Homeownership is a big deal and a BIG responsibility. If you know, you know. If you don’t – well – brace yourself for when you do. With homeownership, sometimes comes pool ownership; also a big deal and a big responsibility. Ever heard the quote “with great power comes great responsibility”? Pools are no exception. They equip you with a beautiful outdoor space to host guests, entertain kids, or just enjoy a relaxing evening by yourself. In other words, they equip you with the power of joy…and saddle you with a big responsibility to maintain a clean, beautiful, and safe outdoor haven. As with everything, pool ownership has a bit of a learning curve to it, and in turn, many new pool owners make several mistakes when owning and maintaining their first pool.
We’re here to help new – and seasoned – pool owners avoid the most common mistakes we see.
As a pool owner, this mistake is so common because it’s so easy to miss. While it may be obvious that a pool should be clean or that your pump making a funny noise is something to pay attention to, the water level is one of those things you need to have on your radar in order to maintain it. Your pool’s water level should be halfway up your skimmer plate (that rectangular hole built into the side of your pool). If the water level is too high, the skimmer won’t be able to filter out the debris in the pool which lead to more expensive maintenance costs, and a less safe swim. If the water level is too low, the consequences are even more disastrous. Your pool’s filtration system is only meant to move water – NOT air. If the water level is too low, the system is pulling in the air and water. In turn, this causes the equipment to work too hard, overloads it, and can even melt the equipment leading to a huge electric bill, replacement cost, and presenting a serious safety issue. Pool pump repair or replacement is not cheap, so save yourself the headache by covering your pool before a storm and topping it off when needed. You might even consider some pool renovation or pool tile replacement to tile the area where your water level should be to make it as easy as possible to stay on top of.
2. Not testing the water
Your pool’s ph levels are a delicate thing. While you can determine a lot about your pool’s condition by looking at it and its equipment, you absolutely can not get by with just doing this. In order to treat the water with all of the required pool chemicals (and the correct amounts of them) you’ll need to test the water to determine what, and how much to add – as well as how much time you’ll need to wait before using the pool again.
3. Not cleaning properly
If a pool’s filter and strainer baskets aren’t cleaned often enough, or thoroughly enough, it will lead to higher operating costs due to forcing the pump to work harder and longer and can even damage or break the pump itself. A pool repair service will run up a large bill that could have been avoided with a little bit of extra attention. Cleaning your pool isn’t just a cosmetic thing, it’s necessary to keep it operating.
4. Not covering the pool
Covering the pool is a SUPER simple fix that has several benefits. Covering your pool when it isn’t in use prevents excess debris (leaves, twigs, etc) from getting into it, small animals (frogs, lizards, ew), prevents excess water from evaporating (ESPECIALLY in the Florida heat), and can even add another safety layer for those with small children or pets in the home.
5. Pool Owners Neglect
This is hands down the MOST common mistake we see, and it comes from both seasoned pool owners, and newbie pool owners. Simply neglecting the pool due to a busy week/month and skimping on things like scheduled maintenance, cleaning, testing, and inspecting can seem harmless every once in a while, but before you know it you could have a pool that is more of a hassle than it is fun. The best way to keep a pool from becoming more work than joy is to stay on top of its care. Why pay for swimming pool repair if you don’t need to?
As a professional pool renovation company, we know that pools are not low maintenance. They require a good amount of work and attention that can seem daunting at times. Instead of spending on a large amount of pool restoration several years from now, why not save your money for a fun pool remodeling project by staying on top of routine pool care? And if you’re too busy to do it yourself as a pool owner, or just want to entrust your pool to a professional, we’re only a phone call away.
