There is nothing more inviting on a hot day than a pristine, clear blue pool. As a full-service facilities maintenance company in the Twin Cities, Building Maintenance Management’s technicians come equipped with CPO Licenses, and are ready to keep your pool looking fun and inviting for your residents! Here are some tips from our techs on what you can do to help maintain your pool this summer:
1. Skim the surface and clean the baskets. Doing this every few days helps keep scum and sludge from building up at the bottom of the pool. This will also significantly increase the pool’s circulation ability and lowers chlorine demands.
2. Vacuum the pool and blush the walls and tile. Doing this once a week will keep the pool looking clear and reduce the amount of chemicals it’ll need.
3. Clean the pool filter. Periodical cleaning varies depending on what type of pool filter you have. Keep in mind that cleaning the filter too often can actually hinder the filter’s ability to keep dirt out. A small amount of dirt on the filter helps catch more dirt passing through, but be sure to clean the filter when there is too much dirt.
TIP: A sign that it’s time to clean is an increase in flow between the pressure gauge and flow meter. Clean the filter when the difference reaches 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kilograms) per square inch.
4. Professionally service your pool heater. The heater requires the least amount of maintenance for your pool. If you have a gas heater, it is a good idea to get it serviced every few years, and electric ones can last even longer.
5. Check and maintain water levels. Pools lose water in many ways from evaporation to splashing to exiting the pool. It’s a good idea to check water levels when you’re skimming the surface every few days. If the water level gets too low, it can damage the pump, which can be a costly fix. If it’s low, simply add more water using a garden hose until it’s at the right level.
TIP: While you may empty your pool when swimming season is over, it is recommended that there be a little water left at the bottom because the weight of it will counteract the forces from the ground pushing up into the pool.
6. Maintain pH level. A pH level between 7.2 and 7.8 is best for the safety of swimmers and allows pool chemicals to work most efficiently. Call today and let us help you with your pool’s pH levels!
7. Shock the water. Over time, organic contaminants build up and mix with the chlorine to form chloramines, which give off the distinctive chlorine smell that everyone associates with pools. To get rid of this harsh odor it is necessary to superchlorinate, or shock the water by adding a large amount of chlorine. Depending on what your pool manual says, it’s a good idea to do this once a week.
8. Find and repair leaks. Sometimes its tough to tell if your pool is losing water because of evaporation or leaks. There’s a simple test to find out: simply fill a bucket three quarters full with water and mark the water line on the inside of the bucket. Next, let the bucket float in the pool and mark the water line on the outside of the bucket. If after a couple of days the water lines on the inside and outside show the same amount of water loss, it is due to evaporation. However, if the outside water mark shows more water loss than the inside water mark, then you’ll know you have a leak.
9. Winterize your pool. Water left in pipes throughout winter can cause pipes to freeze and burst. To prevent this, use an air compressor to blow out the pipes when pool season is over. Also make sure that there is no water left in the pool heater and filter, disconnect the heater, pump, and chemical feeders. Be sure to clean and safely store your chemical feeders as well.
10. Lastly- open up your pool for pool season! When you follow these simple maintenance tips, opening your pool at the beginning of the season is easy! Make sure you don’t take the cover off until you’ve thoroughly cleaned and swept the debris around the pool. Then, fill the pool, connect everything that was disconnected last season, shock the water, and test the pH level. It’ll take about a week before the chemicals and pH levels balance out and the water becomes swimmable.
Need help with your pool heater, pH levels, or have questions about pool chemicals? Give us a call or contact us! Our knowledgeable technicians are ready to help you out with all your property’s pool maintenance needs this summer!
