Basic pool care is vital to prolong the life of your investment and to maximize enjoyment. After all, no one wants to swim in a dirty pool. If you follow this basic pool care schedule you will not only keep your pool at its best, you will also take the work out maintenance in the long run. It is far easier to do small things on a daily or weekly basis rather than a major clean up if you let things go. These easy steps will help you spend more time enjoying the pool instead of cleaning it.

Daily

Take a few minutes each day to take a walk around the pool and attend to small things before they become a big chore. Check and do the following:

• Check the water colour and clarity – water clarity and colour are the first signs that something is amiss. If you notice a change, by all means test the water and adjust it with chemicals.

• Skim the surface of the pool of floating debris and empty and clean the skimmer basket. If you find that the pool is constantly full of blossoms or leaves, consider pruning or hardscaping around the poolside so you have less work to do in the future.

• Use your test kit and test the chlorine and pH level – add chemicals to balance the water.

• Clean out the pump strainer baskets - the strainer basket collects large pieces of debris that were missed by the skimmer or were sucked in though the main drains. This strainer is important as it prevents debris from entering the pump assembly and clogging the impeller.

• Brush any algae off the pool sides with a brush - if left untreated, algae can collect in the cracks of surfaces, making them very difficult to remove. Brush the pool walls, steps, and floor at least once a week to prevent algae growth from forming in your pool.

• Connect your pool cleaner and move slowly across the water in overlapping parallel lines, like mowing a lawn. If the pool is too wide for one pass, vacuum half at a time.

• Check the filter pressure and clean or turn the filter valve to "backwash" to redirect water flow.

• Test and correct pool chemistry. Adjust pH first, then chlorine. If the chlorine is below 1 part per million (ppm) or alkalinity is less than 90 ppm, "shock" the water. Adding more chlorine not only sanitizes the water, but prevents algae spores as well.

• Top up water level if necessary.

Weekly

When Water Added

Whenever a substantial amount of water has been added to the pool, such as in the early spring or during the heat of summer, be sure to attend to the following:

• Test the Cyanuric Acid (CYA) level and adjust if required

• Salt water pools will likely require more salt when water is added to the pool to insure chlorination continues

• If you use borates in your pool to balance and soften the water, be sure to test the levels after adding water. Make sure that there is 30 – 50 ppm in the water.

If you follow these maintenance steps, your pool will stay pristine and you will have time to enjoy it. Protect your pool and get the most fun out of it with the least amount of work. Have a question about caring for your swimming pool?  Discount Pool Supply offers thousands of pool supply products and offers free shipping across Canada.  Contact us here if you have any questions!