The trick to keeping your pool in good shape is to be consistent. You can check your pool on a weekly basis, just make sure you stick to the plan. Of course, there’ll be some challenges along the way but the point is to do what you can on a regular basis, to avoid potentially expensive and unnecessary costs down the line.

To help you on your journey we’ve compiled a few simple tasks you can easily perform on your own.

Brush

Using your pool brush, get to work on the walls, steps and floor of your pool. Think of it as a full body exfoliation. You’ll need to put your back into it if your pool is in desperate need of some TLC. Skim the surface to get all of the debris off the top. You can get rid of small bits of debris with a good vacuum. We have to admit, it’s a game changer in pool care. Chat with one of our pool specialists at Pool Spa for more information on this.

Dump

Check to see if the skimmer needs to be emptied. You’ll want to properly examine the mouth to see if there is any debris stuck in there. Remove its basket and contents. We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again. Your strainer basket is the first line of defence in your pool system. Make sure to clean and throw out leaves and other debris stuck in there.

Inspect

These next three items require some careful inspection to make sure they are functioning correctly.
Keep your filter in tip-top shape by cleaning and maintaining it in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Make sure your pump is working optimally. Grinding noises, water dripping from motor vents or low water pressure are issues that need to be sorted out as soon as possible.

Test the water. You can easily do this with a pool test kit. The ideal ranges you’re looking for are:

• pH: 7.2 – 7.6
• Alkalinity: 80 – 120 ppm
• Calcium Hardness: 180 – 220 ppm
• Chlorine: 1-3 ppm
• Bromine: 3-5 ppm
• Cyanuric Acid: 30 – 50 ppm