Owning a pool is a source of enjoyment and relaxation, but it also comes with responsibilities. To ensure your pool remains a safe and enjoyable oasis, there are certain actions you should avoid. Let us talk about five things you should never do when you own a pool.
Tips for Pool Owners
Neglect Regular Maintenance:
- Skimping on Cleaning: Regularly skim the pool’s surface to remove leaves, insects, and debris. Neglecting this can result in a dirty and less inviting pool.
- Ignore Filter Cleaning: Clean your pool filter as recommended by the manufacturer. Neglecting filter maintenance can lead to poor water circulation and filtration, causing water quality issues.
- Forgetting to Vacuum: Regularly vacuum the pool’s bottom to remove sediment and prevent algae growth. Failure to do so can result in cloudy water and increased chemical usage.
Overlook Safety Measures:
- Lacking Proper Fencing: Ensure your pool area is fenced and has a self-closing, self-latching gate. This prevents unsupervised access, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Skipping Safety Equipment: Keep safety equipment like lifebuoys, life jackets, and reaching poles nearby for emergencies. Being unprepared can be dangerous in critical situations.
Over-Chlorinate or Mismanage Chemicals:
- Ignoring pH Levels: Maintain the pool’s pH level within the recommended range (typically 7.4 to 7.6). An imbalanced pH can cause skin and eye irritation and reduce chlorine’s effectiveness.
- Overuse of Chlorine Tablets: Using too many chlorine tablets or pucks can lead to high chlorine levels, which can irritate eyes and skin, and even damage pool surfaces and equipment.
- Ignoring Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness: Regularly check alkalinity and calcium hardness levels, as they affect water balance. Neglecting these parameters can result in scale formation and cloudy water.
Ignore Proper Filtration and Circulation:
- Dirty Filters: A clogged or dirty filter reduces water circulation and can lead to cloudy water. Clean or backwash your filter as needed to maintain efficient circulation.
- Faulty Pump and Motor: Ensure your pool’s pump and motor are in good working condition. A malfunctioning pump can affect water circulation and filtration.
Allow Debris Accumulation:
- Lack of Pool Cover: Using a pool cover when the pool is not in use helps prevent debris from falling in and reduces maintenance efforts.
- Forgetting to Trim Plants: Trim trees and plants around the pool to minimize the shedding of leaves and debris into the water.
- Not Using a Skimmer: Regularly use a skimmer to remove debris from the surface. Skimming helps maintain water clarity and reduces strain on the filtration system.
Responsible pool ownership involves a combination of regular maintenance, adherence to safety measures, careful chemical management, proper filtration and circulation, and preventing debris accumulation. By avoiding these common pitfalls and staying proactive in pool care, you can ensure that your pool remains a clean, safe, and enjoyable space for you and your family to relax and cool off during the hot summer months.
For more information on pool maintenance, questions regarding how we clean pools, and to schedule servicing your pool, contact us, we would love to assist in keeping your pool water clean.
More Information on Pool Maintenance:
How to clean poop out of the pool
Uncharted waters – new pool owner responsibilities
Pool Service and cleaning for Lake Havasu City
Black Algae and Your Lake Havasu Pool
Does Chlorine make your eyes sting?