COVID-19 and Pools - The CDC says that proper operation, maintenance and disinfection of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.
Pool Maintenance
Pool Care Basics
Establish a maintenance routine with these pool care basics to help keep your pool looking great all season long!
Filtration
A pool’s filter is critical to keeping water clear to remove debris, dead algae and swimmer contaminants - like lotions - from the water.
- Backwash your filter when the water pressure is 8 to 10 psi above normal.
- Chemically clean your filter at least twice a season to remove lotions and oils that have built-up on it over the season.
Circulation
Keep your water in motion to help prevent algae and bacteria from clinging to surfaces and help disperse chemicals throughout the pool.
- Circulate pool water during the daytime for at least 8 hours.
- Always circulate water when applying chemicals.
- Point the jets down towards the bottom of the pool to help maximize circulation.
Cleaning
Brush and vacuum surfaces and skim the water surface weekly to prevent problems such as algae and to help ensure your sanitizer is most effective.
- Always brush areas in your pool that may have little to no circulation, such as corners and stairs.
Water Care
- Test and balance your pool weekly and maintain pH at the ideal range 7.2 - 7.6
- Add Pool Essentials® Chlorinating Liquid to maintain Free Chlorine levels at 1 – 4 ppm and to kill bacteria.
- Use a pool shock weekly and after pool parties and severe weather to keep water clear and reduce chlorine odor.
- Consider using a preventative algaecide weekly if your pool is prone to algae or when the temperature increases during the peak of summer.
Some parameters to consider when testing and balancing your water. Adjust balancer parameters and Chlorine in the following order:
Test
Frequency
Pool Type
Ideal Range
Total Alkalinity
Monthly
Plaster
Gunite
Concrete
Vinyl
Fiberglass
Painted
80 - 125 ppm
125 - 150ppm
pH
Twice Weekly
All Pool Types
7.2 - 7.6
Stabilizer
Twice Weekly
All Pool Types
At least 30 ppm
Calcium Hardness
2-3 Times per season
Plaster
Gunite
Concrete
Vinyl
Fiberglass
Painted
125 - 150ppm
80 - 125 ppm
Free Chlorine
Twice Weekly
All Pool Types
1-4 ppm
Pool Opening
How to Open Your Pool
Ready for pool season! Follow these simple steps to quickly open your pool.
If your pool was covered or partially drained, remove the cover, lay it out flat to dry, brush off dirt and debris, then fold it neatly for storage.
- Add water to your pool until it reaches the middle of the skimmer opening
- Check your pump, skimmer and filter to ensure they are working properly
- Remove any debris by skimming the water surface and vacuuming
- Test and balance water
- Adjust Free Chlorine to 1-4 ppm
- Shock water to remove lingering contaminants
- Consider a preventative algaecide
- Run pump for 24 hours when it’s first open and then at least eight hours a day
Pool Closing
How to Close Your Pool
Follow these simple steps to close your pool effectively when pool season ends.
Always close per your manufacturer's recommendations for your pool, pump, heater and all other equipment.
- Check for algae and brush surfaces
- Remove debris from water and skimmer basket(s)
- Test and balance water
- Adjust Free Chlorine to the high end of 1-4 ppm
- Check and clean your filter
- Shock the water and let it circulate for six hours
- Apply an algaecide to prevent algae growth
- Shut down equipment per owner’s manual, this may include a partial water drain
- Cover your pool if desired