Easy ways to maintain your pool

Trying to cut corners on pool maintenance will only cost you money in the long run. Here are some maintenance tips and equipment you need to keep your pool running smoothly.

The owner's manual will help you prevent a multitude of problems. You may decide that it's worth the cost to hire a professional pool service to maintain your pool. In any event, do the following regularly.

• Test the water. Use a reagent kit to test for pH, alkalinity and chlorine level. Have a pool dealer analyze the water for calcium hardness once a year.
• Adjust the chemistry. After testing the water, add any chemicals necessary to stabilize it. Wait about eight hours before retesting. At the beginning of the swimming season, check and adjust the water every day.
• Trim or remove nearby bushes and trees. This will help reduce the amount of debris that falls into the pool. Remove debris regularly with a leaf skimmer.
• Shower before using the pool. Sweat, skin oil, suntan lotion and urine contaminate water and can clog a filter. Make it a house rule that all swimmers shower. Encourage young children to use the toilet before going swimming.
• Cover the pool when it is not in use. Pool covers are intended to keep debris out of the pool, retain heat and slow down water evaporation. (These covers are not for safety.) The best choice is a woven-mesh pool cover that accepts rain water into the pool but filters out dirt and leaves.
• Clean the filter. If the filter becomes clogged, it won't be able to keep dirt out of the pool, and that can lead to a damaged pump. Check your filter pressure gauge several times a week; your owner's manual will tell you how much pressure the filter can stand before it needs to be replaced or cleaned. Follow manufacturer's directions for cleaning carefully.

Keeping a pool clean not only makes it more attractive, it is essential to maintaining the pool. Invest in the right tools, and you will find that cleaning is more efficient and less of a bother. Here's what you need (and what each item does).

• A leaf skimmer is a lightweight net that helps you remove large particles that enter your pool, such as leaves, bugs and twigs. Use a succession of aluminum extension poles to reach as far as you need to.
• A liner brush wipes the walls of your pool. This will help prevent the buildup of algae and other slime. Different types are available for concrete and vinyl-lined pools. Use the same extension poles as for the skimmer.
• A hand-operated vacuum allows you to clean the bottom and sides of your pool. Choose one made for your type and size of pool — one that is too powerful will damage a vinyl lining.
• An automatic pool cleaner creeps around the pool, cleaning all the surfaces. It has its own debris bag. Because it makes pool vacuuming easier, it may be worth the cost. Buy a model that is designed for your type and size of pool.

Caring for a pool can be costly — especially if you have to pay for damage caused by neglect! Save money on pool repairs by following these maintenance tips and using the proper pool equipment.