Maintaining a pool can be challenging for homeowners, especially if they are new to pool ownership. Neglecting certain aspects of pool maintenance can lead to costly repairs, decreased equipment longevity, and reduced pool performance. This article outlines common pool maintenance mistakes according to experts in the field, including incorrect usage of chemicals and skipping cleaning tasks. Avoiding these mistakes will help keep your pool in top condition for years to come.
Here are the common pool maintenance mistakes and tips on how to avoid them:
- Putting chlorine chemicals in the skimmer basket.
Avoid putting chlorine chemicals in the skimmer basket, which can release elevated levels of chemicals into the pool equipment and shorten its life expectancy primarily the pool heaters, and heat exchangers. Instead, use a floating chlorine tablet dispenser for smaller pools or install an off-line chlorine feeder for larger pools. – Olympic Pool Services
- Manually vacuuming the pool without turning off the pool heater first.
When manually vacuuming a pool, you restrict the flow of water through the equipment system, from debris you collect, and this can cause the water to turn into steam in the heater and blow sensors. To avoid costly repairs and downtime in swimming, always turn off the pool heater and let the pump system run for a few minutes to cool down before manually vacuuming the pool. – Olympic Pool Services
- Adding chemicals to the pool without testing water chemistry.
Avoid adding pool chemicals without testing the water chemistry, which can increase the total dissolved solids and create an unbalanced pool. Pool owners should check their water chemistry at least once a week. This is the basic maintenance that is required to keep your pool in good working order. Keep in mind that clear pool water does not necessarily indicate a properly balanced pool. – Olympic Pool Services
- Lack of understanding nuances of pool chemistry and how different water paraments affect each other.
Most maintenance issues from pool owners arise from not understanding the importance of the use of proper pool chemicals and filtering of water. Chemical levels and cleanliness of the pool should be maintained based on pool usage. Water chemical balance should be checked and maintained regularly. There are guidelines on how, when and where to add chemicals to the pool. – Action Home Services
- Neglecting the landscaping around the pool.
Landscaping around the pool should be carefully considered and routinely maintained – from the interlocking stone the homeowners chose to the trees that are going to be planted around the backyard or pool area. Maintaining the landscaping around the pool is very important to avoid slip and fall accidents and make the pool cleaner. – Action Home Services
- Shocking the pool during the day instead of at night.
One of the most common pool maintenance mistakes is shocking the pool during the daytime instead of at night. UV rays from direct sunlight significantly reduce free chlorine levels in the water. If you shock the pool during daylight, you’re throwing money down the drain. – Platinum Pools
- Improperly shocking your pool.
To ensure your pool remains clean and free of harmful bacteria, it’s crucial to conduct shock treatments on a weekly basis. Skipping this ritual is not recommended. By shocking your pool, you’re adding enough chlorine (or other chemicals) to clean the water and destroy the buildup of chloramines. The sun will burn off chlorine each hour so never shock in the morning. Instead, in the afternoon, pre-dissolve shock in a bucket of water and add it to your pool so it can sanitize while you sleep. This will also protect the plaster finish on your pool walls and floors. – Trasolini Pools
- Forgetting to brush the hard-to-reach areas of your pool.
Make sure to schedule some time for brushing. Vacuuming your pool to keep debris at bay is important, but keeping your pool in pristine condition requires some elbow grease and a pool brush. Brushing the hard-to-reach areas such as behind ladders, steps or stairs, corners and crevasses will keep algae and bugs away from the water, and consequently, off of your skin. Ensure your pool is swim-ready by brushing before vacuuming so that the debris that falls is caught by the vacuum. – Trasolini Pools
- Vacuuming the pool with a vacuum hose attached straight to the suction port at the bottom of the skimmer.
Another common mistake is vacuuming the pool with the vacuum hose attached directly to the suction port at the bottom of the skimmer. This can lead to blockages by sucking big pieces of debris straight into pool plumbing. Instead, the pool owner should use a leaf strap or skimmer basket with a vacuum plate attached. – PEOPLE for POOLS
- Neglecting cleaning and maintenance of filters, skimmers, pool floor and walls.
Ignoring the maintenance of filters and skimmers can lead to a buildup of dirt, debris, and other contaminants, decreasing the clarity and hygiene of the pool water. Neglecting to regularly vacuum the pool floor and clean the walls can also result in algae growth, discoloration, and unhygienic conditions. It is imperative to maintain regular cleaning and upkeep of these essential pool components to preserve the health and cleanliness of the pool. – Land-Con
- Adding shock directly to a pool with a vinyl liner.
Pool shock is a chlorine product in a very high concentration. Adding shock directly to a pool with a vinyl liner can bleaching or fading to occur to the vinyl liner. Shock should always be diluted in a pale of water before being added to the pool to prevent bleaching the pool liner. – Hipel Land & Pool Inc.