Pool maintenance can feel overwhelming for new owners.
Swimming pool maintenance can feel like a mystery to first-time pool owners. You may know it involves long blue poles with nets and chemicals, but what do those tasks actually entail?
Aloha Pools and Spas is here to put your mind at ease. With experienced water chemistry specialists at every store, we’ve offered free water testing and guided customers through their pool’s basic and type-specific needs since our first store opened in 1990.
In this article, we’ll break down maintenance for above-ground, semi-inground, and inground pools so you can prepare for your backyard getaway!
Quick answer: How much maintenance does a pool need?
No pool is completely maintenance-free, but maintenance is manageable when expectations are set.
Most pool owners spend about an hour per week on routine tasks like adding chemicals, cleaning skimmers, and brushing walls. On top of that, there is occasional deeper maintenance, like backwashing the filter, opening and closing the pool for the season, and addressing issues like algae or cloudy water.
The exact amount of weekly work depends on:
- Pool type
- Pool size
- Your backyard environment
- Your equipment
- Whether you use tools like a robotic cleaner, salt system, or automatic cover
What does pool maintenance include?
New owners often feel intimidated by the chemicals at first. This is normal, since most of us haven’t thought about chemical balances since high school chemistry class.
The good news is you don’t have to do it blindly, and it is not as complicated as it initially seems.
Here are the main areas of pool maintenance to watch for.
Pool chemical maintenance
To keep your pool clear and healthy, you’ll need to test your water regularly and maintain the right chemical balance:
pH and Alkalinity
These are the two most important numbers to keep in check. Balancing pH and alkalinity keeps water safe for swimmers, prevents damage to pool equipment, and helps chlorine clean effectively.
Chlorine or Sanitizer
Chlorine or sanitizer keeps your pool clean. It comes in powder, tablet, or salt form (for pools with a salt system).
You should also shock your pool each week. Shock is a highly concentrated dose of chlorine that destroys chloramines, or used-up chlorine that has bound to contaminants. You can also use an oxidizer, which helps break down contaminants without chlorine.
Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid)
Think of this as your pool’s “sunscreen for the chlorine,” because it protects chlorine from UV light.
Too much, however, can reduce chlorine’s sanitizing ability, known as chlorine lock. This can only be fixed by diluting with water. That means partially draining the pool water to no more than 6 inches below the skimmer, then refilling; repeat if needed.
Preventing algae and cloudy water
The best way to prevent algae and cloudy water is to keep your pH and alkalinity balanced and your sanitizer level within range by testing your water at least once a week. Brush the pool walls and floor weekly, or let your robotic cleaner do the job for you.
Some facts about algae:
- Algae problems follow seasonal trends. If you see stubborn algae in your pool, you’re likely one of many customers experiencing it that season.
- Mustard algae, a common algae every few years, is often mistaken for sand in the filter. It poofs into a cloud when brushed and roots into the liner if not brushed regularly. It’s treated with a zinc-based product and lots of shock.
- Black algae is hard to kill once it “roots” into pool surfaces. It’s chlorine-resistant and has deep, root-like structures that form on porous pool surfaces such as gunite. The pool typically needs to be drained, and those areas scrubbed with a metal brush. Keeping your water balanced and using a weekly dose of algaecide can help prevent algae from entering the pool.
Adjusting water after bad weather
Rain can introduce bacteria, and even distant hurricanes and dust storms can affect your pool water chemistry. Test your water after storms to replenish whatever’s been lost.
Remember: when testing, make sure to get a water sample elbow-deep away from any return jet; do not skim off the top.
Avoiding cheap or weak pool chemicals
Less expensive products often have a lower active-ingredient percentage. That means you end up using more product, often spending the same amount – or more – than you would on higher-strength chemicals. Low-quality algaecide can also result from this, which is why we encourage customers to buy chemicals from a pool store rather than a chain grocery store or Amazon; they are usually less concentrated and can add things to your water that interfere with your work.
Debris removal and skimming
Cleaning and debris removal depend heavily on your backyard. If you have a lot of nature or trees, expect this to be a larger part of your weekly routine. Remember those long, blue poles we mentioned earlier? At the end of these are sometimes nets, used to skim the pool surface and collect leaves, bugs, and other debris.
Emptying skimmer and pump baskets
This part can get somewhat gross (!) but it’s an essential step in maintaining pool cleanliness
Pool skimmers continuously draw the top layer of water through their openings, small squares at the waterline of your swimming pool, serving as the first line of defense against debris that would otherwise clog the pool’s filter.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for small animals, like mice, birds, and even snakes, to get stuck in there. If a critter enters the water, the skimmer’s suction often pulls it in, keeping it from leaving.
Anything the skimmer misses will go to the pool pump basket, which also needs to be cleaned weekly or so- more after storms. Skipping this can restrict water flow and potentially cause your pump motor to overheat.
Brushing walls, steps, and the waterline
Brushing your pool is critical for algae control.
It prevents algae spores from forming, lifts dirt and sunscreen residue off the walls, and pushes your chlorine into areas of the pool with less-than-ideal water flow.
Does maintenance differ for above-ground, semi-inground, and inground pools?
Yes, but maybe not as much as you’d think.
All three pool types require the same core categories of maintenance: water chemistry, debris removal, circulation, and seasonal care. The biggest differences usually lie in how much water you’re maintaining, how easily the water balance can be thrown off, and which equipment options are available to make maintenance easier.
Above-ground pools differ most in maintenance. They require fewer chemicals because they’re smaller. However, this also makes it easier for the levels of an above-ground pool to be thrown off. A simple rainstorm or a super hot summer day can quickly shift your pool’s balance. They also have one key limitation: above-ground pools are not compatible with salt systems, but inground and semi-inground pools are.
Finding a routine will make pool maintenance simple, quick, and efficient!
While pool upkeep may seem like an impossible lift, it becomes manageable with routine and getting your reps in.
To hear more about the labor aspect of maintenance, check out this article here.
If you have questions about pool maintenance or are wondering if a pool is right for you, Aloha is here to help! Visit us at any of our five locations, give us a call, or speak with a sales representative if you’re just now considering the plunge.
Come on in- the water’s fine!
