Swimming pools and routine maintenance go hand in hand.  However, a well maintained pool can provide years of relaxing pleasure and fun for the entire family!  This article will cover some basic tips on maintaining your pool & equipment.  I recently wrote an article on swimming pool cleaning which is certainly a part of maintenance.  If you don’t know how to clean your pool, I suggest reading that article first.   

The type of pool you own/manage will determine the frequency and the type of maintenance it requires - above ground pools, verse inground pools, liner pools verses concrete, screened verses unscreened, commercial verse private… so on and so forth.  I’m going to give a broad overview of pool maintenance that covers most common types of private pools. 

There are three categories of pool maintenance:  routine (daily/weekly/monthly), preventative and seasonal.  Procedures for these involve inspection, servicing and component replacement.   

When inspecting your pool and equipment, be conscious of your senses – touch, smell, sight, and sound.  Feel for vibrations and heat, note strange smells, look for damaged equipment or discolored water, listen for unusual sounds (such as your pump cavitating).  Here are a few items that should be inspected regularly: 

• Inlets and outlets:  Make sure the main drain cover is securely fastened and in good shape.  The vacuum outlet cover should be spring loaded and in place. 
   

• Lights and timers:  Make sure there is no seepage behind the pool light (this could be dangerous). 
   

• Ladders, handrails, etc:  make certain all is secure.
   

• Flow meter should be working
   

• Lint strainer is free of debris
   

• Main pump:  Should be running smoothly and securely fastened. 
   

• Chemical feed systems:  functioning and calibrated properly.
   

• Automatic water level control devices:  make sure are working properly.
   

• Pool Filters:  Check pressure gauges to make sure the filters are working properly and do not require cleaning. 
   

• Pool water:  You should be able to clearly see the main drain (the actual screws that secure it down).  Also make sure the water is circulating properly.

Then, of course, there is routine cleaning i.e. brushing, vacuuming, tile cleaning, netting, etc.  These things are done as needed.  Adding chemicals is another job and should only be done by someone that knows what they are doing – remember, chemicals are poisonous so it's important to use as little as possible.  Your filtration system should clean 98 percent of your pool’s water... chemicals are only used for the 2 percent remaining.  Remember this saying “chemicals are a supplementation to filtration.” 

Seasonal maintenance:  In many areas, weather becomes a factor in the management of pools and spas.  In places of harsh winters, a percentage of the pool’s water should be drained and compressed air should be used to purge water from pipes.  In other areas, pool covers are recommended during off seasons.  The environment plays a huge role in your pools maintenance so it's important to keep these things in mind.