What’s your favorite thing about summer? Is it the longer days, the sunshine, or the warm temperatures? If you answered sunshine, then there’s no better place to soak up the sun than in your very own pool! And if you want to be able to enjoy your pool all summer long, it’s important to get it prepared before summertime hits! Follow these steps to get your pool ready for summer!
Remove Leaves and Debris
Removing leaves and debris from your pool is a necessary step before you fill it with water. This can be accomplished by adding a skimmer or automatic cleaner that picks up debris and deposits it in a basket or bag for easy disposal. If you don’t have either of these, you can use your pool’s vacuum system or manually skim everything off yourself. Don’t leave anything on your pool floor, as they could decay and end up creating more work than they saved you.
Keep Water Chlorine Levels up
Chlorine keeps pool water clean and free of germs. When chlorine levels are too low, algae can take over and make swimming uncomfortable—not to mention gross. Make sure you have enough chemicals on hand by checking your pH level at least twice a week. The ideal range is between 7.2 and 7.8, but be careful not to overdo it; if your reading falls below 6 or so, you risk burning swimmers’ eyes. A pool chemical test kit will help you determine just how much chlorine is in your water and keep that number where it should be.
Change Filters Regularly
One of the most overlooked aspects of pool maintenance is filtering. It’s one of those things that can easily be skipped, but even small amounts of debris can cause big problems when they’re left unchecked. If you want your pool water to look and feel great, change your filters frequently—they'll play a major role in making sure it stays clean and inviting all summer long. When it comes to something as precious as swimming pool water, you should never leave anything up to chance.
Don’t Overlook Pool Safety
The warm summer months can make us eager to get in and enjoy a swim, but did you know that most drowning deaths occur between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.? It’s important to keep safety top of mind when your family is splashing around—and we’re not just talking about using a life jacket! If you don’t want children swimming unsupervised, consider fencing your pool, posting a no-diving sign, or simply making sure someone is close enough by should anyone slip under water. Additionally, it’s worth looking into pool alarms that can sound an alarm if someone falls in; these devices are usually inexpensive and easy to install.
Check Drain Covers, Blow Out Hoses, Recirculate Lines, and Clean Diffusers
After winter and spring, all of your pool's equipment will likely need some maintenance, so check all your drain covers and make sure they are clear before sealing them up again. Use compressed air to blow out any hoses you used last year, so water doesn't get trapped inside when you use them again in warmer weather. Clean diffusers with a brush or hose; if there are any brown leaves stuck inside or mineral deposits building up on them, scrape them off with your fingers until they're clean and then scrub away from there if necessary. Finally, recirculated lines will also benefit from cleaning as well as tightening any nuts that might have loosened during winter storage.
Comments