Oliver Residential Pool Services

Residential Pool Care: What to Do & When 

Anyone can visit a pool supply store to stock up on test strips and pool chemicals but just having them doesn’t mean that you know how to use them! It can take weeks or months to figure out what makes your swimming pool tick — and just when you get a routine down, the seasons change and it will need to be tweaked! While you are busy struggling with trial and error, the condition of your swim space is dropping daily, so quick action is always key. 

Routine Cleanings: The average household swim space needs a weekly cleaning in order to stay clean at the height of summer and when the weather cools, this can be taken down to bi-weekly (once every second week). Each cleaning includes chemical treatments and water balancing, debris removal, assessments of components and water systems. Balancing pool water means focusing on more than chlorine levels alone and should include pH levels, total alkalinity and calcium. A big part of regular cleaning is to skim out floating debris, vacuum unwanted items from the bottom of the pool, empty skimmer baskets and make sure that filters aren’t clogged up or packed full of debris. It is a lot to take on, but our Puddle Pros are here to help! 

Deep Cleans: When you want to keep your pool cleaner, it is important to make deep cleanings a part of your maintenance routine. These are most common when water starts to look cloudy or develop algae growth. A more thorough cleaning often involves a visual inspection of pools and surrounding areas, as well as a review of pressure gauges and pool filters. If you are taking over care of a swimming pool, managing a swim space that hasn’t been used in a while or are looking to restore condition after a long vacation, just call Puddle to get your pool looking and running its best. 

Seasonal Care: As the seasons change, so do the needs of your pool. BC might be known for mild winters but that doesn’t mean that swim spaces aren’t at risk of freezing and damage caused by cold temperatures. A proper closing protects internal water systems from damage, prevents pipes from bursting and an application of winterizing chemicals prevents algae growth. In the same way that a closing is important to protecting the pool itself, a proper opening in spring protects anyone who steps foot into pool water. Anyone can skim the surface of pool water to get rid of leaves but it’ll take more than that to make water sanitary again. Let an expert remove debris, test and balance water and check key components like the pool pump and heaters to make sure everything is running smoothly for the swim season. 

Filter Changes: With many types of pool filters on the market it is important to know how to clean the filter and when. For example, a cartridge filter should be removed, cleaned and reinstalled every 3-4 months while a sand filter should be emptied and refilled with clean sand every 3-5 years. 

When you want the best results for your swimming pool, don’t rely on a basic testing kit and pool vacuum, let the experts handle it for you instead!