You and your family have been looking forward to opening your pool all year. Yet, there are still things that need to be done to make your swimming season both fun and safe. Here are some pool maintenance safety tips.
Test the Water’s pH
Before you open the pool, check the water’s pH and the levels of disinfectant. The pool water should be just slightly alkaline, which is a pH of around 7.3. Make sure that the levels of chlorine disinfectant are also balanced enough to kill pathogens while not irritating the skin of the swimmers. After the pool is open, check these chemicals and the pH at least once a week during the pool season.
Make Sure Electrical Equipment Is Sound
Make sure that everything in and around the pool that uses electricity is in good working order. This includes pool lights, the filter and the pool vacuum. Make sure the GFCI, or ground-fault circuit interrupter, is working. Call a pool specialist in if you’re nervous about checking electrical systems yourself.
Make Sure Equipment Is in Good Shape
Before you even open the pool, make sure that all the equipment is clean and sound. This includes telescoping wands, nets, the pool cover, pool ladders, the filter, pump and even pool toys. You might also want the help of a pool professional with this task.
Remove Items From the Pool When It’s Not in Use
When the day is done and everyone’s gone inside, gather up any items in and around the pool. This may include ladders if they’re removable. Lock equipment away until the next pool session. Pick up wet towels and toss them in the laundry.
Clear Debris
Make a habit of clearing away any debris, including fallen leaves, flowers or other items from in and around the pool. This is when the pool vacuum comes in handy.
Clean the Filter
You should check the filter at least once a week and clear it out if it’s dirty. Give the filter a backwash once a month to flush the pipes that connect to your swimming pool.
Use the Tennis Ball Trick
Over time, your pool might develop a scum of oils, either from swimmers’ suntan lotion or the oils that their skin and hair produce naturally. One interesting, low-cost way to keep this under control is to toss tennis balls into the filter’s skimmer basket. The fibers soak up the oil, and you can replace the tennis balls every month when they get too filthy.
Enclose the Pool
If your pool isn’t enclosed by a fence, now is the time to install one. It should be at least 4 feet tall and should have gates that self-lock. This prevents children and pets from getting to the pool without supervision and injuring themselves.
If you live in Palm Beach, FL or a surrounding area and need pool maintenance services, make your first call to PB Pool Doc.