Owning a pool means that you get to enjoy a backyard oasis. But, being a pool owner also involves taking care of it! Maintaining a pool isn’t difficult, but there are some steps you need to take to keep things in working order.

The best tips for maintaining a pool to use now.

As a pool owner, you know how much fun it is to have a swimming pool right in your backyard. You can use it to cool off on those hot summer days. You can exercise in it if you don’t feel like going to the gym. And, perhaps best of all, you get to throw pool parties to hang out with your friends and family.

You already know how to enjoy your pool, but do you know how to maintain it? While pool maintenance does require a bit of work, all good pool owners know that it’s totally worth it. Small things like making sure that it’s clean are a must, and you also want to make sure that it’s safe to swim in! We’ve broken down the tips below into daily, weekly, and monthly practices to help keep you on track.

Daily Tasks for Maintaining a Pool

To keep your pool in tip-top shape, make these daily tasks a part of your routine. No matter what time of pool you have, be it chlorine or saltwater, you need to skim it for fallen debris such as leaves and twigs daily.

Check your filter and pump for any debris as well, and remove it immediately. It’s a good idea to empty your pump basket every day too.

Weekly Pool Maintenance Tips

Your swimming pool’s filters do much to make sure that it runs properly. They require a bit of upkeep that you’re going to want to do weekly. Start by turning off the filter, then empty out any debris build-up from the basket.

You can use a scrub brush to scrub any unwanted algae buildup. You may also consider investing in a pool vacuum that will make cleaning the bottom and sides of your pool even easier. You don’t have to scrub your pool every week, but once every other is a good idea.

Check your pool’s chemical levels at least once a week as well. You can buy testing kits at a pool supply store. If you don’t, you run the risk of having dirty water that’s filled with bacteria. You should keep an eye on six types of chemical levels for a chlorine pool:

• Free Chlorine: A sanitizer that kills germs and other yucky stuff
• Cyanuric Acid: Helps to protect the chlorine in your pool from sunlight. This also determines the free chlorine levels. Ideally, it should be between 30-50 ppm
• pH Levels: The acidity (or pH) in your pool should be between 7.5 and 7.8 ppm to prevent skin and eye irritation
• Total Alkalinity: This helps to keep the pH levels in balance and should be between 60-120 ppm
• Calcium: To prevent plaster damage on the sides of your pool. It should read between 220-350 ppm. You can get away with lower levels if your pool has vinyl siding.

Monthly To-Dos for Maintaining a Swimming Pool

You haven’t finished with your filter just yet. Once a month, clean out the filter’s pipe by setting your filter to “backwash.” Remove the basket and clean it out, then turn your pool pump on and let it run until any built-up debris gets washed out. You’ll know it’s finished when the waste pipe spits out clear water.

Check your swimming pool’s water levels monthly as well. One too many rainstorms — or one too many cannonballs — can cause the water to fluctuate. You can simply use water from your garden hose if the levels are too low, and if they’re too high you can drain the excess water with a pump.

More Maintenance Tips for Your Pool

There are some other things you want to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining a swimming pool:

• If your pool turns murky after a big party, you can shock it to clean it. Shocking your pool means raising the chlorine levels significantly in order to kill germs and bacteria. You don’t want to shock your pool too often, but you should aim to do it once or twice every season.
• It’s important to know how to winterize your pool if you don’t plan on using it in the colder months. Before you close up shop, make sure that the chemical levels are in good shape. Remove any excess water from the plumbing lines and invest in a quality winter pool cover too.

When you practice the daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance as mentioned above, your pool will be in great shape!