There’s a reason some homeowners prefer not to have a swimming pool in their backyards—aside from the dangers it poses when little kids are running around. The cost of maintaining the pool is too much of a burden. Also, if you plan to sell your house in the future, not too many potential homebuyers are equally fond of paying extra for a pool.
A swimming pool means getting rid of debris and cleaning the backyard of fallen leaves. It means applying cementitious waterproofing membranes on the concrete surrounding the pool so that the water wouldn’t weaken the structure. It means having a high water bill and buying chlorine and other chemicals to keep that pristine blue color.
Simply said, it’s a lot of work. But if you somehow find yourself living in a property with a swimming pool, why not make use of it for parties and gatherings? It’s there, anyway. Don’t let it collect fallen leaves and other debris. You just need to follow some tips on the budget-friendly, conscientious, and effortless maintenance of swimming pools.
Preventive Maintenance
Like your home and vehicle, preventive maintenance is the key to a long-lasting pool. You will increase the life cycle of the pool if you know how to adjust the water chemistry and if you remove debris from the pool every day. Make it a habit to at least check the water chemistry once to twice a week, depending on how you use the pool.
During summer, check it once to twice a week. In winter, check it once every two weeks or so. The ideal pH chemistry of the pool should be between 7.2 and 7.8. If it’s over 7.6, add muriatic acid. If it’s under 7.4, use a soda ash product. When you control the water’s pH level, you will need to add less chlorine into the water.
Cleaning the Skimmer Weekly
The skimmer’s purpose is to remove the debris and contaminants from the surface of the pool before they go down to the bottom. The skimmer can be found in the side of the pool. Open the cover and remove the basket to remove the debris it has sucked from the pool’s surface. Do this once a week or as often as needed.
Maintain the Right Water Level
Your pool should have the right water level, so the skimmer can do its job of removing debris from the surface. If the water level is too low, the pump will run dry. If it’s too high, the skimmer door won’t work properly. You can check the right water level using the center level of the pool as a guide.
Keep a Trash Can Nearby
If you have a trash can nearby, you or any of your guests won’t feel the need to place a candy wrapper on the table and let the air blow it to your pool. The purpose of having a trash bin nearby is so that you won’t have excuses not to throw your trash properly. When there are fallen leaves along your way, pick them up and throw them in the bin. You lose nothing with these simple cleaning methods.
You’re well aware that everyone, at one point in their lives, dreamed of having a swimming pool in their own backyards. Wouldn’t it be great to invite people to a pool party in summer? So although maintaining it can be quite a challenge, the fun of having one can eclipse the trouble it causes.
