Summer is here! You can feel it in the humidity! You can see it in the heat waves that roll off the driveway. You can smell it with the allergies in the air. Ah, summertime! And one of our favorite summer pastimes is swimming in our backyard. Here are some easy do-it-yourself tips to prepare your water haven!
1. Remove the Pool Cover You should first clear the cover of leaves and debris that might have collected over that pass couple of months. If the cover has water on the top, drain this off. Do not feed it back into the pool as this could alter the pool water balance drastically.
2. Fill the Pool The water level should be up to the middle of the skimmer opening.
3. Physical Cleaning Remove leaves, sticks and debris with the leaf net. Check that your filtration system is working and be sure you have a functional vacuum system – or a pool puppy. These handy tools can vacuum the average pool in 30 minutes or less. This includes removing algae from the floor and walls. Be sure not to forget to clean the puppy’s filter as well.
4. Test your Water Take a sample of your water to your local pool supply store for a complete analysis. The water should be taken 18” down and away from the filters or returns. Use a clean plastic water sample bottle available at you dealer and not a “pickle jar,” even if you think it is as clean as it can be.
5. Test PH Balance Some pool owners have purchased more sophisticated test kits or test strips which can test for alkalinity, stabilizer, hardness, as well as pH and Chlorine. Otherwise, take a water sample to your pool supply company and adjust your pool water chemically. The helpful people at your pool supply store will be quite helpful in telling you how to best balance your pool water.
6. Double Check Once your shock treatment is complete and your pump is operating correctly, make sure your water level is where it should be, and add the necessary amounts of chlorine for maintaining clean water. Be sure your pool vacuum runs everyday – most can be set on a timer – and be sure you clean the filter everyday as well – just not when the vacuum is running. I hope these easy tips help you out as we get ready for another Texas-hot summer! Enjoy!