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With the recent news about Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have fielded several questions about the virus and swimming pools/hot tubs. Following is a statement from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control):According to the CDC, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.

7 Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Pool Clean Year-Round

For many people, having a swimming pool is a great investment and luxury. It’s such a relief to take a dip and cool off during the sweltering summer months. However, to enjoy these benefits, proper care and maintenance is vital to keep your pool clean.

The good news is, keeping your pool sparkling clean isn’t cumbersome. We will share 7 pool maintenance tips for keeping your pool clean year-round.

1. Regularly inspect your pool

To keep your roof healthy, you need to regularly inspect it. To keep your home’s foundation healthy, you need to regularly inspect it. And to keep your pool healthy, you need to regularly inspect it!

When you conduct an inspection, you should check for the following:

  • Do you smell any abnormal odors?
  • Is your hose cleaner moving as it should?
  • Is the drain at the bottom obstructed?
  • Is the water crystal clear and the bottom should visible?
  • Is the in-floor cleaning system working correctly?
  • Are the returns in the sidewall of the pool weak?

If any of these issues are present, it’s likely that the pool filters require cleaning. Most pool filters need to be cleaned at least once per month.

2. Find and repair leaks

You can identify whether your swimming pool is leaking if the swimming pool water loss is more than just what evaporates. To do this, you’ll need a 5-gallon bucket, and a duct tape or a king-size black marker. Here’s the three-step process:

  1. Fill the water to match the pool’s water level and then place it on the second step of your pool. Using a duct tape or marker, mark the water level inside the bucket.
  2. Turn off any auto-refill device that you have, such as the recirculating pump.
  3. Compare the level of water in the bucket with that of the pool water.

If both levels have gone down and remained even, it means that your pool is losing water because of evaporation.

However, if the water level in the pool is lower than the level of the water in the bucket, it’s likely that your pool is leaking. In this case, have it checked by a professional.

3. Super chlorinate the pool water

Organic contaminants such as nitrogen and ammonia build up over time. The interaction between chlorine and such contaminants can result in chloramines.

Chloramines give off a harsh odor. To solve this problem, super chlorination is necessary. Super chlorination is a water treatment process that kills off bacteria and other contaminants.

For best results, ensure that you follow manufacturer’s instructions.

4. Maintain the right pH level.

Regular testing of pool water is necessary to ensure that it’s clean and healthy. A pH scale is a measurement that runs from 0-14. Its sole purpose is to measure the acidity or alkalinity of the water.

Ideally, you want your pool water to have a pH reading of between 7.2 and 7.8.

You can use a testing kit to monitor the pH level of your pool. Test strips and reagent kits are the two main types of testing kits.

When submerged, the test strips will change color depending on your pool’s pH level. A color mart will help you determine whether the pool’s pH level is good or not.

Reagent kits work differently. You’ll need to take a sample of the pool water, and then add tablets or liquids to it. The color of the water changes, signalling its chemical balance.

5. Have the heater serviced by professionals

Typically, pool heaters need the least maintenance of all pool equipment. For specific care instructions, please consult your manufacturer’s manual.

Generally, gas heaters can function well for a couple of years and electric ones can last even longer.

Just like any other heating appliance, though, your pool heater’s efficiency can reduce over time. This occurs as a result of calcium buildup. To solve this, you’ll need a professional to service it.

6. Vacuum the pool and brush the walls and tiles.

To reduce the amount of chemicals that you need to add to it and to keep your pool clean, you need to vacuum your pool weekly.

In addition to this, you need to minimize calcium deposits and algae buildup by brushing the walls and tiles. Use a soft brush for fiberglass or vinyl walls and a stiff brush for plaster-lined concrete pools.

7. Skim debris and clean out baskets.

This is one of the easiest ways to keep your pool clean. A hand skimmer or a leaf skimmer will help you remove any floating debris on your pool’s surface.

Skimming lowers the chlorine amount you’ll need to add to your pool. It also significantly increases the efficiency of your pool’s circulation system.

Regular, routine care is the secret to pristine pool health. Before fixing or using pool equipment, always consult manufacturer’s manuals. Or, better yet, consult Pool Referees.