The benefits of professional pool maintenance

On the face of it, cleaning and maintaining a swimming pool seems like a relatively straightforward task. We’ve all seen people do it, skimming a net across the surface of the water, adding some chemicals and it looks as if the job is done. It seems so simple that some new pool owners are tempted by the novelty or to save a little money to do it themselves before realising that this DIY approach is almost always a false economy.

So why is it important to have your pool maintained and cleaned professionally throughout its lifetime and what are the benefits and top tips to keep your pool always ‘ready to swim’?

Choosing a professional and experienced team

Picking the right company to maintain your pool is almost as important as selecting a company to install it in the first place. It’s a good idea to check how long your maintenance company has been in business and the engineers’ qualifications. A company with a long record and skilled engineers will be able to use their experience to keep your pool in tip top condition and spot any possible problems immediately.

Keeping on top of cleaning and equipment

Staying on top of your swimming pool maintenance is the key to keeping your pool clean, inviting and ready for every day use. Your pool company should be able to provide you with a list of tasks they will complete when they visit your home and will ensure that your pool is in perfect condition throughout the season.

All pools are different so the list may vary slightly but the tasks shouldn’t.

Regular tasks should include:

• Running the pool filter for a minimum of 12 hours - the longer your run the filter the better the water quality will be
• Testing and adjusting the sanitiser level
• Visually inspecting pool water for clarity, colour and visible contaminants
• Testing and adjusting pH
• Testing the water temperature
• Emptying skimmer and pump basket
• Testing and adjusting alkalinity
• Testing and adjusting oxidiser and stabiliser levels
• Removing leaves and debris
• Brushing pool walls and floor and vacuum pool
• Checking filter pressure and backwash only if required
• Checking the water level and adjust as necessary
• Adding a preventative dose of algaecide as necessary
• Testing and adjusting calcium hardness
• Taking a sample of pool water to a pool water expert for analysis
• Testing and adjusting for total dissolved solids
• Testing and adjusting for metals
• Testing cyanuric acid levels (unless stabilised chlorine is used, then test once every two weeks)
• Chemically cleaning the filter
• Visually inspecting tile, grout, sealant, and other exposed elements of pool
• Conducting Langelier Saturation Index evaluation and adjust as necessary

Note, that opening and closing your pool involves a lot more work.

Importance of water purity and chemical balance

One of the most important steps of swimming pool maintenance is water balance. Understanding water balance can also be one of the most confusing processes of pool maintenance. Because of its complexity, it’s important to use experienced professionals to keep your pool water safe, comfortable and corrosion free. A company with qualified staff will look after your pH levels, check on calcium hardness and check on stabiliser status all season long.

Importance of pump, filter and filtration equipment

Your pool pump and filter are the heart of your pool and need regular checking and setting. It’s unwise to tackle this yourself unless you are professionally trained as equipment replacement costs are high and you may cause irreparable damage to your pool. If something should go wrong with your pool, a qualified pool engineer is much more likely to spot the signs earlier than you will. Problems are not common but can be expensive if not dealt with as quickly as possible.

Opening the pool and closing your pool

Timing is all important when opening a pool for the swimming season or closing it up for the year. Opening time is one of the busiest periods for pool companies and opening a pool involves more work and more time. Similarly, when you looking to close your pool, your maintenance company will also be able to advise on the best date to do so.

Peace of mind

Owning a swimming pool should be a pleasure not a chore but many people don’t realise how important proper maintenance is. A pool which is maintained incorrectly can become damaged quite quickly so unless you know what you are doing it’s better to leave it to the professionals who will take care of everything so you can just swim!

At London Swimming Pool Company we specialise in swimming pool maintenance, servicing and refurbishment, so if you have a pool that’s in need of regular maintenance or a facelift, contact us for an initial discussion – there’s no substitute for expert advice. If you have an older swimming pool that needs upgrading, we suggest planning your refurbishment for the autumn, so all the work is done and dusted before the next swimming season.