A backyard swimming

A backyard swimming

A backyard swimming pool is always a fun place and one of the most rewarding ways to enjoy fun in the sun at home with friends and family.

When added to the backyard, a pool serves as a relaxing and ultimate inviting centerpiece and offers the essence of enjoyment, entertainment, leisure, exercise opportunities, and also adds value to your home.

But since it’s in your backyard, the leaves, dirt, dust, and other contemptible substances make the pool dirty. They may cause serious health issues with bacteria and algae if not regularly maintained.

Keeping the Pool nice and clean doesn’t have to be hard work. Regular cleaning and maintenance will make sure your pool is ready to swim, and the water is safe for the whole family to enjoy.

Here are some maintenance tips for keeping your pool sparkling clean and achieve crystal clear water. If you have automatic equipment, the steps below become even more accessible, but standard equipment isn’t complicated either.

Skimming

Skimming the pool is pretty straightforward, the skimmer comes with a hose that attaches to your pool pump and outlet system, offering suction to filter debris as you move the skimmer around your pool.

Manual skimmers

A manual skimmer is simply a fine mesh net attached to the pole that a user maneuvers manually to gather debris. This kind of skimmer doesn’t require any power source to operate and is perfect for collecting large floating particles and other debris, but they aren’t recommended for filtering small particles.

Automatic Skimmers

Automatic skimmer attaches to the pump & filtration system of your pool. They usually have small propeller-like paddles that create movement using suction to move the skimmer along the surface of the Pool, sucking water and debris through its hose so that it can be filtered out of the water.

Robotic Skimmers

Self-contained or robotic skimmers are either solar-powered or battery-powered and have their own internal pumps for collecting and filtering out small and large pieces of debris from your water.

These are incredibly energy-efficient but more expensive. They don’t require any installation and can be just placed in your Pool and set running.

Vacuuming

Weekly vacuuming is essential to maintain a pool that is free from debris and other contaminants. There are different styles of vacuums from automatic to manual, but mostly the automatic is preferred.

These are vacuums with long handles that you can use the same way that you use vacuum cleaners at your home.

Attach one end of the vacuum hose and one end of the telescopic pole to the vacuum head.

Place the vacuum head, pole, and hose in the pool –Make sure the other end of the Hose is outside the pool.

Locate the filter skimmer and plug the other end of the hose into the water intake nozzle. Switch the filter nozzle to the intake mode. This will create suction from the vac head, through the hose, into the skimmer, and through the filter system, and then guide the vacuum head, using the telescopic pole, along the floor. You will see the dirt get sucked in. Now, it’s time to vacuum the pool.

When you are done, disconnect the hose from the filter and remove the vacuum head from the telescoping pole, and also make sure to drain any water still in the vacuum hose.

Filters

The primary function of a pool water filter is to trap contaminants and particulates in the water and hold them within the Filter. The clean water is then pushed back into the swimming pool. The trapped pollutants are removed utilizing backwashing, which should be done at regular intervals.

There are basically three types of pool filters: Sand Filter, Cartridge Filter, and Diatomaceous Earth Filters. Each of these has its pros and cons.

Sand Filters

Sand filters are the most popular and best way to clean a swimming pool. They are known to be inexpensive, reliable, effective, and have the lowest maintenance.

In addition, sand filters are able to filter a large quantity of swimming pool water over a short period of time. Highly appreciated for its easy cleaning or backwashing, and the fineness of filtration is around 40-50 microns.

The sand inside the tank will generally be replaced every three to five years, depending on the length of the swim season and how well the pool is maintained.

A sand filter can be the perfect choice for a pool owner who wants value, simplicity, and durability.

Cartridge Filters

Cartridge filters are energy-efficient, inexpensive, easy to maintain, and more useful as long as you have a vast pool.

The filters should be cleaned at least every four to six months, and the process involves removing the cartridges and cleaning them with a garden hose.

Diatomaceous Earth Filters

D.E filters are a popular type of pool filter for residential pools that use diatomaceous earth as a filter media.

These filters provide the most exceptional possible filtration, which can filter or trap particles up to 5 microns. They are more expensive and technically complex to maintain but produce great results.

The maintenance procedure involves backwashing and recharging the filters at least monthly and tearing it down and cleaning it every six months.

Cleaning the pump

Cleaning the pump is relatively easy and straightforward. For optimal water quality, consider a regular cleaning routine for your pool to clean the skimmer and pump basket at least once a week by following these steps.

Please turn off the pump, disconnect the pump and motor, remove the top cover or lid, remove and clean the strainer basket, filter cartridge, and impeller, reassemble the pump and turn it on.

Cleaning out your pool pump filter can help keep your water clean and prevent the filter from clogging and potentially burning out the pool pump.

Chlorine Tablets vs. Salt Water Pools

There are about five popular pool sanitation methods, but the two most common are chlorine and salt.

The difference is that a saltwater pool’s chlorine is adjusted at the generator control box and by adding more salt to the water. By contrast, the chlorine system must be adjusted by the amount of chlorine physically added to the pool.

The average recommended range for a residential pool is between 1-3 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine. In both pool types, it’s essential to check the pH levels and alkalinity of the pool still so it stays sanitized, and the chemicals remain balanced.

Chlorine tablet

Chlorine tablets are a safe, effective, and affordable way to sanitize your pool. They gradually dissolve into your pool water, releasing chlorine to kill algae, bacteria, and other organic contaminants. They’re a popular choice amongst pool owners because of how easy they are to use.

Properly stored chlorine tablets should last three to five years. The storage site should be cool, dry, and well-ventilated, such as in a basement. Never leave chlorine tablets in the direct sun, even in a covered bucket, because the heat will accelerate the degrading process of the tablet and its ingredients.

In addition, you have to keep the chlorine content at the right level. Ideally, the chlorine value should be between 1 and 1.5 ppm. During the swimming season, we recommend checking these values twice a week.

The chlorine pool will also need periodic “shocks” of more concentrated chlorine to ward off algae and maintain consistent chlorine levels.

Always make sure that the filter system is running while shocking the pool. Some pool owners choose to shock their pools once every 1-2 weeks as routine maintenance. This is a great way to keep your chlorine level up and prevent algae growth.

Although chlorine is a highly toxic chemical, it is safe when handled correctly. Chlorine chemistry helps families lead more reliable, more convenient, and more comfortable lives.

Chlorine tablets are commonly used on all pool types such as cement, plaster, painted, pebble, vinyl, and fiberglass, whether they are residential or commercial pools. Pools using chlorine tablets are easy to maintain and maintain proper water balance.

Regular testing of pool chlorine with strips to determine pH and alkalinity levels is a must.

Proper pool water sanitation minimizes microorganism growth in the pool water.

Saltwater

A saltwater pool gets cleaned using a filtering system called a salt-chlorine generator. The system uses electricity to turn salt into chlorine, which cleans the pool.

A saltwater pool is much easier to maintain than a traditional pool. When a chlorine generator is added to a pool, salt is poured into the pool and may need to be brushed until it’s been dissolved. The salt generator itself is made of parallel titanium plates that electrolyze the dissolved salt to produce chlorine.

A chlorine generator produces chlorine. This means you will still need to make sure your pool water is balanced and maintain proper levels of alkalinity, pH, and calcium hardness.