Inground Pool Maintenance Guide

You probably love your inground pool for the entertainment, leisure, and exercise opportunities it offers you. But you may also know that it takes a lot of work to keep it running. Most pool maintenance schedules involve weekly and monthly tasks, as well as many daily checks. Here’s a quick guide for maintaining your inground pool.

In-Season

Check your pool’s pH and chlorine levels twice per week, for a pH range of 7.4 to 7.6 and a chlorine level of 1.0 to 3.0 parts per million (ppm). Test the water levels at dusk (four hours after swimmers have exited the water and eight hours after a rain storm).
Clean the pool once a week. Empty the skimmer baskets, then skim the leaves and debris from the water. Use a vacuum for debris on the floor of your pool and skim the surface with a net.
Apply pool surface cleaner to the waterline to keep stains at bay.
Shock the water once a week, adding a large dose of chlorine to the pool to prevent algae and other contaminants. It’s best to shock the water at dusk so the pump and filter can run overnight. Don’t swim for at least 24 hours afterwards.
Run your filtration system constantly if you can during the summer to keep dust, dirt, pollutants, bacteria and body oils away.

Off-Season

Inspect the pool before closing it for the season, checking for cracks, leaks and other damage.
Test the chemical levels and make adjustments as needed.
Remove all objects such as ladders, diving boards, slides, pool toys, ropes, and skimmer baskets.
Drain all water from the pump, filter, heater and tubing.
Drain the water into the local sewer lines to reduce the water level, below the lowest pool return.
Cover your pool with a safety cover, securing it tightly. Make sure there are no tears, rips, gaps or damage.

Supplies You Will Need

- Chemical testing strips
- Chemical balancing agents
- Pool net
- Pool brush
- Pool surface cleaner
- Pool vacuum cleaner
- Shock

Tips

During summer, keep the pump and motor uncovered. Don’t cover or bury the system with rocks, mulch, soil, tarps or landscaping. The lack of oxygen and presence of foreign objects could damage your motor. In the off-season, you can cover it loosely with a tarp.

Warnings

Not sure of the types and amounts of chemicals you need to add? Ask your local pool expert. If you add chemicals without knowing the proper levels, you can cause dangerous swimming conditions.

Need help with daily, monthly or yearly inground pool maintenance? Call Central Jersey Pools today at 732-462-5005.