When, What & How: A Guide to Pool Maintenance

An important part of keeping your above ground pool lasting season over season and ready to use anytime during the summer is to proper pool maintenance.

But what should you be doing for pool maintenance and how often? We’ve got all the answers for you below. But before we get into those details, let’s first touch on why it’s important to maintain your pool.

While it may seem that the obvious reason is for immediate use each day, which is true, it’s also important if you want to avoid expensive repairs and have your pool usable year over year.

Just like anything that needs regular maintenance to last longer and function properly, so does your above ground pool. 

Proper care and a regular maintenance schedule will ensure your pool lasts longer and you avoid costly and unnecessary repairs.

Proper Above Ground Pool Maintenance 

Whether this is your first season, your twelfth season, or you’re just doing some research and exploring above ground pools, the following guidelines will help you better understand what maintenance looks like and how often.

Is it okay if you miss a day or a week or forget to check levels? Yes, of course. These are just “good practice” recommendations to keep your pool working efficiently, looking nice, and staying clean. These checks can also help reduce the amount of work your system has to do, which can save you energy costs.

Daily Maintenance Checks

It is recommended to check the following items daily, whether you’re planning to use the pool or not, but especially if you’re planning on using it:

• Test pH level and adjust as needed. This should be between 7.4 and 7.6.
• Test chlorine level and adjust as needed. This should be between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm.
• Check water line level. The water line should be up to about mid-skimmer level. 
• Check filter pressure and your pump.
• Empty the skimmer and pump baskets as needed.
• Skim the surface water of large debris.
• Run the pool filter every day for at least 12 hours, 18 hours if the water is warmer.

Watson’s carries a variety of test strips for both pools and spas to help you ensure balance and cleanliness. 

Weekly Maintenance Checks

Check or do the following items weekly as a part of your maintenance routine:

• Add chlorine tablets, like our mini tablets. Consider our Aqua Smarte Plus system to dissolve chlorine efficiently and effectively.
• Test total alkalinity. This should be between 80 and 120 ppm.
• Check pressure gauge. This should be under 7 psi. If it rises above, clean the filter or backwash your filter.
• Clean the pool deck, walls, and vacuum your pool.
• Check and add algaecide, clarifier, and metals as needed to assure a balanced pool.

Monthly Maintenance Checks

Check these items every month and adjust as needed:

• Test calcium hardness. This should be between 200-400 ppm.
• Shock the pool in the evening.
• Check for buildup of algae and dirt in “dead spots” where circulation isn’t great. This is typically behind ladders, on steps, and other areas that aren’t circulated well.
• Test the cyanuric acid level. This should be between 30-50 ppm.

Other Pool Maintenance Considerations

Below are other considerations when maintaining your pool. Practicing these can reduce repair needs, keep your pool safer for swimming, and save you time in your maintenance routine.

1. Use a pool cover when not in use to avoid excess debris and dirt. Make sure to cover when there are storms approaching as well. Check out our selection of solar covers to harness the heat of the sun to warm up your pool while also keeping it covered when not in use. 
2. Use proper seating. Why does this matter for your pool? Because oftentimes people may want to hang or even sit on your pool walls, which can damage the liner, cause cracks, or even collapse the pool wall. Find some chaise lounge chairs to set on the pool deck or outside of the pool and use floating lounge chairs to sit on inside the pool!
3. Make sure you’re checking your liner often and patching any tears or small holes as soon as you see them. This will prevent further damage and needing a vinyl liner replacement.
4. Winterize properly. While you likely just opened up your pool, at the end of the season it’s important to winterize correctly. Make sure to add this to your end of season maintenance checklist. 

Don’t let an unbalanced, dirty, or unsafe pool keep you out of the water this swim season. Stop into any of Watson’s nine superstore locations to learn more about proper pool maintenance and to stock up on all your testing and pool cleaning supplies!