Keeping your pool clean on a regular basis requires knowing what can hinder your progress. Here are swimming pool cleaning mistakes and how to avoid them.
What if trying to save yourself money led to some costly mistakes?
That's what happens each year to countless pool owners. Considering that it can cost up to $95 per hour to have someone else clean the pool, many homeowners want to save money by doing everything themselves. However, this can lead to many unexpected swimming pool cleaning mistakes.
If you're not careful, these mistakes can cost you additional time and money. If you want to keep your pool clean without hiring a professional, keep reading to learn about these common cleaning mistakes and how to avoid them!
You may not have been a science expert back in high school. However, any good pool cleaning routine involves testing water pH. And if you aren't testing enough (or, worse, not testing at all), that can be a major problem.
Every pool needs a balanced pH level. Without that, a low pH level means the water is going to dry your skin out and make your eyes sting with pain. And a high pH level means that your chlorine won't be able to do its proper job.
Not sure how to test the pH level? All you need is a kit or test strip to analyze the pH level. You can then raise or lower the pH level as needed.
Shock is often one of the main pool cleaning supplies. This concentrated hit of chlorine does wonders for your pool. But you're making a big mistake if you put it directly into the pool.
That's because shock can stain almost anything it touches. This includes swimsuits and even the vinyl liner in the pool. Worst case, this can lead to brittle pool sections and even unwanted leaks.
To avoid this, always dissolve your measured quantity of pool shock in a separate container, and remember to put the water into the container before adding chemicals. This helps reduce the odds of staining and potential chemical burns.
There are many pool cleaning supplies out there to help you with pool maintenance. However, if you aren't regularly brushing and scrubbing your pool, you aren't putting enough work into your maintenance.
This kind of scrubbing and brushing is necessary for removing algae and other unwanted microorganisms. If at all possible, you should brush and scrub both sides of your pool and the bottom at least once a week.
A little elbow grease can help prevent unwanted algae spores and possible chemical imbalances. And it keeps your pool safer as well as more attractive.
We can't talk about a pool cleaning routine without talking about cleaning pool filters. And if they were being honest, most pool owners would admit to backwashing their filters a bit too often.
On one hand, backwashing is necessary to help keep the filter clean. But if you do it too often, it can actually cause damage to both the filter and the pump.
To strike a balance, try to keep your filter tank between 10–15 PSI. If it gets to 20 or higher, it's time to remove the debris you were using to backwash.
Do you own a dog? Many pool owners who are pet owners invite their fuzzy friends into the pool from time to time. This is something certain dogs love, and it can be really fun for you and the family.
However, dogs can have a profound effect on your pool. Their shedding hair may end up in your filter, causing unwanted clogs. And even a brief bit of "doggy paddling" in your pool can change the pH level of the water.
Long story short? You don't have to keep the pooch out of the pool, but you need to pay special attention to your filter afterward. You also need to test the pH level and balance it out again before anyone else steps into the water.
Pool owners often focus on the need to balance the pH level. However, there is something else that is equally important, and that's getting the calcium hardness "just right."
If the calcium hardness is barely present, or not there at all, it can harm the filter, the vinyl liner, the concrete, and even materials such as plaster and fiberglass. But if you have too much calcium hardness, it can make your water cloudy.
To avoid this issue, you need to aim for a level of 175 ppm to 225 ppm calcium hardness (or, if you have a plaster or concrete pool, between 200 ppm to 275 ppm). Keep an eye on these levels throughout the season and add more calcium hardener as need be.
Automatic cleaners are a wonderful invention. They take care of many of the more annoying aspects of the pool cleaning routine. But here's the thing: you shouldn't trust automation too much.
All the cleaner really does is help gather leaves and other small debris into your filter. But you will still need to regularly clean the filter. And you will still need to manually scrub the sides and bottom of your pool to remove unwanted algae.
We're not saying you should throw out your helpful automatic cleaner anytime soon. Just be aware that you'll still need to perform many aspects of pool maintenance on your own. And the right maintenance starts with having the right tools for the job.
Now you know what the most common swimming pool cleaning mistakes are and how to avoid them. But do you know who can help you with almost every aspect of cleaning the pool?
Here at Pool Store Canada, keeping pools clean is our business. And we have all of the tools and gear you may need to take care of your own swimming pool better than ever before.
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