From family barbecues to lazy afternoons, your swimming pool can add a dose of fun and relaxation to your summers.
For many, however, the time spent cleaning your pool and tending to maintenance outweighs the benefits.
“We at Fibre Tech understand the hassle, which is why we want to provide some ways to get the most out of your efforts.” -Scott Morris, President of Fibre Tech Inc.
From standard cleaning tools to the latest technology, we’ve put together the most efficient methods for cleaning your pool.
Pool Skimming
As a pool owner you probably already know how helpful pool skimming can be. However, you can’t underestimate the impact skimming every few days can have on the health of your pool. This prevents bugs, leaves and other debris from building up in your filter. Skimming increases the efficiency of your pool’s circulation, thus reducing the need to continuously add chlorine. Also remember to clean the strainer basket at least once a week.
Vacuuming and Surface Cleaning
Again, you should already know that vacuuming is essential to cleaning your pool. According to Kreepy Krauly, vacuuming should be done at least once a week. For efficient cleaning, your vacuuming method should follow a straight-line grid, like mowing a lawn. Incorporating a slight overlap helps ensure no surface area is missed. It’s important to check the vacuum’s filter before every use.
If your vacuum is anything like mine, it tends to favor certain areas over others and leave some spots neglected. In order to spot treat these dirty areas, you can purchase a manual vacuum head for as low as $30 off Amazon that will attach to your skimmer pole and can be led around to those missed areas.
Walls should also be scrubbed once a week with a brush appropriate for your pool’s surface material. Soft brushes are recommended for fiberglass or vinyl walls, while stiff brushes are best for plaster-lined concrete walls. Lowe’s suggests cleaning should be done one a regular basis. Incorporating a short pool scrub can help reduce the daunting feeling associated with pool maintenance.
Like skimming, benefits of vacuuming and wall scrubbing include less required chemical use and lower risk of algae growth.
Robotic Cleaners
While robotic cleaners have been around for a while, they can often lead to issues like tangled wires, and sometimes are to blame for insufficient cleaning. Today’s models are more sophisticated and can be a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for hands-off cleaning. Sensors can detect algae or other surface buildups and then drive itself to that location for cleaning.
Some models, such as the Dolphin Premier have HyperGrip tracks that allow for mobility on pool walls in addition to the floor. Others, like the Polaris 9550 Sport, have seven-day programmable timers so you can plan out future cleaning cycles. With the options available, a little research is all you’ll need to do to find a model that’s best for you.
Overall, the key to efficient pool maintenance is taking the small steps necessary to maintain a clean, healthy pool. Not only is this efficient with respect to your own labor, it also lowers the risk of needing increased rounds of shock treatments. You might not always see the benefits: blue water might stay as blue water for the entire season. Of course, it’s always better to act with a preventative bent when it comes to keeping your pool clean, so you can enjoy a problem-free swimming season.
Scott Morris 2/24/2020