Whether you’ve just bought a new home and it came with a pool, or you’ve finally pulled the trigger on getting a pool in the back, here are a few tidbits of helpful information to make sure you protect your investment (and get the most enjoyment from it).

Check Your Chlorine Levels at Least Once Per Week

Chlorine is your pool’s frontline defense against potentially harmful microbial pathogens, but chlorine levels drop as it works to oxidize and eradicate germs.

Worse, chlorine is highly evanescent and evaporates from water pretty quickly. This will happen faster in hot, dry, air, especially in direct sunlight.

In any case, your pool’s chlorine concentration should be between 1 to 3 PPM. Check this at least once per week and add more chlorine or adjust your chlorinator if it isn’t keeping up.

Run the Pump Regularly

Your pool’s pump is like its heart, and during the season, you should run your pump for somewhere between 8 and 10 hours per day.

This is because the pool pump is responsible for circulating the pool’s water. Doing so ensures even sanitizer distribution and helps prevent the water from becoming imbalanced.

In fact, failing to run your pump even for a little while (or allowing the schedule to lapse) can quickly allow pathogens to multiply, and it increases the risk of algae growth.

Clean the Filter Regularly

In addition to helping keep the pool’s water balance and helping to prevent the growth of algae, your pool’s pump also performs the service of mechanically removing contaminants from the water by passing it over the filter.

Of course, a filter is only as good as the person that maintains it, and very dirty water can muck up a filter rather quickly.

This is a twofold issue, because on the one hand an occluded filter will no longer effectively remove debris and contaminants, and on the other, it will make the pump work harder, which can cause premature breakdown.

Keep the Pool Clean

Your pool’s pump and filter will do the lion’s share of keeping the pool clean but they can’t carry the torch entirely on their own.

Periodically, they’ll need a little more active help from you. Consider getting a pool cleaner such as a pump cleaner or a pool vacuum that will supplement the pump and filter and keep the water cleaner.

There are both robotic and manual pool cleaners that you can use, depending on how automated you want the process to be. And don’t forget your first manual option - the pool skimmer.

Don’t Let the Water Get Too Low

Depending on where you are in the country and what your weather’s like, you might be at a higher risk of the pool level getting too high, but as a general rule it’s more of a concern if it gets low.

Naturally, evaporation and dry spells can cause your pool’s level to drop. This is not that big of a deal for the most part, but if it drops drastically, you’ll be putting a strain on your pool pump, which will then not be as able to circulate the water and keep the pool clean.

The other thing is letting the water get too low can throw off the balance of your sanitizer and other chemicals, so be aware of that and diligently monitor the water and chemical levels.

Don’t Have Your Dream Pool Yet? Find a Swimming Pool Company in Houston, TX That Can Help

Just in case you’re reading this and you don’t have your dream pool yet, and you’re in the Houston area, get in touch with a swimming pool company in Houston, TX, like Ocean Blue Pools. They have plenty of experience, leverage advanced tools for design, and can help you bring not only your ideal custom pool, but entire backyard to life, including the patio, landscaping, and more. Visit their website for more information or get in touch with them directly.

For more information about Pools With Rock Waterfalls and Houston Texas Pool Builders Please visit: Ocean Blue Pools, Inc.