9 Pool Maintenance Hacks

As the weather starts to warm up, swimming season is finally just around the corner. While the late spring and summer months bring opportunities for relaxing days spent by the pool, they also mean a longer list of pool maintenance tasks. To help alleviate stress and ensure that you have more time to enjoy your pool, we’ve compiled the following list of nine pool maintenance hacks:

  1. Stay on top of skimming. Invest in a quality skimmer net and skim the surface of your pool daily. Removing leaves, insects, and other debris not only keeps your pool looking pristine, but can also help prevent clogged filters and pumps.
  2. Toss in some tennis balls. While the idea of throwing tennis balls into your pool may seem strange, the wool and nylon that coat them are excellent at absorbing oils from sunscreen and lotions, which will help to keep your pool water clean and clear.
  3. Use pantyhose as a skimmer filter. Speaking of nylon, another unconventional pool maintenance hack is to attach an old pair of pantyhose to your skimmer. The super-fine netting will collect smaller debris, such as hair and dirt, that your skimmer might otherwise miss.
  4. Shock treatment. Giving your pool a shock treatment on a weekly or biweekly basis during the summer months will help kill bacteria and algae, thereby keeping the water clear and sanitary for swimming.
  5. Cover up. Invest in a quality pool cover to keep debris out of the water when the pool is not in use. Not only will this reduce the amount of skimming and cleaning you’ll have to do, but it will also help to retain heat and prevent water evaporation, saving you money on heating and water bills. Automatic pool covers are a particularly great option as they avoid the need to wrestle with a heavy cover every time you want to cover or uncover your pool!
  6. Embrace smart technology. From phones to cars and beyond, “smart” technology has worked its way into many aspects of our daily lives. When it comes to your swimming pool, smart technology can help you maintain a consistent state of cleanliness and comfort—with less effort. For instance, at Aqua Pool & Patio, we recommend in-floor self-cleaning systems from Paramount, which will keep your pool clean at all times while improving circulation and the distribution of heat and chemicals.
  7. Maintain proper pH. While this is one of the most basic pool maintenance tasks, unchecked pH can quickly lead to an unhealthy swimming environment and can even corrode pool equipment. Therefore, regularly test the water to ensure that pH levels remain between 7.2 and 7.6. At Aqua Pool’s East Windsor, CT location, we are pleased to offer free water testing for area residents—just bring in a sample of your pool water and we’ll issue a full report on its composition using our sophisticated computerized water testing system!
  8. Optimize pump runtime. Running your pool pump around the clock can be costly. Instead, find the optimal runtime for your pump based on factors such as pool size, usage, and weather conditions. A programmable timer can help automate this process.
  9. Seek professional assistance. For many homeowners, one of the best ways to ensure a clean, well-maintained pool is to outsource some tasks to a pool maintenance professional. At Aqua Pool & Patio, we offer fully customizable maintenance services to suit your needs, whether you’d prefer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly cleanings or you just need help with pool openings and closings. All of our maintenance professionals are APSP trained and licensed by the state of Connecticut.

Visit our maintenance page to learn more, or call us today at (860) 623-9886!