Maintaining an above ground pool is no easy task. It requires daily work as well as other regular checks to make sure everything is working properly. If you neglect taking care of your pool, it can lead to unnecessary repair. When people take care of their pool, it’s not only cleaner, but pumps and filters run better and it operates much longer.
If you’re not sure what you should be doing to take care of your pool, check out our guide to above ground pool maintenance.
Daily Above Ground Pool Maintenance Tasks
Here’s a look at the things you should be doing every day to keep your pool in tip-top shape.
Cleaning
Run the Filter Each Day. It’s recommended to run the filter for around 12 hours a day. This gives time to clean the water properly and prevent it from turning green. The best time to run your filter is overnight. This is best because no one will be in the pool and the electricity rates are also usually lower during these hours.
Skim Your Pool. This is usually a daily task depending on the amount of leaves and other debris that may blow into your pool. While your filter gets rid of the majority of the leaves and other debris that falls into the pool, insects or other small things might fall in.
Dump the Skimmer Basket. All of the leaves and other debris being filtered will end up in your skimmer basket. You should check it every day to see if it has to be emptied. You don’t want this to overflow because then the debris will float back into your pool.
Water Level
Monitor the Water Level. While you may not check this every day, this should be something that’s on your radar regularly. You should check to see if the water level remains consistent. The level of your water should be at mid-skimmer level. If you it get’s too high or too low, it may decrease the pump’s effectiveness. Plus, if it starts getting lower, that could be a sign that you have a leak somewhere. It’s a good idea to get this inspected by a professional pool company as soon as possible. Many times leaks can be fixed easily when they are detected early. The team at Lone Star Pool Services can assess the problem for you and let you know what kind of leak you have on your hands.
Weekly Above Ground Pool Maintenance Tasks
While the daily tasks are fairly quick, you’re going to have to put aside more time to complete the weekly maintenance tasks.
Testing
Test Your Water. This will ensure that all chemical levels are where they should be. You can buy test strips at the pool store or take a sample in to get tested. The water test will look at such things as chlorine level, alkalinity, and pH level. If your water is low on any of these, you’ll have to treat it so that it can get back to healthy levels. Be careful when adding chemicals. This can be a tricky job and cause more problems if not done correctly.
Shock Your Pool. Some people do this weekly, while others do this bi-weekly. The amount of shock you’ll want to put in depends on the size of your pool. Your local pool store can tell you how much is appropriate. The best time to shock your pool is when it’s not sunny and when the filter is running. If you add the shock on a sunny day, the sun burns off unstabilized chlorine, significantly decreasing its effectiveness. It’s best to shock your swimming pool at night so the chemicals have a chance to work the way they’re supposed to.
Cleaning
Vacuum and Brush the Sides of the Pool. This will take a good amount of time if you want to do it correctly. Vacuuming and brushing your pool can prevent algae from forming on the walls of your pool. If you ignore this task, you’ll notice your pool water starts to turn green and algae forms on the bottom and sides of your pool.
Backwash the Filter. This can be done either weekly or bi-weekly. It’s an important task because it reverses the flow of water through the filter. This lets dirt and debris that’s built in the filter, get out. Ignoring this task could lead to filter problems.
Keep an Eye on Things
Walk around your pool. This will allow you to notice any damage or leaks that occur. Noticing them early often means they are easier to fix. While you may not be aware of or notice any obvious problems, a trained pool professional might see what you missed. When you have a professional company come to your house regularly to service your pool, they are trained to look for things that you may not see. They can bring it to your attention so that it can be addressed quickly.
Call Lone Star Pool Services to Take Care of Your Pool
You’re probably tired just reading the list of necessary tasks to maintain your pool. Imagine having to do them regularly! Many people would rather save their free time to do the things they enjoy. That’s why they call Lone Star Pool Services for their weekly pool maintenance. We can set up a schedule that works for you and your budget.
Our maintenance includes a regular check on the chemicals in your pool. We also do the following:
- Check & empty skimmer baskets
- Backwash DE and sand filters as needed
- Monitor filter pressure
- Inspect equipment and report significant issues
- Provide weekly photographs and e-mail notifications
- Brush the walls
- Vacuum as needed
- Net debris