With temperatures rising, swimmers are coming to the pool more often. As your days fill with splashes, it’s essential to keep your pool clean, safe, and ready to handle the extra traffic that comes with the heat. With the amount of maintenance this will require, you may find yourself asking “how do I prepare for the high-use summer season” or looking up “pool maintenance service near me.”
A little preparation goes a long way, so how you ready your pool for the summer will show up in how it serves you for the season. But worry not, we’ve got you covered with an in-depth guide to getting your pool ready for peak swimming season. From your very first deep clean to what you should add to your routine, this article will discuss what you need to do and know before summer gets here.
Start with a Deep Clean
Before spring ends or right as summer begins, you should do a very thorough cleaning of your pool. This will help you get rid of existing grime and bacteria already in your pool to prevent buildup once the heavy-use season begins.
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Remove Debris and Clean the Surfaces
Skim your water surfaces, check for leaves, fallen bugs, and other debris that can affect not just the aesthetics but the cleanliness of your water and remove them. Once that’s done, grab a brush and clean your pool deck, tiles, and surroundings. Not only will this give you that clean look, but it will also help prevent buildup of algae or dirt.
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Vacuum the Pool
There could also be dirt hiding out at the bottom of your water. So, once you’ve cleaned up your walls, surfaces, and surroundings, take the time to run a vacuum through your pool and make sure you get into the crevices, leaving no dirt in your pool.
Check and Balance Your Water Chemistry
Good water chemistry is the cornerstone of healthy water. Making sure that your chemical levels are balanced and fit for swimming will keep your pool swim-ready throughout the summer.
1. Test Your Water
Grab your test kit and check your pool water. Whenever you test your pool chemistry, you should be looking at the following values and making sure that they stay within the safe range:
- pH level: 7.4-7.6
- Chlorine Levels: 1-3 ppm
- Alkalinity – 80-120 ppm
- Calcium Hardness – 200-400 ppm
Take note of any chemicals whose values are off, so you can quickly address them with the proper chemicals.
Adjust Chemicals Accordingly
If you have already taken note of the chemicals that your pool needs, use the correct chemicals to balance your pool water chemistry. If you’re new to this, the best way to begin is by making small adjustments:
- pH levels: If these are high, you can add a pH reducer, while a low pH level would call for a pH increaser.
- Chlorine levels: If your chlorine is low, you can use a shock treatment.
- Alkalinity: If your alkalinity is high, you can add a pH reducer to your water, whereas a low alkalinity would call for an alkalinity increaser.
- Calcium hardness: If these levels are too low, you can use a calcium increaser.
Take your time to make sure that all values are balanced. Once all of your chemicals are within the safe ranges, your water should be swim-ready and will be easier to maintain in the long-run.
Inspect and Service Your Equipment
After periods of disuse, your equipment might develop faults. A quick inspection of your pump, filter, and heater can do you good in the long-run. It’s important to look for any signs of wear and tear in your pool equipment and get them repaired as soon as possible.
1. Pump and Motor
Your pool pump helps your filter do its job by making sure that the water is always circulating. Once you turn it on, listen for any unusual noises that it may be making. If you hear any, it may be a sign that your motor needs some attention. You should also make sure to lubricate your pump’s bearings to keep everything running smoothly.
2. Filter Maintenance
To avoid murky water, keeping your filter clean is the key. The first thing you should check is if your filter may need to be replaced, if not you can proceed with giving it the right care. However, different types of filters require different types of attention so take note of the type of your pool filter and take care of it accordingly.
- Sand Filter: If you have a sand filter, you should give it a backwash—this means running its system until the water comes out clear and then doing a quick rinse cycle.
- Cartridge Filter: For these, you should give your filter a quick rinse. However, for special cases where your filter may need extra attention, you can soak the cartridges in filter cleaner.
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filters: While these don’t require as much maintenance, a good backwash won’t hurt.
Note that regular filter cleaning is essential to keep your entire pool system running smoothly.
3. Heater Inspection
The very first thing you should do is look at your pool heater. If there are any signs of rusting or corrosion or broken wiring, you should get your heater repaired or replaced to avoid any possible fire hazards. Check around your heater and ensure that it has proper ventilation. Only once all of these things are ticked off from your list should you turn your heater to avoid further fire issues.
After turning your heater on, watch out for anything—especially strange odors. If you hear, smell, or see anything off, it’s best to turn your heater of and have a professional check it out.
Check Your Safety Features
When a lot of people, especially children, use your pool frequently, it’s important to ensure it is safe for the users. So, before high-use summer begins, it’s important to make sure all of your pool’s safety features are functioning properly without damage.
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Pool Cover
A pool cover is important in maintaining the cleanliness of your pool, but not just that, it reduces the risk of accidents, like accident falls or drowning. It’s necessary to make sure that your pool cover does not have any rips, holes, and tears and that it still fits snugly over your pool, without any areas for anybody, especially small children or pets to fit underneath. If your pool cover is automated, test the mechanism and make sure it’s running smoothly.
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Fencing and Gates
If you have small children and pets in areas around your pool, the best way to keep them out is through a fence. The ideal fence is at least 4 feet tall, without any gaps where children can squeeze through. Gates should have self-closing mechanisms that remain out of reach of small children. Make sure that the latches of the gates are working smoothly and cannot be opened from the outside.
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Safety Equipment
Safety equipment should always be readily available and within reach around your pool for any emergency. Invest in a reaching pole, any floatation device, and a fully stocked first aid kit. Make sure that you can see and access these items in case of any accidents. You may also plan ahead with your family, friends, and guests for any possible emergency procedure, take the time to inform them of where all of your safety equipment is accessible.
Prepare Your Pool Deck and Surroundings
While the pool itself is the main highlight of pool ownership, having clean and pleasurable surroundings can really help with setting the ambience of your environment. Therefore, when summer arrives, you should also check and clean your pool deck and the surrounding area to maintain an attractive environment for you and other swimmers.
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Clean and Inspect the Deck
A thorough sweep, removing debris, dirt, and leaves from your deck goes a long way at improving your pool area. Check for any built-up grime that you cannot get by sweeping alone and consider power washing. Once you have cleaned your deck, check for any cracks, loose tiles, or areas that might need repair. If you find any slippery surfaces, it may be best to put non-slip mats in the area to reduce accident risks.
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Check Pool Lighting
Good lighting creates good vibes, especially for evening swims. Test all the lights in and around your pool and make sure that they are working properly. Replace any dead bulbs and check that the wiring and fixtures are in top shape. Bright lighting can make your nighttime poolside relaxation sessions a special experience.
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Prepare Pool Furniture
Your pool furniture should be as ready as your pool. Just like your deck, your pool should be given a good clean. If there are any cushioned furniture, check for wear and tear. Inspect them to see if they need to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. With good preparation, your pool area should become fit for all occasions in the summer.
Establish a Maintenance Routine
Aside from preparation, consistency in maintenance is key to a clean, safe, and healthy pool. So, before high-use summer even begins, it’s important that you know your routing when it comes to pool maintenance. If there are tasks that are a bit more difficult for you to handle or even if your schedule is just too cramped to do tasks routinely, you may opt to get an expert’s helping hand to keep up with consistency.
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Daily Tasks
When your pool is being used heavily, you might be required to do more on the daily than usual. But the simplest tasks you should be doing everyday should not take up too much of your time. At the very least, take the time to skim and clean the surface of your pool, check your water levels to see if it’s still at the halfway point of your skimmer opening, and inspect your pool equipment for any damages or wear and tear.
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Weekly Tasks
While weekly tasks may take you a bit more time to do, they still can be quite simple. Once a week you should be testing and balancing your water chemistry, brushing and vacuuming the surface of your pool, cleaning your skimmer and pump baskets, backwashing your sand filter (if applicable), and shocking your pool. Doing these things regularly will help you maintain good water circulation and sanitation.
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Monthly Tasks
Once a month, you should be doing more thorough inspections and cleaning. This is the best time to look at your pool’s accessories and equipment to see if there are any wear and tear, cracks, or leaks. You should also be cleaning your filter according to its type to make sure it stays running efficiently. For enhanced safety, this is also when you should be checking if your pool chemicals and first aid kits are fully-stocked. If you do these consistently alongside your daily and weekly tasks, it should be easier for you to maintain a pool with sparkling water and clean and safe surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What should I look for in a pool cleaning service?
Your pool cleaning service should have good reviews coming from previous customers. They should also be providing a wide array of services with clear pricing.
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What’s typically included in a standard pool cleaning visit?
Skimming the surfaces, brushing the walls and steps, vacuuming the floor, and testing and balancing chemical levels are typically the main parts of a standard pool cleaning visit.
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How much should I expect to pay for professional pool cleaning in San Diego?
In San Diego, pool cleaning services usually range from $100-$200 depending on how much service your pool needs and its size.
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Can I switch between DIY maintenance and professional service?
Yes. Oftentimes, pool owners take care of simple tasks they can do on their own like skimming, cleaning, and vacuuming, while letting the experts handle chemicals and other difficult equipment.
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How long should a typical pool cleaning visit take?
An estimate of 45 minutes to an hour depending on the size and condition of your pool.
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Should I be home when the pool service comes?
You don’t have to be home when the pool service comes as long as they have access to your pool. If you have concerns on what they do to your pool, you may ask them for transparency reports after every visit.
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How do I know if my current pool service is doing a good job?
Good communication skills coming from your pool service provider is always a good sign, but it’s also worth seeing if your water is clear and well-balanced, your surfaces are clean, and all of your equipment is doing their job.
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What should I do if I’m not satisfied with my pool service?
You should attempt to resolve your dissatisfaction by having a discussion with your current provider. But if issues persist, it could be worth changing your service provider to one with better reviews.
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Can pool service help reduce my chemical and energy costs?
Yes, especially if you keep up on maintenance as you can reduce the amount of unnecessary chemical and energy usage.
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How do I know if I need more than just basic service?
Continued issues of murky water and faulty equipment regardless of regular maintenance are often signs of a need to upgrade your equipment or your maintenance services.
Final Thoughts
The best way to prepare for the high-use summer season is to stay ahead of potential issues and prioritize keeping your space clean and safe. From one deep clean to establishing a good cleaning routine, good preparation can save you a lot of trouble later. If you do things right, you’ll be able to handle high traffic and make the most of every sunny day. And if it gets too much, a little help from a pool service near me won’t do you any harm.
Are you excited for summer swimming but scared of summer pool maintenance? Cabana pools can help ease your mind within 5 minutes with our quick and easy setup process. Contact us today and you can start worrying less and swimming more. We can help you get ready for and enjoy a season of fun.
