Polaris Automatic Pool Cleaner (parts only)
Everyone loves a clear, clean pool. It’s easy to enjoy hot summer days with family and friends in the cool waters or even just relaxing nearby. But for the pools’ owner, achieving the maximum fun factor from a pool requires some diligent work. Between exposure to nature’s elements and repeated usage by many different people, keeping the swimming pool clean and enjoyable is a constant concern for the conscientious pool owner. From dirt and leaves to body oils and hair products, the opportunities for pool contamination are endless. The team at MKM Pool Spa is passionate about helping you maintain your pool in optimal condition. Here are some key tips for how to keep your swimming pool clean and inviting:
1) Frequently skim your pool for leaves and debris
Using a long-handled leaf skimmer, clear the water surface of leaves, debris, or any other foreign objects. This is especially crucial for outdoor pools that are frequently left uncovered. But indoor pools need skimming as well, as swimmers can easily bring in foreign objects and debris in from the outside. Try to catch as much debris as possible before it sinks to the bottom or gets caught in the filter. Start with a good skimmer or leaf rake long enough to reach every part of your pool from the edge.
Run the filtering system
Really, the first step in cleaning a swimming pool is keeping it clean in the first place. This is the filter system’s job. Ideally, the filter system should turnover the entire pool’s water at least once per day. This typically involves running the filter pump for several hours per day. Determine your pool’s specific needs by consulting the filter pump’s operation manual.
While necessary for maintaining a sanitary pool, running the filter can significantly increase your electric bill. When practical, you might also consider running the filter during “off-peak” times to minimize some of the expense.
3) Clean the Filter
The pump sucks or draws water in from the pool, it then pushes water through the filter where it is cleaned, and finally filtered water returns to your pool or spa. If it gets clogged, it may not be able to clean your swimming pool effectively. In fact, it might make the pool’s water worse. Regular filter cleaning is critical to your pool’s sanitation. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for how and when to clean the filter. For tough or persistent grime, oils, and debris, you can use filter cleaners to keep your pool in tip-top shape.
4) Keep the Filter Cartridge Current
You might run and clean the filter system as recommended by the manufacturer but still notice your pool water just isn’t as sparkly clean as you would like. In this case, your filter cartridge might need replacing. Some manufacturers might have a recommended replacement cycle, but your eyeballs can help you decide too. If your pool water consistently looks murky, and your filter cartridge looks haggard, worn, and dirty, it’s time to replace the filter cartridge.
5) Diligently Maintain Pool Chemistry
Balancing, shocking, chlorinating: all these are words with which a pool owner should be intimately familiar. Maintaining proper pool sanitation requires meticulous attention to the pool’s chemical balance, which means ensuring proper pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Proper chemical balance prevents corrosion and etching on pool equipment and surfaces. Shocking kills the bacteria that cloud up the water. Chlorinating keeps harmful bacteria to an acceptable range. Test your pool 2-3 times per week to monitor chemical levels and adjust accordingly.
MKM Pool Spa carries an impressive selection of tools you need to keep your swimming pool clean and safe. We carry test kits so you can quickly determine the state of your pool’s water, pool shocks, and a myriad of options for pool chlorination.
6) Vacuum
Zodiac MX8 Automatic Pool Cleaner
Regular vacuuming is necessary to keep your swimming pool clean. Vacuums pick up debris settled at the bottom of the pool and removing stains. You can vacuum a pool manually or use an automatic pool vacuum. There are three types of automatic pool vacuums: suction-side, pressure-side, and robotic. Be sure to thoroughly research the features of each type so you can select the one that best matches your needs and budget.
Suction-side vacuums connect the pool’s filtration system and use the pump’s suction power to suck up debris and send it through the pool’s filtration system. Pressure-side vacuums use the water pressure from the pool’s return jets to propel it across the pool floor. The debris that they collect is stored in a filter bag attached to the vacuum. Robotic pool cleaners are machines similar to drones powered by electricity, not your pool’s circulation system. Just plug it in and place it inside the pool (in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, of course). They are capable of picking up a wider range of debris than pressure-side or suction-side vacuums.
Each kind of vacuum has more attributes that are worth exploring before purchasing. Look for a good selection of automatic pool vacuums and accessories.
Zodiac Baracuda Ranger Automatic Pool Cleaner
7) Brush Pool Walls
Consistent brushing of the pool walls helps prevent grime buildup and helps prevent stains. Pay extra attention to areas of the pool with poor circulation as these areas are more prone to algae growth. Brushing the pool loosens up stuck on contaminants so they can be sucked up by the filter and removed from the pool’s water. MKM Pool Spa carries a wide selection of pool brushes, in varying sizes and shapes, so you can find the right tool to match your pool.
Contact MKM Pool Spa today for help with finding the right equipment to use for cleaning your swimming pool. Feel free to give us a call at 980-328-3043.