As the owner of a swimming pool, you’re absolutely no stranger to the work that is needed to maintain a clean pool that you and your family enjoy using. The constant cleaning and monitoring alone is hours and hours of work. And then you have to close your pool every winter and open it up again every summer. But of course, this is all worth it when you consider the freedom of being able to swim whenever you like, and to dip into nice, cool water at will on the most unbearably hot days.
But sometimes mistakes are made, and they can make that pool feel not quite as worthwhile. Here are some of the most common mistakes made when opening and maintaining a pool in the summer.
WHEN PERFORMING YOUR POOL OPENING
Proper summer pool care begins as soon as you perform your annual pool opening, and according to Ottawa pool services this is the first chance to avoid common some mistakes. It all starts with removing your pool cover. The cover is going to inevitably be covered with debris and rainwater. Sweep away as much debris, and pump out as much water, as you possibly can before removing the cover. Once this is done, be careful not to let any of the remaining dirt or water into the pool. Hang dry the cover before storing it away for the summer to guard against mildew.
Now that it’s uncovered, give it some time before using chlorine, especially if there’s significant algae growth. Algaecide may not have any effect in chlorinated water, and even without algae, most Ottawa pool services recommend letting the water circulate before shocking it.
REGULAR POOL MAINTENANCE
Now that your pool opening has been completed, it’s time to keep it in great shape for the summer. Even if you have a maintenance routine in place, a few reminders can’t hurt.
Remain vigilant in your monitoring of water levels and chemical balances. It’s easy to assume you can let it slide by doing this less often than recommended, but really, the best thing you can do is check your levels as frequently as possible.
It’s also easy to see a small problem, like minor cracks and other damages, as something that can be delayed. But by keeping up with repairs, no matter how small, is the best and only way to stop a small problem from turning into a big problem. By neglecting a small problem now, you may end up paying an arm and a leg to fix it down the line.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can spend less time maintaining your pool, and more time enjoying it. And if you ever need help, there are many Ottawa pool services available to help you!
