Summer is here, and pool owners everywhere are taking advantage by jumping in their pool and cooling off. Of course, it’s not all fun and games! Proper maintenance is an important part of keeping your above ground pool cool and safe for you and your family. So in this week’s blog, we’re going to talk about the basics of maintaining your above ground pool!
Above Ground Pool Maintenance
There are three components of cleaning your pool. These are physically cleaning it, cleaning it using the filter, and cleaning it with chemicals such as chlorine.
Physical Cleaning
- Use a leaf skimmer to get leaves and debris floating on top of the pool. You can usually get a decent amount of debris off the bottom of the pool with a leaf skimmer as well.
- Vacuuming is the best way to get debris off the bottom of your above ground pool . You can physically vacuum the pool, or get an automatic pool vacuum.
- Brushing the liner of your pool is important because it helps the water circulate and stops algae blooms before they start. Try to do this once a week.
Pool Filter
It’s important to run your pool filter for 8-12 hours a day. Here’s how to optimize your above ground pool filtering:
- If the pump plugs into an outlet, it will have a built in timer that you can use to “set it and forget it.”
- If you have a sand or DE pool filter, it will need to be backwashed. This is a process that removes dirt trapped in the filter. This should be done when the pressure gauge reads 8-10 pounds higher than what it reads when the filter is clean.
- If you have a cartridge filter, you’ll need to remove the filter and hose it clean. Do this when the pressure gauge is 5-10 pounds above its clean reading.
- Clean the skimmer basket several times a week, and clean the pump basket once a week.
Pool Chemicals
Test the water several times a week to make sure it has the correct amount of chlorine and proper pH.
- A liquid test kit is more accurate than a test strip.
- Chlorine levels should be at least 1.0 ppm at all times.
- Check the pool’s pH and adjust as necessary 1-2 times a week.
- Check the calcium hardness and cyanuric acid levels once a month.
Build a New Pool and Pay Off Your Bills
With a loan from HFS Financial, you can pay for both your bills and your new pool at the same time! Are you interested in learning more? Contact us today or fill out one of our simple 60-second loan applications!