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During a long, hot summer, there’s nothing better than getting some sweet relief by cooling off in the pool! To ensure you don’t get caught out in the heat and your pool is always crystal clear, we’ve put together a summer pool maintenance guide!
We recommend following these steps at least once-a-week to keep your pool running at its peak performance throughout summer.
Skim the pool
If trees are surrounding the pool, consider trimming them at the start of the season. Doing this will help reduce the amount of debris that ends up in the pool water.
Then spend a few minutes a week skimming the pool with a long-handled skimmer to remove leaves, insects and any other debris from your water. Ideally, you want to remove the debris from the surface of the water before it sinks to the bottom, as once it’s there, it’s harder to remove and can lead to staining on the floor surface. Keeping on top of this also prevents the filtration system from becoming clogged and helps to maintain the water balance.
Brush surfaces
Use a pool brush to give the surfaces and equipment a thorough clean. Algae and small bits of debris can collect on pool walls and fixtures, so brushing once a week will remove dirt and prevent the spread of algae. We recommend brushing any grime towards the main drain of your pool so it can easily be vacuumed up. Adding a dose of BioGuard MSA Extreme will also help to kill off any algae in the water and don’t forget to add your sanitiser of choice, like BioGuard Smarter Sticks.
Vacuum
Once you’ve given the pool a good brush, vacuum up the sediment. A regular vacuum keeps the floor of the pool clean and also improves the circulation of sanitiser in the water by sucking water from the bottom of the pool to mix with the top. Better flow leads to more efficient chemical use and consistent water balance.
Check the skimmer box
At least once a week, clean out any debris that’s become lodged in your skimmer box. This will help the skimmer to operate at peak efficiency and remove the majority of debris from your water.
And while you’re checking the skimmer box, you should also check your water level. You want the water to come three quarters of the way up the skimmer to allow for proper circulation, which helps the filter remove impurities.
Run the pump
The pool’s circulation system includes the skimmer, pump, pump strainer, drains and filter, and it helps chemicals to work effectively and ensure that the water is properly filtered. It plays a vital role in keeping your pool water healthy and clean! During summer, run the pump for a minimum of ten hours a day. It will ensure all the water in the pool is filtered through the system at least once and will help to filter out any debris or bacteria.
Filter check
Depending on whether you have a sand, glass or cartridge filter, clean and maintain it according to manufacturer’s instructions. For some pointers, check out our basic guide to filter cleaning.
BioGuard Filter Brite twice a year will restore the efficiency of the filter by removing scale and rust deposits, greases, oils and organic wastes, while also sanitising the filter media or cartridge. You may need to backwash it once a week or when the pressure gauge reads ten pounds per square inch (psi) above the normal operating level.
Every filtration system is slightly different. If you need any assistance with your filter maintenance, visit your local BioGuard Approved Retailer for expert advice.
Test your water
The secret to healthy water is balanced water!
At the start of summer, take a water sample to your local BioGuard Approved Retailer for a test using their state-of-the-art computerised equipment. They will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current condition of the water and then advise how to correct any imbalances – creating a personalised maintenance program for your pool in the process!
We recommend testing your water every week at home and then professionally at least once a month. Find the optimum water chemistry levels here. Everything in your pool becomes more efficient with properly balanced water.
After a period of heavy use, you should also give the pool a shock treatment to remove excess organic waste and contaminants. We recommend using BioGuard Lite for freshwater pools or BioGuard Salt Pool Sparkle for salt chlorinated pools [hyperlink]. It’s easy to use and will keep the water looking pristine.
3 is the magic number!
Finally, to keep your pool water healthy, sparkling and algae-free all summer long, follow the BioGuard 3 Step Program! Because nothing’s worse than not being able to swim on a stinking hot day!
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