Summer Pool Maintenance Checklist
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With the extreme heat in Louisiana, owning a pool is virtually a necessity… but so is maintaining and caring for your pool. That’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive pool care checklist for our friends and neighbors in the greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge area.
PLEASE make sure that you check off all the items included on this page in order to keep your pool equipment within warranty and water quality safe and enjoyable.
“MUST DO” MONTHLY POOL CHECKLIST
- Test and adjust Calcium Hardness
- Test and adjust for Total Dissolved Solids
- Test the total alkalinity, which should be in the range of 120-150 ppm.
- Chemically clean the filter
- Visually inspect tile, grout, sealant, and other exposed elements of pool
- Conduct Langelier Saturation Index evaluation and adjust as necessary
- Test your salt levels if you have a saltwater pool.
- If you have a vinyl liner – check for holes and tears and make any needed repairs as soon as possible.
- If you have a concrete, gunite pool or fiberglass pool, check for cracks.
- Check the seals in your motor and pump.
- Check all handrails, steps and other safety equipment to be sure that it’s in proper working order.
IMPORTANT WEEKLY POOL MAINTENANCE
- Remove any large accumulation of debris on the bottom with a leaf scoop.
- Feed the pool with chlorine or other sanitizer to satisfy its requirements either manually or automatically.
- Check that the water level is high enough for the pump to operate correctly.
- Test and adjust sanitizer level (may require more frequent testing depending upon bather load and environmental conditions)
- Visually inspect pool water for clarity, color and visible contaminants
- Remove floating leaves
- Test and adjust pH (may require more frequent testing depending upon bather load and environmental conditions)
- The pH should be in the range 7.4 – 7.7 if the pool has a vinyl or tile finish. The range should be 7.3 -7.5 if the pool has a fiberglass finish. The range should be 7.4-7.6 for a gunite swimming pool. If the level is too high, then adjust it down using pH decreaser. The correct dosage is located on the label.
- If the pH is too low, then add pH increaser. Again see labels for dosage. If the pH has dropped possibly so has your total alkalinity.
- Don’t correct your pH more than once a week.
- Test chlorine levels in the pool water:
- Free chlorine levels should be between 1-3 ppm
- Free bromine levels should be between 3-5 ppm
- Test and adjust Alkalinity
- Test and adjust Oxidizer and Stabilizer levels
- Clean the tile at the water line
- Check filter pressure and backwash only if required
- Check water level and adjust as necessary at the prescribed rate of 1” (25mm) per hour
- Add a preventative dose of algaecide as necessary
- Shock the pool as per label instructions. This treatment restores the sparkle to the pool water and destroys germs and organic contaminants (can be done once every 2 weeks)