply store. This includes ph balance test strips as well as commercially available chlorine used to treat in-ground pools.

Homemade Remedies for Smaller Pools

Regardless of which type of chemical you choose to use on your pool, it is essential to be careful when applying it to the water. Make sure the chlorine is properly mixed in the water and not allowed to collect on the vinyl siding, as it will eventually cause erosion.

Why Should You Clean The Kiddie Pool

When I set out to write this piece, I was blissfully ignorant of the horrific dangers that lurk in the kiddie pool. Cue the Jaws music, and zoom in to all the microscopic monsters that lurk in the depths: Cryptosporidium! E. coli! Shigella! Giarida! These germs can cause gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. And according to the Centers for Disease Control, the kiddie pool is positively rife with bacteria, especially if children from more than one family use it.

Now, the CDC, to me, is the ultimate authority on such matters, but Ive got to say, my sister and I swam in communal horse tanks and wash tubs and blow-up kiddie pools our whole childhood, and so has Ruby, and as far as I can recall, no swimmers ear, oozing rashes, or copious diarrhea ever resulted. But that obviously doesnt mean it cant or wont happen.

To help ensure it doesnt, the CDC recommends warning your children not to get pool water in their mouths. Good luck with that. Also: Give children a cleansing soap shower or bath before they swim. Um, yeah. Lady, the swim IS the bath.

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Replacing Your Pools Vinyl Liner

On average, vinyl liner pools need to have the liner replaced every 59 years. Although you could do this yourself, we recommend you hire a professional, especially if you havent replaced a liner before.

How to replace a vinyl liner:

The line replacement usually costs around $4,000$4,500. Each time. Ouch.

One advantage of fiberglass pools is that theres no liner to replaceno worry about leaks or punctures, no extra maintenance cost, no lost swim time.

Tips For Maintaining An Above

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As lovely as in-ground pools sound, they’re not always feasible to install in the backyard, whether it’s because of the cost, the space available, or the type of soil in the back. An above-ground pool, however, could be an option for enjoying the water during warmer months.

Above-ground swimming pools range from economical models to more luxurious styles. Many can be enjoyed throughout the year, and some use saltwater systems, which are popular with in-ground models. Above-ground pools also have options for solar heating systems and energy-efficient covers.

Contemporary models may have upgraded features that are usually seen in in-ground models, including advanced filtration systems and pumps to keep them clean. However, even above-ground pools that have built-in systems need a little hands-on work regularly to stay clean and in good working condition.

• It’s tempting to put off above-ground pool maintenance, but you will pay for it later through water problems or pool liner issues, which are expensive to fix. To ensure that you’re taking proper care of the pool, follow a daily and weekly pool maintenance checklist.

  Complete these tasks daily:
• Test the pH level to ensure it’s between 7.4 and 7.6.
• Test the chlorine level, which should be between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm.
• Check the water level, which should be around mid-skimmer.
• Empty the skimmer and pump baskets.
• Check filter pressure and pump operation.
• Skim the surface of the water.

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Professional Vs Diy Pool Maintenance

Watch out: Keeping your pool water pristine is a demanding, arduous task that can eat away at your pleasure of owning a pool. Pool maintenance is a time-intensive process that must be done on the regular. Its possible to DIY your pool maintenance, but its not recommended unless youve developed the required expertise.

If you arent vigilant about your maintenance the condition of your pool and the quality of your water will suffer. And if you let your pool go even a little, youll spend big bucks getting it back in shape especially if you dont know what youre doing.

Literally, if you skip just one day of pool maintenance your blue pool could turn green, explains Bean. Then youll spend hundreds, even a thousand dollars trying to get your pool blue again. Hiring someone who maintains pools for a living will take a lot of work off of your hands. And because they know what theyre doing, they can keep costs low.

Along with knowledge, pool pros service a lot of pools, so theyre able to purchase their supplies and chemicals at a bulk rate that individual homeowners just cant get.

How much youll pay for the services of a pool pro depends on how much you have them do and how often you have them come. Basic plans primarily cover maintaining the pH balance of your pool on a weekly basis, while deluxe plans tackle almost all of the maintenance, including skimming, brushing, and systems maintenance.

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Maintain The Ph Level

Pool water should be tested regularly to make sure it’s clean and healthy. The pH scale is a measurement of acidity or alkalinity that runs from 0 to 14. A reading between 7.2 and 7.8 is ideal this range is safe for swimmers and helps sanitizers work at top efficiency.

You can monitor your pool’s pH level with a testing kit. There are many kinds of testing kits available however, most homeowner versions are either reagent kits or test-strips. Reagent kits aren’t too difficult to use. You take a sample of pool water, then add liquids or tablets to it. The water changes color, indicating its chemical balance. Test-strips work differently. When you submerge them in the pool for a few seconds, dyes they contain cause them to change color. Next, match up the strip to a color chart to determine the pool’s pH level. Use this information to gauge what kind and how much of the chemicals your pool needs.

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How Can You Safely Use Chemicals In The Kiddie Pool

According to experts at Pool Solutions, you need four things to keep your kiddie pool clean and safe swim after swim after swim:

• A stabilized form of chlorine thats 55% to 62% active strength. The chemical name youre looking for here is either sodium dichloroisocyanurate or sodium dichloro-s-triazine trione. These Aqua Chem Sanitizer Chlorinating Granules are 55% chlorine and formulated for small pools with a capacity between 200 and 1,000 gallons.

• Algaecide thats 60% active strength. The mile-long chemical name to look for is poly. The algaecide offers backup protection in the event the chlorine gets low, and it controls some of the bacteria thats resistant to chlorine, including the little bastards that cause nasty ear infections. The Pool Breeze Algicide 60 has the right strength and the right chemical name, and its non-foaming.

• A box of borax, which you can find in the laundry detergent aisle of the grocery store. The only brand Ive ever seen is 20 Mule Team. Borax is non-toxic in normal, everyday amounts.

• Plain old, regular bleach, 6% active strength.

• A water testing kit.These easy-to-use water testing strips will analyze the chlorine level, along with the pH, bromine, and alkalinity.

Pool Solutions has a pool chemical calculator for kiddie pools that will help you figure out the volume of water in your pool and how much of each chemical to add. Read their directions very carefully.

So, our pool has a 264-gallon capacity, which requires:

Bleach: 6.4 tablespoons

Balance Your Hot Tub Water Chemistry

Balancing your hot tubs water is similar to balancing pool water, but a bit trickier due to the drastic size difference. But before you add anything to your spa, you need a baseline reading on your water chemistry. Once your hot tubs full, test your water to determine the pH and alkalinity levels.

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Maintaining Proper Pool Chemistry

We touched on this above, but the water chemistry of your pool is vital to its safety and longevity. Pool chemicals stop the growth of algae and bacteria, reduce residue buildup, and otherwise keep pools safe to use. In most cases, following the manufacturers directions and using the appropriate tools to measure the chemicals is all you need to do.

However, this does get trickier if you have an unusual pool. Chemicals are usually measured by the size of your pool, so you may need to perform some complicated math to measure the exact shape of your pool and ensure that the chemicals get an even distribution. If they dont, you may need to pay extra attention to some areas while manually cleaning them. Use a test kit to measure the chemical levels in your pool right now it will help you get a good baseline and know what you need to add to balance everything out.

Read our full guide on pool chemistry that goes into all the details on how to get your pool within the proper ranges. I touch on all these topics and more:

• Chlorine levels
• And several other sanitizers and chemicals

Drain And Refill The Pool

If your kids pool is pretty small, and draining and refilling it doesnt feel like a colossal waste of water, then the best way to keep the kiddie pool clean is to drain it when the waters dirty, scrub it down with a plain old kitchen brush and some mild dish soap, and refill it. Consider using the pool water to water the plants in the yard.

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Pool Maintenance: Top Tips On How To Look After A Backyard Swimming Pool

Proper pool maintenance is crucial for a clean and healthy swimming experience this guide has all the advice you need

Need some guidance on pool maintenance? You’ve come to the right place. As you might expect, there’s a bit of upkeep involved when it comes to owning a pool but none of it is too tricky once you know how.

Perhaps our backyard pool ideas have got you inspired for your own. They have tons of benefits after all and can look gorgeous too. But before you commit, it’s good to know the basics of pool care. In fact, even if you’ve owned one for a while, a refresher on how to look after a backyard swimming pool is always handy especially now that warmer weather is here.

Not looking after a pool properly can result in dirty, algae-ridden water and naturally, splashing about in that is no one’s idea of fun. Not only can it be dangerous to your health, but it can also decrease the lifespan of your pool. However, with the right tips and tricks, pool maintenance can be a breeze and will ensure your water stays crystal clear.

Keep your pool sparkling clean with proper maintenance

Yearly Hot Tub Maintenance

Many of the tasks we recommend could, in theory, be done annually without significant impact on your hot tubbing experience. But for optimal performance and the happiest hot tubbing, weve recommended them as monthly or quarterly tasks instead.

Remember, while your hot tub is empty and drained, you can attend to weekly or quarterly tasks such as cleaning, repair, and system flushing.

That said, we recommend you tackle these tasks at least once a year, and preferably more often:

• Flush the lines to remove bacteria and biofilm. Its actually a good idea to use line flush any time you drain and refill your hot tub.
• Inspect your hot tubs hardware and wiring. Be on the lookout for damage due to wear and tear, pests, and chemical imbalance.
• Have a professional perform a tune-up. Theyll evaluate all your hardware and wiring for potential issues, inside and out.
• Inspect your cover. Keep an eye out for physical damage, moisture absorption, and mildew or mold infestations.
• Replace or update your hot tub maintenance calendar. As the years go by, youll learn what works best for you and your hot tub. The new year is the perfect time for adjustments to next years maintenance schedule.

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Creating A Regular Maintenance Schedule

Pools sound like a lot of work at first, but the truth is that most maintenance only takes a few minutes per day. Thats easy to fit into any schedule, but consistency is the key to overall performance. Set a weekly and daily schedule for yourself that includes cleaning the pool at set times, measuring the chemicals with a water testing kit, and adding chlorine tablets and other chemicals and performing shocks as needed.

Done properly, cleaning the pool will become a habit for you. If your pool is unusually large, you can make it a family activity or rotate the duties, so nobody has to spend too much time, too often, on cleaning the pool.

Still sound like too much work? Consider hiring a pool service that will do it all for you. Be sure to avoid the most common pool maintenance mistakes too.

Questions? Let us know!

You Need To Keep An Eye On The Water Level

As important as the chemical composition of the water is, the physical water level is just as important. The levels will naturally fluctuate after a heavy rainstorm or an afternoon of kids doing cannonballs.You want to maintain a level that is halfway up the opening of your skimmer. If the water is too low, simply use a garden hose to add the necessary amount of water back in. If the water level is too high, rent a submergible pump from a home improvement store to drain the excess. However, if youre pools liner is a vinyl or fiberglass material that could be easily damaged by the weight of the pump, consider consulting a professional.When youve reached the appropriate water level, remember to recheck the chemicals. The water level fluctuations will have thrown them off balance.

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