Even though you don’t have to winterize your pool in Florida, there’s still a lot of necessary pool maintenance in Bonita Springs to perform. Nobody enjoys the maintenance involved, but it will keep less than glamorous conditions at bay, like green water and algae buildup.
Not to mention, when you do the required upkeep, it will ensure that you can enjoy your pool all year. The following tips for maintaining your pool are fundamental but effective.
Check Water Quality
Make sure to test the water quality often and add the necessary chemicals to keep chlorine levels consistent. If you don’t always maintain the correct chemical balance, your pool may develop harmful bacteria, and make swimming conditions undesirable and even dangerous.
There are six chemical levels to pay close attention to during pool maintenance in Bonita Springs. These are:
- Cyanuric acid
- Free chlorine
- Acidity/alkalinity (aka, pH level)
- Total alkalinity
- Calcium hardness
Don’t forget that it’s extremely important that your pH stays between 7.4 and 7.6, otherwise it can lead to calcium buildup and other issues.
So, how frequently should you check your water quality?
At least once a week.
Clean the Filter
Your pool’s filter is an essential component, as it removes impurities from the water. This is one form of pool maintenance in Bonita Springs that you don’t want to skip.
You can do this by turning off the filter and removing the filter cap. Lift the filter basket, remove debris and replace each mechanism.
You should do this every few months and directly after a heavy storm. Heavy storms are notorious for dirtying your filter.
Check the Water Level
Make sure to consistently check your water level. You don’t want levels to be too high or too low. If it’s high, it can prevent the skimmer door from working less effectively. The skimmer helps keep your pool free of debris, so make sure levels aren’t high.
However, if water levels are too low, it can cause problems in the pump – it can run dry or burn up. It’s recommended to check it shortly after a storm and after you or friends and family members have been in the pool, as this can increase or decrease levels.
Even outside of these conditions, you should check it on occasion.
Skimming and Scrubbing
Responsible pool maintenance in Bonita Springs includes a lot of skimming and scrubbing. Skimming is the act of removing debris off the surface of your pool, like leaves, branches, and dead bugs.
To keep your pool in good condition and attractive, skimming should be performed daily. Scrubbing requires a little more elbow grease.
Take a brush and scrub down the side of your pool, keeping a lookout for algae growth to prevent buildup. Scrubbing should be performed every other week to ensure your pool looks nice.
Shock Your pool
If your pool has seen a good deal of activity, you may need to shock it. If this is the first time you have heard the term, don’t be alarmed.
his simply involves raising your chlorine levels significantly. It’s highly recommended when your pool is cloudy and murky because this is caused by bacteria. Raising the chlorine levels for a short period will effectively kill bacteria but should only be done every other week – unless you throw a lot of pool parties, then it should be done more regularly.
Remove Oils
Before going into the pool, it’s likely you will be wearing sunblock, gel, hair lotion and other products and chemicals to pollute the pool with oil. A simple trick to remove oil is to throw a tennis ball into the water for effective absorption.
Don’t worry about continuously removing it and throwing it back into the water after use – you can leave it in there the whole time.
Get it Professionally Serviced
In addition to DIY pool maintenance in Bonita Springs, you should contact a professional pool cleaning company like SWFL Pool Solutions at least once a year. Make a thorough list of any problems you notice, such as pipe leaks, loud sounds, or strange smells.
Even if you don’t see problems, it’s advised to contact a professional in case they spot a problem you missed.
Little problems always turn into costly repairs when left untreated.
Contact SWFL Pool Solutions Today
If you’re in need of a reliable team of professionals, contact SWFL Pool Solutions regarding our pool service in Bonita Springs.