Keep Your Pool in Great Shape with these Maintenance Tips

Pool maintenance takes commitment, but the benefits are worth it. If you maintain your pool, you’ll have a safer, more pleasant backyard environment for spending quality time with your loved ones. In this last installment of our series on pool maintenance (see Part 1 & Part 2), we’ll look at four more tips for keeping your pool looking and feeling its best.

1. Pressure Wash Your Pool Deck Area

At the beginning of your pool season, it’s a great idea to pressure wash your pool deck. If you neglect this step, you’ll begin to notice unsightly stains from rust, leaves, and weathering. Algae buildup on your deck can also pose a slip and fall hazard. Pressure washing can get rid of all that gunk. Your local home improvement store will probably have power washers available for rent. Since you’ll usually only need to perform this task once per season you may want to rent a pressure washer rather than buy one.

First, assemble the power washer. Then, clear off any visible debris lying on your pool deck. The power level you’ll use will depend on the type of deck you have. A concrete deck will be able to withstand a stronger power level than a wood deck. You don’t want to use so much force that you cause damage to the paint deck surface itself, so be sure to keep the nozzle several feet away from the deck at all times while the pressure washer is turned on. Follow manufacturer instructions and use the lowest possible setting on the washer that actually works to get rid of stains on your deck surface. If you’d rather not bother with power washing yourself, hire a pool service to take care of it for you.

2. Prevent Oil Accumulation with Tennis Balls

After a large pool party, you may notice a layer of oil starting to accumulate on the surface of the water in your pool. That oil comes from numerous sources, such as lotion, hairspray, and body oils. It can feel yucky and make your pool water look dirty.

A quick way to get rid of much of that oil is just throwing a few clean tennis balls into your pool. After several hours, you’ll likely be surprised at how much clearer your pool’s water surface appears. That’s because the tennis ball fibers will soak up much of the oil. This trick is cheap, takes no time at all, and works like a charm!

3. Winterize your Pool

If you live in a region where your pool needs to be closed for part of the year due to cooler temperatures, it’s critical to properly prepare it for winter. Taking these steps can help you to avoid unnecessary cost and headaches the following spring when you get ready to reopen your pool.

The steps for winterizing the pool will be slightly different based on where you happen to live. Those in colder areas that could see freezing temperatures will have to take extra precautions to avoid leaving any water in their pool equipment whatsoever. If you leave water in your pipes or filters and it freezes, your equipment could crack and need to be repaired or replaced.

You can add chemicals that are designed to fight algae growth during the winter months. Make sure to secure a tight-fitting cover over your pool for the winter. Check with your local pool installation and supply specialists to see if they have any additional tips that would specifically apply to pool winterizing in your area of the country.

4. Make Sure to Give your Pool a Yearly Professional Checkup

Just like you go to the doctor’s office for periodic checkups and get your car regular tune-ups, it makes sense to have your pool checked by a professional on a yearly basis. There may be a problem with your pool or pool equipment that hasn’t gotten serious enough to attract your attention yet. Rather than wait until that minor issue turns into a major disaster, your local pool specialist can alert you to the problem so you can address it before it gets out of hand.

When your pool technician comes by, let them know about anything you’ve noticed that may point to a problem, such as unusual odors, noises, or appearances in or around the pool. Just like when you go in for a doctor visit, detailing symptoms can lead to a more accurate diagnosis. Keep these appointments scheduled regularly even if you don’t notice anything wrong as not every potential problem will cause noticeable changes to your pool.

A well-maintained pool takes some effort, but you can be proud of the results. Hopefully, this series of articles has given you some direction when it comes to keeping your pool in optimal condition.

Lyon Financial

Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.