Outdoor Pool Maintenance

A well-maintained pool will prevent bacteria growth and keep the water clear and sparkling. There are several tasks you should do on a regular basis, including testing the water, cleaning equipment and adding chemicals. Regular care will also prevent costly repairs and provide years of enjoyment.

Opening Your Pool

Correctly opening your pool for the season is the first, and necessary, step to maintaining clean, healthy water. Use shock treatment to sanitize the water and immediately raise the chlorine level. The usual dose is one bag per 10,000 gallons of water. Then, add a strong algaecide to eliminate and control algae.

Daily Maintenance

Chlorine kills harmful contaminants and keeps your pool sanitized. Use slow dissolving 3-inch chlorine tablets in a floating feeder or automatic feeder connected to your filter. An automatic feeder is better because you can add precise amounts of chlorine to the pool without without checking daily. You can use granular chlorine, but you will need to mix it with water in a bucket and add it daily.
You should test your water's pH at least twice a week. A pH test measures the acidity or alkalinity of pool water. Unbalanced pH and alkalinity will affect water clarity and chemistry and could damage pool equipment, particularly your filter. A pH of 7.2 is perfect. A lower pH means your water is acidic. A higher pH means higher alkalinity. You can raise the pH with pH-Up tablets, or lower the ph with pH-Down tablets. If your water is pH low, use baking soda to raise the pH. It's much cheaper and works the same as the tablets.
Check the water chemistry at least twice a week, using test strips.

Other Tips

Add shock every week or two to keep the water pristine. Shock kills not only bacteria, but also dead chlorine compounds. Add algaecide once a week to prevent algae growth. Add a heavy metal remover and a clarifier once a week. They remove harmful metals and other particles too small to be captured by the filter.
Use your skimmer to remove leaves and other objects from the pool surface and vacuum your pool at least once a week. Clear your skimmer basket to keep the water circulating to the filter. Removing debris early and often keeps your pool clean and protects the equipment.