I have already covered the importance of PH and chlorine levels in a previous article about the proper maintenance of your pool. However, the proper care of a pool requires more than the basic checking of the PH and chlorine levels. It is really important that you become aware of other pool care steps if you want to have a truly healthy pool.



Once a year, you should check the hardness of the water in your pool. You will need to fill a small container with a water sample and give it to your local pool service people so that they can test it for you. If they tell you that the water is too hard, they will probably recommend adding baking soda. Baking soda is very common, but you will need large amounts of it. The pool store will tell you to buy baking soda in amounts per gallon of pool water, depending on your water hardness, and you will need to buy it and add it to your pool. Stir the pool with your pool skimmer and let it sit for a day.

The pool's pH level will change when you add baking soda. That's because baking soda is a base and, when it comes into contact with the acidic water, the acid is neutralized. After adding baking soda you will need to test your PH level, and you will probably need to put in some increaser to cancel out its affect. Don't worry about sending in more water to be tested; the extra increaser won't change the hardness of the water.

Something else that you also need to watch for is algae. Algae have the potential to grow in all pools, although balancing the chlorine can prevent their growth. There are three types of bad algae, and a different chemical is required to kill each one. The two most common types of algae - red and yellow - are not too harmful, but black algae can be deadly. Green dust in the pool is a sure sign of mustard algae, which is hard to eliminate. Usually you will need to give your pool two or three shock treatments in order to kill these very resistant algae.

When you notice the sides of your pool turning different colors, you should go and buy a kit to test for algae. This test should be done at least twice a year even if no algae appear to be present. A different kind of chemical is needed to attack each kind of algae, so make sure you consult a professional before you make any purchases at the pool store.

You may also notice murky water in the pool. Murky water looks like fine clouds or like it has dust in it. When this happens, go to the store and pick up some water clarifier. Once the clarifier is added, the clouds will clump together and fall to the bottom in small white balls. A pool vacuum such as a Polaris easily sucks up the little clumps. There are several variations of these vacuums, some of which that can even be stored at the bottom of the pool, and they are available at any pool store. The pool vacuum will take care of any small particles left after the clarifier has been added.

It is really important that you check the filters in your pool, especially if you have diatomaceous earth filters. It is very important that these filters be refilled with dirt every week or so, and they also require constant upkeep. All that upkeep aside, they are probably the best filters you can buy. Although paper filters require less work, they do need to be changed more frequently and will need to be purchased in larger quantities. Sand filters are the most economical type of filter due to the fact that they require less checking and changing than other filters.

Regardless of what you do, dead animals and insects will find their way into your pool. Do not be shocked by this. Animals and insects will use your pool as a new watering hole, and you will probably find them floating in it from time to time, even if you have the cover on. This indicates importance of checking filter baskets at least 4 times a month and keeping a long skimmer handy in case you need to use it.

If you feel overwhelmed by all of this, just remember that there is hope! Many of the pool companies in your area do not charge a lot to upkeep your pool, especially during the winter months. It will probably cost you less to have someone else keep up your pool than it would to spend money buying the filters, testing kits, chemicals, reagents, chlorine tablets, baking soda containers, clarifiers, and algaecides yourself. Take it from someone who knows and use the pool maintenance companies in your area to your advantage.