Many swimming pool owners find it is easier and less labor intensive to hire a pool service contractor than to do all the work themselves. It may even be less expensive to work with an Atlanta swimming pool service contractor from The Pool Butler. Your pool service technician can provide pool service and maintenance duties to keep the water clean, clear, and bacteria-free. They will also make certain your pool equipment is in good operating condition. Hiring a swimming pool service contractor is an ideal decision for many pool owners. However, there will still be the need for the pool owner to undertake some maintenance. Here are some springtime tips for swimming pool maintenance tasks between service visits.

Checking Water Balance Between Service Visits

It’s always a good idea to check the water balance between service visits. This could be a simple strip test to check for free chlorine, pH, and alkalinity. If the water balance seems to be out of line, contact The Pool Butler. They can pay an additional service visit to help get your water back in balance. You can also ask your technician what you should do to get your pool water back in balance.

Maintaining the chemical balance in the water may not be extremely difficult, but it is a delicate balancing act. It is crucial that the pool has enough sanitizer to prevent algae from growing. The alkalinity, calcium hardness, and pH also need to be kept in balance. If the chemicals are in balance, the testing and checking should take less than 30 minutes. If they are not in balance, you can add chlorine, pH riser, or pH decreaser as necessary. And of course, you can always rely on your Pool Butler swimming pool technician for guidance and assistance.

Pool Filter & Skimmer Basket

Check the pool filter and skimmer basket between service visits to assure it’s free of debris. A clear skimmer basket allows your pool water to circulate freely. As we’ve highlighted in other posts, maintaining your pool’s circulatory system is vital to its health. Water must be able to freely flow from your pool to your pump and back into the pool to keep the water clean. If any part of the system is blocked, your pool water will suffer. A clogged skimmer basket is a common impediment to proper circulation.

Depending on the amount of dirt, debris, and leaves that fall into your pool, your filter will also need to be cleaned at least once a month. However, if your pool is free of debris and you use a cover whenever you aren’t swimming, you could go as long as a year. Your Pool Butler technician can help you determine when to change the filter.

Drops In Water Level

A slight decrease in the pool’s water level is normal. However, make a note of any significant drops in water levels. A substantial drop in water level in a short time could be a sign of serious problems.

A pool cover is a great way to save time and money. Using a pool cover will cut back on the amount of water lost to evaporation. So you will spend less money refilling your pool. A cover will also keep the pool water warmer, saving you on heating costs. Finally, a pool cover is an easy way to cut down on cleaning time. The cover will keep out most large debris, saving you time and labor skimming and vacuuming.

Overfilling the swimming pool is never a good idea. You can throw the chemicals out of balance if you overfill the pool. It will make all of the pool equipment work harder. But don’t ignore dropping water levels. If the pool water levels appear to be dipping quickly, you may have a leak.

If you think you have a leak, check for wet spots around the pool. Sometimes water that leaks from an underground pipe can cause a wet spot in the ground. If you find a wet spot, give The Pool Butler a call. If you don’t see any external signs of a leak, you should still let us know about the water level drop. We will check for leaks or other problems on our next visit.

Filter Run Times

Check your filter run times. Residential pools filters should run between six and eight hours a day, but ask us to be certain. If your filter is too small for your pool, you may have to run your filter longer. You will also have to run the filter longer if your pool is unusually dirty. After a period of heavy use—for example, a large pool party—it is a good idea to run the filter for a few hours extra. Your filter is your second line of defense against algae and bacteria, right after the chlorine.

If the free chlorine level in your pool is between 1 ppm and 4 ppm and the water still seems cloudy, it could be your filter. Try increasing your filter run time to see if the water gets clearer. You may also want to check your filter to see if it needs cleaning. And if you haven’t backwashed your filter in a while, check its pressure gauge. If the pressure is 8-10 psi over its base pressure (the pressure after a cleaning), it is time to backwash.

What you need to do between service visit could vary so make sure you contact The Pool Butler for more information or give us a call at 770-439-2644, and we’ll be happy to assist you.