Considerations

• No matter what the maintenance task, schedule it for a time when the pool isn't going to be in use. The early morning hours when it may be too cool to swim are a good time to perform many pool chores such as vacuuming. Other tasks, such as checking the pool chemical balance, might happen while the pool is in use.
  
  

Swimming Pool Cleaning

• Swimming pool cleaning on a regular basis helps your pool water stay clean. It also makes it easier for the equipment to operate by keeping foreign matter out of it. The first swimming pool cleaning task is to scrub the pool walls to remove dirt and any algae buildup. A telepole (telescoping pole) helps remove floating debris. The pool vacuum cleans the sediment on the bottom of the pool. Changing the filter on the pool pump as needed completes the pool-cleaning list.
  
  

Water Tests

• It's important to test the water to make sure the pool chemical balance is correct. Test strips are available to check the alkalinity of the water, which should be at 7.2 to 7.4 pH for best results. Other water tests include those that check for the amount of chlorine in the water as well as the water's hardness or softness.
  
  

Pool Chemical Balance Adjustments

• Interpreting the water test is important to aligning the pool's chemical balance. Adding a pool shock treatment to the water can improve the pool's chemical balance. In some cases, it's simply a matter of adding more water to the pool to bring the water back into balance. If algae is a problem, using an algaecide is important to pool maintenance.
  
  

Benefits

• A well-maintained pool is a healthy pool. That's true not just for the people who use the pool, but also for the pool itself. By having the proper sanitizing agents in the water, the risk of spreading diseases drops. A well-kept pool offers clear water free of algae growth. Clear water is less likely to clog filters and cause pumps to malfunction.