maintenence

Pool and spa general maintenence

It may only take a few minutes of your time weekly to maintain your pool.

If you need to correct your chemistry, click here to go to the chemistry page .

If you have lots of trees and plants around your pool, it will take a little bit longer, but our intention is to make it all easier for you regardless of that. The easiest way to clean your pool and spa of excess leaves and debris, especially after a storm, is to use a "leaf eater" which is a simple device that connects to a water hose or even the pools cleaner return line. It has a bag that attaches to it, which when you "drive it" over the leaves they are quickly vacuumed up. Whatever you do ! , do not use your vacuum system to "vac" up leaves or sticks, they will plug up your suction lines and then you will have bigger problems. The "leaf eater" can pick up large leaves, sticks, acorns, sweetgum balls, fine dirt and sand. We use them all the time and they save lots of time. If you have lots of leaves and get tired of dealing with them year after year consider getting a mesh - style net to cover the pool with, don't use a solar blanket because it will collect rain and the leaves will just turn to mush and make for an even bigger mess. You can use the leaves that you do collect in your compost pile or spread them around the yard in the plant beds to protect the plant roots from harsh winter cold.

Skim the surface of your pool for floating debris, then check your skimmers twice weekly or more often if lots of leaves are falling. Clean the basket and check for cracks or splits in the basket. If the basket is cracked , debris will get by it and possible plug up the skimmer line, so check it and replace it when or if necessary. Look under the basket inside the skimmer for debris that fell out when you pulled it out. Remove that debris before it gets into the plumbing line. Check the skimmer "weir" (the floating door just at the front of the skimmer) that it moves up and down properly. Its purpose is to keep the floating debris inside the skimmer so that it does not float back out into the pool when the pump shuts off. Replace skimmer covers when they crack or don't fit properly. Check your pump basket after you have cleaned the skimmers for debris.

Brush your pool weekly, especially in those areas where your pool cleaner does not get to, such as benches, ledges and steps. Brushing helps dislodge dirt and debris which can be picked up later by the cleaner or vacuum. Use a stainless steel and plastic bristle brush combination, they work wonders. Some pool stores even carry a corner brush for those hard to reach places. Another handy tip for small debris cleanup after brushing is to put a used nylon stocking inside of your pool cleaners bag which can then be used to pick up the smallest of items. After it has done its job just throw the stocking away.

Sometimes you might get a spot stain in your pool surface. They can be removed with a pumice stone attached to the pole, a chlorine tablet laid on top of the stain ( don't leave it for more than a minute ) will also work, only in white plaster pools, do not do this in a colored plaster pool ! or even some granuler chlorine placed in a sock and laid over the stain. Only let it sit a minute or two then put the granulars into the pool water, preferably the deep-end.

In and around your pool system are "o-rings", check those that you can get to such as pump lid, cleaner fittings, chemical feeder lid and such. They should last a year or two then they need replacing. Keep them clean and lubricated with a lubricant designed for pool system o-rings.

Be sure that you have the right level of water in your pool. If the level is to high the skimmers will not work properly and if the level is to low you run the risk of the pump sucking air which is not good for the system. If the water level is ok and you see the pool "jets" blowing bubbles you should have the system checked for air - infiltration. Most pools lose around 1-2 inches of water each week, this is normal for evaporation and loss due to use. If you use the heater on cold winter nights your water loss will be more dramatic, just watch the "fog" dissipate as you use it !