Your Expert Guide To DIY Pool Maintenance

Your swimming pool requires routine upkeep. That is why, whether you have an inground pool, above ground, or saltwater pool, it is important to establish a firm basic understanding of pool maintenance essentials.

When you understand how your pool works, how to care for it, and how to prepare for it, you’ll be able to solve almost any pool problem that comes your way.

Consider duties such as filter maintenance, surface skimming, and chemical testing when deciding between DIY pool care and hiring a professional pool cleaning service. Swimming pool maintenance can be a long list of tasks, but if you have the time it can be well worth knowing how to do it yourself!

In this guide we’ll advise on everything you need to know about how to DIY pool maintenance and when you should consider professional pool maintenance!

Signs your pool needs maintenance

There are some key signs that will tell you that your swimming pool requires maintenance. When you start to notice any of these warning signs, it is time to take action and give your pool some TLC:

• Cloud, green or discoloured pool water: The most common sign that a pool needs to be cleaned is cloudy water. This can be caused by an imbalance in chemical levels, debris and dirt in the water, or an incorrect pH level.
• Algae growth: Algae is a common problem for swimming pools and can be caused by excessive sun exposure, lack of proper chemical treatment, lack of chlorine or a direct algae contamination.
• Major leaks or suspected leaks: Leaks can be caused by pool equipment such as filters, variable speed pumps and plumbing. They can also originate from damaged walls or the pool liner itself.
• Grime accumulation: Grime build up on a pool’s steps and ladders is not only unsightly but can cause slips and falls. Algae growth and dirt should be regularly scrubbed away to ensure safety.
• Problems with your pool drainage system: If your pool is getting clogged or draining slowly, this can be a sign that the filter needs to be cleaned, backwashed or replaced.

Should you DIY your pool maintenance?

Before we dive into some DIY tips for pool maintenance, should you really do it yourself?

When it comes to pool maintenance, there are a few things that can be done yourself, but it is always best to contact a professional and let them do the work. Swimming pool repair and maintenance can be time consuming and technical, so if you lack the time or expertise it is wiser to leave it to a seasoned expert.

When it comes to pool maintenance, establishing and adhering to strict standards and policies is essential in order to keep your pool in the best shape possible for years to come. However, there are a few steps you can take as a homeowner or DIY pool maintenance enthusiast that will help ensure you get optimal results from your pool care efforts.

8 DIY pool cleaning tips

1. Taking care of the pool filter

Most pool filters in the UK are sand filters. They work by pushing the pool water through the body of sand to filter it. 

To clean a sand filter you have to backwash it. This pushes water the opposite way through the sand and straight out to the drain. The easiest way to know when to stop backwashing is to wait until the water going out to the drain runs clear. You’d then need to rinse through the filter and top up the water level with fresh water. 

Some smaller pools have cartridge pool filters that remove contaminants such as dust, debris, and even small pool toys.

To clean a cartridge filter firstly turn off the filter, remove the cap, lift out the basket, and remove any debris for do-it-yourself pool maintenance. Make it a point to do this once a week. To deep clean your filters, soak them overnight, then rinse and let the filters dry. Many people have 2 sets of filters that they rotate through use. One set will be filtering the pool while the other set dries out after being rinsed.

2. Cleaning the skimmer basket

Skimmers keep the surface of your pool clean by capturing debris before it falls to the pool floor.

They draw dirty water into the filter and return clean water to your pool. To clean your skimmer basket, locate your access panel, open it, and empty the contents.

3. Counteract cloudy pool water

A murky swimming pool indicates the presence of bacteria, algae, and grime. The best technique to clear a foggy pool is to use pool shock, which is powdered chlorine that dramatically increases chlorine levels for a short period of time.

Shocking a pool removes ammonia and nitrogen, which cause cloudiness and chlorine odour.

Wear safety goggles and gloves as you pour the pool shock into a five-gallon bucket of pool water and mix it around. Continue to operate the pool pump while pouring the bucket around the pool’s edge.

Allow the pool shock to work for six hours and refrain from using the pool until the chlorine levels fall below 5 parts per million.

4. Cleaning the pool surround

No pool cleaning guide would be complete without mentioning deck maintenance.

If you have decking surrounds then power washing removes corrosion and stains, restoring the lustre to your pool deck. Sweep the deck to eliminate debris before turning on the power washer. Sweep, jet wash and repeat the process until the surface is completely clean.

Cleaning the surround of your pool is an important step in maintenance. A cleaner surround means less contaminants get introduced to the water, making balancing levels easier.

Most pools in the UK have a form of coping stone surround. The most efficient way to clean this is with liquid chlorine, which can then be deck scrubbed and jet washed. Using liquid chlorine means it’s also safe if anything gets into the pool water itself. You can also net & vac any debris (like leaves) that go into the pool. Just be sure not to stain your grass with the liquid chlorine. 

5. Add a dosing system and automatic backwash for more maintenance automation

A dosing system and automatic backwash can be beneficial for those looking to automate their pool maintenance. A dosing system continuously feeds the right amount of chemicals into your swimming pool so you don’t have to worry about guessing the right dosage or manually adding it yourself. 

An automatic backwash will also help keep the water clean and clear, so you can enjoy your pool whenever you feel like it. 

6. Check your water chemistry regularly

Testing and balancing the water in your pool is important for keeping it clean and safe. Test the chlorine levels, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, stabilisers and total dissolved solids on a regular basis to ensure they are all within acceptable ranges. If you are not familiar with how to do this, you may want to consider hiring a professional pool maintenance service.

7. Consider ozone systems or UV sanitisers 

Ozone systems and UV sanitisers are great additions to any pool cleaning regime. Ozone systems work by passing air, water, or a combination of the two through an ozone generator. This produces ozone which is injected into the pool water. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer that eliminates bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants like algae and chlorine by products.

UV sanitisers work in a similar fashion, but instead of ozone they use UV light to destroy contaminants. Both systems are effective at keeping water clean and clear without the need for adding large amounts of chemicals like chlorine.

Having a quality filtration system is essential for keeping your pool clean and safe. Now, all of our expert pool builds come standard with a dosing system and automatic backwash to help automate the pool cleaning process.

Why is pool maintenance important?

A poorly kept swimming pool endangers the health of individuals who use it. It can serve as a breeding environment for infectious organisms and hazardous bacteria, both of which can be fatal or cause major sickness. 

Private swimming pools, leisure centres, and campgrounds with swimming pools must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis to guarantee that pool users are safe and healthy while utilising the facilities.

Another important incentive to keep the pools clean and healthy is financial considerations, particularly from a commercial standpoint. You want to make money from people who use your pool as a pool owner. Swimmers adore nothing more than swimming in a clean, immaculate pool.

Looking for reliable pool maintenance services?

Looking after and maintaining a pool yourself is certainly do-able, however there is a lot to take into consideration, which can be quite overwhelming if you’re not clued up on pool chemicals and skimmers!

Our award winning pool servicing professionals can come up with a custom pool maintenance and cleaning plan to suit your specific requirements, whether you have an indoor pool at home or a communal pool outdoors.

Get in touch today for outstanding pool servicing.

DIY pool maintenance FAQs

Can I maintain a pool on my own?

The key to keeping a sparkling pool is regular maintenance. Maintaining a swimming pool on your own may be less expensive, but for problems such as leaking, malfunctioning pumps, or murky water, it is best to call a pool cleaning service professional. They have the necessary tools and skills to swiftly resolve any issues.

What happens if you don’t maintain a pool?

A dirty pool can induce recreational water ailments if not properly maintained and cared for (RWIs). Diarrhoea, ear infections, respiratory infections, rashes, and/or irritated eyes and lungs are examples of these illnesses. That may sound concerning, but a well-maintained pool poses no danger.

How often should you shock your pool?

Regularly shocking your pool will help to maintain the water clean and clear of toxins. Recommendations on how regularly you should shock your pool vary, we’d recommend a weekly or monthly shock treatment, with an additional shock after excessive use. Cloudy, frothy, green, or odorous water are all symptoms that your pool needs to be shocked.