A swimming pool on your property is great for family and friends, but without proper maintenance, it can easily become unusable. If you’re unsure of the necessary steps for maintaining your swimming pool, the good news is that it’s a fairly simple process. To help you out, here are five tips for keeping your pool clean and clear.

1. Chlorinate When Maintaining Your Swimming Pool

The purpose of chlorine is to keep the water free from any bacteria that might be dangerous to humans. One easy way to chlorinate your pool is to install a chlorinator, a tube-shaped tank that fits next to your pool filter. With a chlorinator, you add slow-dissolving chlorine sticks to the tank. If you don’t have a chlorinator, another option is a floating container that dispenses chlorine. However, these containers can put a child’s health at risk, so they aren’t a good choice if you have young kids.

2. Clear Away Debris

Another step in maintaining your swimming pool is to regularly remove any debris. Use a skimmer net to remove any leaves and twigs from your pool once a day or several times a week. You should also have skimmer baskets around the edges of your pool to catch excess debris. Empty all skimmer baskets regularly so they don’t overflow back into your pool.

3. Vacuums: Necessary Tools for Maintaining Your Swimming Pool

A pool vacuum is an important purchase if you have a home swimming pool. The purpose of a vacuum is to remove debris from the bottom of the pool and clear away any built-up sediment. While manual vacuums are available, automated pool vacuums propel themselves around the bottom of the pool and can be left alone to do the work.

4. Clean Your Pump Filter Often

Your pool’s pump is a vital piece of equipment that cycles out old water for clean, filtered water. If you don’t clean the pump’s filter regularly, you’ll end up with hazy, contaminated water that can become a bacterial breeding ground. To clean the filter, shut the pump off and close the skimmer valve. Then remove hair, lint, and other debris from the filter.

5. Regulate the pH

One final tip for maintaining your swimming pool is to regulate the pool water’s pH. Testing and adjusting the pH might sound complicated, but a pH testing kit will do the job for you. For safety, your pool water’s pH should stay between 7.4 and 7.6. Test the water weekly, and if it falls under 7.4 (too acidic), add soda ash to raise the pH. Conversely, if it’s ever above 7.6 (too basic), add muriatic acid. Both of these pH-adjusting chemicals are easy to find in pool supply stores or online.

The Best Property Inspections LLC provides pool and spa inspections to Southeast Arizona. Contact us to schedule our services.