Swimming in your own pool is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, exercise, and relax—but this also means staying up to date with regular upkeep. From daily check-ins to seasonal deep cleans, every task is important in keeping your pool swim-ready. Because pool care isn’t a simple one-time task, you may find yourself searching for “pool cleaning services near me” quite often. But fret not, because this may be the perfect guide for you.
In this article we will break down everything you need to know about regular pool cleaning—from the daily, weekly, monthly, even the seasonal. We’ll also touch on what to do in special situations like storms, heavy use, or algae outbreaks, as well as how to make pool care easier with a little help— whether from a pro or from some special tools.
The Essentials: Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Pool Cleaning Tasks
Breaking down your pool cleaning routine into simple daily, weekly, and monthly tasks makes it more manageable and keeps your water fresh and inviting. So let’s talk about what needs to be done and how often to ensure your pool stays in top shape.
Daily Tasks
On the day-to-day, pool care should only take up around 5-10 minutes of your day. Adding these three simple steps to your daily routine should save you time, energy, and money in the long run.
1. Skim the Surface and Clear out the Baskets
To keep your pool clean, it should start at your pool surface. Check for any leaves, bugs, or other debris and clean those out. You should also be able to empty the skimmer and pump baskets to keep your pool equipment working efficiently.
2. Check the Water Level
The perfect water level should be at the halfway point of your skimmer opening. Anything too high or too low can be damaging to your equipment. So, once you have the time, make sure to do your daily check of the water level and drain it or fill it up accordingly.
3. Check the Filter and the Pump
You want to see steady water flow and hear no weird or loud noises when looking over these equipment. If you notice anything strange, it’s best to call a pool equipment repair service as soon as possible to save yourself from bigger problems in the long term.
Weekly Tasks
Depending on the size and condition of your pool, you may want to set aside about 1 to 3 hours for weekly maintenance. These five simple tasks can help you make sure that your pool stays safe for your leisure swims.
1. Clean the Pool Deck
Take time every week to quickly sweep or hose down the deck of your pool. This prevents dirt and debris from making their way into your water. This not only helps make sure that your pool is bacteria-free, it also keeps everything looking polished.
2. Clean the Filter
While this may vary according to the type of your filter (sand, cartridge, or DE), it’s always important to keep your filter clean. A sand filter may require backwashing weekly, while a cartridge filter only calls for a quick rinse. Clean filters mean better circulation and best-functioning pumps.
3. Brush the Walls and Waterline
Giving your pool walls a good scrub every week helps prevent algae buildup and keeps your surfaces looking spotless. It’s also good to put a bit of focus on the waterline, as this is where oil and debris often collect. This may be more of a hands-on task but it can be simple and enjoyable if integrated into your routine.
4. Test the Water and Balance the Chemicals
Use a test kit to check your pool’s chemical levels including: chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Make sure that they are appropriate and, if not, adjust them as needed to keep your water clean and safe. This step is super important for a healthy swimming environment.
5. Shock the Pool (If Necessary)
Shocking your pool will require the most of your time, however, you can do this on a weekly or biweekly basis, as needed. If your water has had a lot of use, a shock treatment can help clear out any bacteria. Shocking your pool is best to do at night as sunlight can interfere with the shock.
Monthly Tasks
Monthly tasks may take up more of your time, requiring 2-4 hours depending on pool size and condition, but it’s worth the time to keep your pool in top shape in the long run. These six valuable steps can really help you optimize your pool-time.
1. Replace the Filter
Once again, how often you replace your filter may depend on its type. However, regardless of filter type, it is always important to regularly check if it needs to be replaced to ensure better circulation and prevent clogs.
2. Test and Adjust the Calcium Hardness and Cyanuric Acid (CYA) Levels
Pool chemistry is always important for healthy water, so take the time to check the calcium hardness and CYA levels. Low calcium can risk equipment damage, while high calcium can cause scaling. Cyanuric acid also helps in stabilizing chlorine. So, adjusting these appropriately will help keep your water in pristine conditions.
3. Test Water Salinity (for Saltwater Pools)
If you have a saltwater pool, make sure to check its salt levels as too much or too little can affect your chlorine. Make sure to test it properly and adjust if necessary to keep your pool sanitized at all times.
4. Lubricate Seals and O-Rings
To prevent leaks and damages to your pool system, lubricating seals and O-rings on your equipment helps create a good seal. This will also help increase the lifespan of your pump and filter.
5. Do a Deep Clean
Vacuum your pool, brush the walls and tiles, and clean out your skimmer and pump baskets. While these can also be added to your weekly tasks, doing a good deep clean monthly helps further prevent buildup and give your pool a nice sparkle.
6. Check Storage for First Aid Kits and Pool Chemicals
For an ensured safety at all times, it’s important to keep stock of necessary pool chemicals and first aid kits. Also make sure that chemicals are stored safely away from heat or direct sunlight. This will keep you ready for any possible emergencies.
Seasonal Cleaning Requirements: Adapting to Your Climate
Aside from the routine tasks, there are also tasks that need to be done every year once the climate shifts if you want to keep enjoying your pool. From hot to cold weather, here are the things you should keep in mind.
Spring Opening
When the weather starts to warm up, you might feel it’s high time to open your pool so you can cool down on warm days. Following these necessary steps can have your pool ready for you to enjoy in about 4 to 8 hours.
1. Check and Clean the Pool Deck and Surroundings
Fallen leaves and other natural debris may look pretty in nature, but it’s best to keep them out of your pool. Sweep the area around your pool to ensure that it’s clean and suitable for future enjoyment. Also check for any possible damages to your deck or deck furniture and address them as soon as possible to avoid further issues.
2. Uncover the Pool
Your pool enjoyment starts when you open your pool. Make sure to rinse and clean your pool cover once you take it off and store it safely. This will help you reuse your pool cover for the winter, saving you money and time in the future.
3. Examine the Pool
Now that you have inspected the surroundings of your pool, it’s time to check out the pool itself and the equipment for any possible damages that may have happened in the cold season. Replace or repair these damages as needed, although you can choose to do this by yourself, you can also consult a professional to help you with this.
4. Fill the Pool
The water level should only reach the halfway point of the skimmer opening. Anything higher or lower can affect the function of your pool’s pump. So, be sure to do this precisely. Once it reaches that level, you are free to do the final bits of cleaning up your pool and then you can turn on your pool filter.
5. Test and Adjust the Water
Pool chemistry is the most important part of keeping a safe and sanitized swimming environment. So, check the chemical levels and balance them as needed. Maintaining safe chemical levels reduces the risk of damaged equipment and irritation for you and other possible swimmers.
Fall Closing
When the weather gets cold, it may be time to cover your pool. This will protect your pool for the winter. You can complete this in just 4 to 6 hours through these few streamlined steps.
1. Deep Clean the Pool
A thorough cleaning that involves skimming, vacuuming, and brushing any debris or algae on the walls or surface will do you good in the long run. This will help prevent any possible build up or growth during the off-season.
2. Test and Balance the Chemical Levels
As always, it’s important to get your water chemistry correct. This involves keeping your water’s pH level at 7.2 to 7.8 and alkalinity at 80-120 ppm. You should also check out chlorine levels and calcium hardness. If these chemicals are not at safe levels, adjust them accordingly to avoid future irritation or issues.
3. Shock and Treat your Pool
Use a shock treatment to help with sanitization. After shocking, you may add a quality algaecide to kill off and prevent algae growth and a winterizing chemical treatment. These will help protect your water and surfaces throughout the winter.
4. Lower the Water Level and Remove Pool Accessories
To avoid freeze damage, it’s important to reduce your water level so it sits just below the skimmer lines. Once you have done that, you can remove pool accessories like ladders, skimmer baskets, or toys.
5. Drain and Heat Up the Equipment
Completely empty your pump and filter to avoid freezing and expansion throughout the winter. It’s also important to winterize and heat up your plumbing. Taking these extra steps will help you worry less throughout the winter.
6. Cover the Pool
Once you are sure that everything is cleaned, drained, balanced, and treated, you are now ready to cover up your pool. Make sure that it fits securely so that it stays in place all season long.
Summer Maintenance
When summer hits, your pool also will see increased use, so it may require more attention than your usual maintenance. Keeping up with the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks is important to keep your water clean, clear, and safe. Make sure to do these tasks more often, the more often you use your pool.
1. Skim and Clean the Surfaces
Summer brings in more debris like dirt, bugs, and leaves, so the water can become murky quickly. Frequent cleaning, skimming, and vacuuming will help your water remain clear throughout the summer.
2. Test and Balance Chemicals
With more frequent usage, you may want to test your chemical levels two to three times a week. This includes pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and most especially chlorine levels. Feel free to use a stabilizer to help maintain chlorine levels. Staying on top of this is important to keep swimmers safe.
3. Run your Pump and Filter
It is ideal to run your pump and filter for 8 to 12 hours a day to keep your water circulating and chemicals evenly distributed. Also make sure to regularly backwash or rinse your filter to avoid debris buildup.
How Pool Type Affects Cleaning Frequency
There is no one-size-fits-all schedule on pool maintenance. How often you clean your pool may depend on the kind of pool you have. Let’s break down how cleaning frequency varies depending on your pool type.
Chlorine Pools
Chlorine pools require consistency in your weekly and daily routines. Make sure to test and balance the water once a week. Daily skimming should also become a habit of yours to prevent build up of debris. Shocking your pool every 1-2 weeks will also help you keep your water clean. A regular weekly routine should keep your chlorine pool manageable and enjoyable.
Saltwater Pools
Although saltwater pools may be considered more “low-maintenance” than chlorine pools, keeping them in shape still requires a good weekly routine. It’s important to skim, brush, and test your pH levels regularly. Shocking with a non-chlorine shock can also be done every 1-2 weeks. However, you may only need to check alkalinity and salinity on a monthly basis. A little upkeep goes great lengths with saltwater pools.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Pools
Regular upkeep and weekly to bi-weekly shocking is required for both of these pool types. However, indoor pools tend to need less maintenance in terms of cleaning, skimming, and sweeping as their location protects them from environmental factors. Whereas outdoor pools are more exposed to nature and therefore are more prone to debris like bugs and leaves accumulating, therefore needing more daily attention.
Special Circumstances That Require Additional Cleaning
You may also encounter a few situations where your pool might need more than your usual cleaning, in times like these, it may also be helpful to have a professional cleaning service step in for your convenience.
After Storms
The wind and rain can cause leaves, dirt, and other debris to end up in the water, possibly clogging your filter and disrupting chemical balance. After storms, it’s important to have a deep clean to keep everything running smoothly.
After Heavy Use
Especially in the summer, if your pool is seeing a lot of activity, oil, sweat, sunscreen, and other contaminants may start building up. This can mess up your water chemistry, so you might need more than just regular skimming and scrubbing. A good test, rebalance, and sanitization can help restore everything to proper condition.
Algae Outbreaks
If your water chemistry has been off for a while, your pool may be prone to algae outbreaks. Treating an algae problem often takes more than a simple scrub and shock. In cases like this, it may be best to call a professional to ensure that the problem doesn’t keep coming back.
Making Pool Maintenance More Manageable
We understand that all this talk of cleaning and technicalities may seem daunting, however, pool cleaning doesn’t have to be hard and intimidating. With new technologies and helpful services becoming increasingly available, here are some ways to make pool maintenance easier for you.
Smart Technology and Automation
While often costly, there are now pieces of technology that allow you to stay on top of maintenance in the comfort of your own home. Through smart technology and pool automation, you can control pumps, heaters, lights, and even water features from your devices—there are even systems that allow you to set schedules for maintenance features.
Aside from that, there are even sensors that keep an eye on your chemical levels for you and automatic cleaners that will vacuum, scrub, and skim for you. While often costly, these technologies will help your pool run efficiently and give you more free time.
Professional Services
If you simply do not have the time right now, but don’t want to commit to pool automation just yet, bringing in a professional may be the best option for you. Experts can spot issues very quickly and can easily help you fix the problems your pool may be facing. Because they come in with the right tools and the appropriate knowledge, they get things done quickly and properly.
Many professional services actually offer regular maintenance plans that can help take the load of that routing for you. Giving you one less thing to worry about, and it might even be more cost and time efficient than trying to handle everything by yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I look for in a pool cleaning service?
Look at customer feedback and make sure they are positive. You should also see if the pool cleaning company offers a diverse set of services and provides clear communication on pricing.
2. What’s typically included in a standard pool cleaning visit?
A standard service includes brushing, skimming, vacuuming, filter cleaning and chemical testing and balancing.
3. How much should I expect to pay for professional pool cleaning in San Diego?
Depending on the size and condition of your pool, a standard professional pool cleaning service should cost $100-$200. However, costs may add up according to additional services needed or requested.
4. Can I switch between DIY maintenance and professional service?
Yes! Typically, pool owners can handle simple daily maintenance tasks on their own, but rely on professionals for more complex tasks that involve chemical and equipment handling.
5. How long should a typical pool cleaning visit take?
Around 45 minutes to an hour, however, this may vary according to your pool size and condition.
6. Should I be home when the pool service comes?
Not necessarily. If you have other things to do on the day of your scheduled service, you may opt to be away as long as the service provider is able to access your pool.
7. How do I know if my current pool service is doing a good job?
Good quality service often shows itself in the form of good chemical balance, well-functioning pool equipment, and clean surfaces and water. Another sign to look for is transparent communication coming from your service provider.
8. What should I do if I’m not satisfied with my pool service?
Try addressing it with the company or the service provider first. If your dissatisfaction continues, consider trying different companies with better reviews.
9. Can pool service help reduce my chemical and energy costs?
Yes! An efficiently-running pool minimizes your need for excessive and unnecessary chemical and energy consumption.
10. How do I know if I need more than just basic service?
If you find yourself facing the same issues with your water repeatedly, you may need premium services. This is also applicable for cases of consistent equipment malfunction and any other recurring issues that seem to not go away.
Final Thoughts
While keeping your pool clean relies on the quality of your cleaning, sometimes it’s also about frequency and consistency. Keeping a simple routine can help you with the long term maintenance of your pool. But if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to search for “pool cleaning services near me” or simply contact us.
If you’re struggling to juggle time and pool management, what are you waiting for? Cabana Pools is here to make your swimming environment safe and enjoyable, and your schedule more manageable. The best part is that it doesn’t have to be complex; it only takes 5 minutes to set up a service. Reach out and get valuable services now!
