Maintaining a pool can be a significant responsibility as it requires balancing chemicals, cleaning filters, skimming surfaces, and other tasks. For many people, pool maintenance feels more like a chore than a fun aspect of owning a swimming pool. That’s why so many people rely on the experts here at Lone Star Pool Services. We take the work out of pool ownership.
But for those of you looking to maintain your own swimming pool – we have a few hacks for you to help make things easier on yourself. Knowing the right pool care hacks can simplify the process of pool maintenance. It’s not just about the time you spend cleaning your pool, but how you use that time effectively. Most people aim to clean their pool both quickly and affordably, however, this may not always be possible.
Maintaining the pool feels like a never-ending task as we have to constantly balance the water with expensive chemicals and remove leaves from the pool frequently. We end up spending a lot of money on these tasks.
However, the truth is that your approach is what matters. In this post, we share some of our preferred pool care tips and tricks.
Pool Care Tips to Simplify Pool Maintenance
Here’s our comprehensive list of pool care tips to make it easier for you to maintain your swimming pool:
1. Balance Pool Water a Minimum of Twice a Week to Save Money and Chemicals
You might be curious about why balancing your water more frequently reduces the need for chemicals. The reason is simple: if your water is already well-balanced, you will require fewer chemicals to bring it back into balance.
Most pool owners usually don’t test their water regularly. In fact, the average is only about three times in a month. The problem with this is that if the water isn’t properly balanced, you may need to add more chemicals than necessary.
If you aren’t testing and balancing your water frequently enough, you’ll end up using a lot more chemicals than you would otherwise. Testing less often gives the chemicals in your pool more time to get out of balance and for things to get out of control. The longer you go between checks and balances, the more chemicals you’ll use. It’s all a part of pool math.
Avoid spending money on extra chemicals by testing your water often and reduce the amount of time that passes between tests. We find that twice a week is the perfect solution. Your pool will stay balanced longer and you’ll spend less money on expensive chemicals.
If you are going to be out of town for an extended period – it’s a good idea to hire a pool care company like Lone Star Pool Services to manage your pool while you’re away. Then, when you return, it will be ready for you to enjoy.
2. Follow a Pool Care Schedule
One great strategy to avoid falling behind on pool maintenance is to stick to a pool care schedule. Using a pool care schedule helps you develop a routine of testing and cleaning your pool on a regular basis. This is important because neglecting pool maintenance can lead to more problems over time.
Using a pool care schedule has several benefits, including easier chemical management, timesaving, reduced decision overload, and most importantly, ensuring that your pool never gets to a point where it cannot be saved.
3. Perform Regular Pool Heat Pump Maintenance
This point is significant because it pertains to the main factor that creates a comfortable environment for relaxing in your pool – the heat. The heated water provides a comforting and mild experience.
It’s easy to forget about the machinery working in the background to keep your pool warm all year. However, neglecting the maintenance of the machinery can result in additional expenses later on.
If you don’t maintain your pool heaters regularly, they will experience more wear and tear, which can result in the need for more frequent and severe repairs, including part replacements. This problem becomes worse the longer you ignore the maintenance of the heater.
Typically, the pool heater stops functioning during the coldest time of the year, resulting in a freezing or frozen pool. Scheduling annual maintenance for your pool heat pump can lead to a longer lifespan and fewer repair costs in the future.
4. Solar Covers Improve Heat Retention
Solar covers serve two purposes for your pool. First, they act as a barrier to prevent leaves and other debris from getting into the water. Second, they significantly improve the pool’s heating retention and efficiency. Using a solar cover reduces water evaporation by 75%, which is the main reason for heat loss in pools, as compared to those who do not use a cover.
5. Use Solar Rings to Reduce Water Loss
Solar rings are basically solar covers in the form of rings. They are a more compact version of solar covers. You just need to put them on the surface of the pool, and they will start working instantly.
Solar rings absorb heat from the sun, preventing water evaporation and helping maintain a constant temperature in your pool. This means you don’t have to waste money by refilling it often due to evaporative loss. Solar rings are also an affordable way to help you keep your pool warm and reduce energy costs.
6. Run Your Pool Pump for a Minimum of 8 Hours
Water circulation is crucial for keeping your pool clean. Maintaining good water flow is essential for distributing heat and chemicals, as well as powering your filtration system. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to water circulation.
It’s not uncommon for pool owners to only run their swimming pool filtration systems when they are using the pool. And, while this does save when it comes to energy costs, the amount of pool and chemical maintenance you’ll have to perform between pool sessions typically outweighs the savings.
Running your pool filter for a minimum of 8 hours each day will provide optimal circulation for your pool system, ensuring healthy water. This will result in waking up to clearer and cleaner water with reduced cloudiness and greenish color.
7. Try Running Your Pool Pump at Nighttime
We previously explained the benefits of running your pump for 8 hours a day to circulate water. However, running the pump at night can also help reduce your electricity costs. Electric companies tend to charge less for electricity during non-peak hours or at nighttime.
Running your pump at night not only ensures healthy water circulation but also reduces your swimming pool bills. It’s a win-win situation.
8. Automate Filtration with an Automatic Timer
If you’re worried about not being able to run your filter and pool heater for 8 hours a day consistently, either because you’re away or you forget, there’s a solution: automatic timers.
An automatic timer can help keep your pool clean while you’re away without too much effort. You can connect it to your equipment breaker, set a time for it to run, and let it do the work. This device acts as a mechanical pool assistant by circulating the water.
The benefit of an automatic timer is that it ensures your pool is always cleaned and filtered, even when you’re away. This means less effort for you, better water quality, and reduced costs from energy bills. It’s a great investment to make sure your pool stays clean all the time with minimal effort from you.
9. Add Pool Grade DE Powder to Sand Filters
If you have a sand filter but want it to capture debris more effectively, we have just the tip for you.
To enhance the filtration capacity of your sand filter, simply mix in a small quantity of pool-grade diatomaceous earth. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of both filtration options without spending too much money. The DE powder helps the sand clump and trap small debris that would otherwise be returned to the water. For even distribution of DE powder into your sand filter, you can pour it directly into your pool skimmer. This will help the powder to flow smoothly and reach every part of the filter. Make sure you wear a mask when dealing with DE as it is a very fine powder.
10. Clean Your Pool Filter at Least Once a Month
Cleaning your pool filter on a regular basis is important as a clogged filter doesn’t serve its purpose. Keeping your filter clean is the most effective way to maintain its optimum functionality. This is because a clean filter facilitates smoother water flow by reducing resistance.
When your filter is dirty, the filter results in additional pressure, and your pump must work harder to push the water through. As a result, your electricity bills are increased due to the extra work the pump must do. To keep your filter working at its best, remember to clean it at least once a month.
11. Use Variable Speed Pumps
We recommend upgrading from a single-speed pump to a variable-speed pump. The reason being a variable speed pump offers several advantages.
- Variable speed pumps are much more energy efficient
- Multiple speeds mean it’s easier to manage power consumption
- Variable-speed pumps tend to last longer than traditional pumps
These pumps range in price and can be adjusted for the most efficient operation depending on your pool’s needs. This is a great way to save money on your electricity bills while also ensuring that your pool stays healthy and clean.
12. Add a Fountain to Improve Circulation
One way to upgrade your pool while also improving its maintenance is by adding a fountain. This not only enhances its visual appeal, but also helps to circulate the water. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a fountain for this. You can easily buy a basic one that can be assembled in a few minutes.
13. Maintain Optimal Water Levels
While we’re talking about water circulation, maintaining a proper water level is essential.
If the water level is too low, it can prevent the skimmer from circulating the water properly, causing the pump to run dry and potentially overheat. Eventually, the pool heater may also be affected.
When the water level of your pool is too high, the filtration system may not work effectively. This is because the skimmer door cannot open properly to remove debris from the surface. As a result, much of the debris will end up at the bottom of the pool, which will require more frequent vacuuming. To get optimal results, maintain your water level at the mid-skimmer point. By doing so, every component of your pool system will function correctly.
If you struggle with keeping your pool’s water level consistent, you should think about getting an automatic leveler. It’s an easy attachment that you place on the edge of your pool, and it keeps track of your water level without you needing to do it manually.
14. Use Lemongrass and Dryer Sheets to Deter Bees
Bees are important to our ecosystem due to their role as pollinators. But where we don’t want to see them is in the swimming pool.
To naturally keep bees away from your pool, you can use dryer sheets and lemongrass plants. Although bees are attracted to the smell of the pool, they dislike the scent of fresh laundry.
To reduce the frequency of bee visitation, place a few baskets of lemon grass and dryer sheets around the perimeter of the area where people are present. You should see an immediate effect.
15. Absorb Stray Oils in Your Water with a Tennis Ball
The reason behind using tennis balls in your swimming pool is quite simple. The outer covering of tennis balls can soak up dirt and oil very efficiently. Almost every swimming pool contains oils of some sort, even if they are not visible to the naked eye. These oils can range from the body oils of swimmers to residue from sunscreens and soaps.
Fortunately, the solution to this problem is a straightforward one. You can simply add a few tennis balls to the skimmer basket or directly into the water. The tennis balls will act as a cost-effective and effective way of cleaning the pool of free-floating oil.
16. Use Vinegar to Remove Calcium Scaling
Did you know that you can use vinegar as a natural method to remove calcium scaling from your pool walls? Although there are several ways to remove the scale, vinegar is an excellent option.
To clean the walls, get a sponge and add some diluted vinegar. Scrub the walls with the sponge and the scaling should start to fade away. Keep scrubbing until the walls are clean. This way you can save a trip to the pool supply store.
Keep in mind that, while vinegar is a great cleaning agent, it may also affect your pool’s pH levels. But don’t worry, it takes a lot of vinegar to have any effect. It is, however, always a great idea to balance your pool after cleaning with vinegar.
17. Use Lime Juice to Remove Metal Stains
To remove rust or metal stains on your pool wall, use lime juice. Squeeze a few limes into a cup, add a pinch of salt for texture, and apply the solution to the stains. The natural solution will help remove the stains effectively.
One great thing about lime juice is that it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals like most commercial stain removers do. This means you won’t have to worry about it causing skin irritation or disturbing water balance.
Again, anytime you put something in your pool, be it vinegar, lime juice, or even just loosening the particles of whatever you’re cleaning, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your pool to ensure it is balanced. If you check twice a week as we recommend, your pool will be in great shape.
18. Use Baking Soda to Clean Tiles or Increase pH
If you want to raise the pH or alkalinity of your pool, adding baking soda can help. Also, if you want to remove buildup from tiles, use a paste made of baking soda and water to scrub it off.
Indeed, baking soda can be incredibly helpful. It’s a great addition to your pool maintenance routine if you’re seeking quick and simple tips.
Enjoy these Pool Care Hacks for a Relaxing Summer
Now that you have learned these new tips for taking care of your pool, it is time to put them into action. Many pool owners are motivated by the desire to save money and reduce the time spent on pool maintenance. However, it is also important to remember the benefits of a well-maintained pool: its beauty and relaxation. With these hacks, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in your pool all summer long!
Don’t Be Afraid to Call the Pool Care Professionals
No matter how much you understand about pool care, it is always a good idea to contact the professionals, especially if you have questions. They can offer advice on what products will best suit your pool and its needs. Even if they don’t install or repair any of the equipment, their expertise can be invaluable in keeping your pool running efficiently and looking great. Plus, it never hurts to have a second opinion!
Here at Lone Star Pool Services, we want to help our customers in any way we can. From managing your pool maintenance to give you more time to spend with family and friends, to helping with pool repairs, to refinishing your swimming pool, we’re here for all your swimming pool needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!
