Top Questions About Swimming Pool Maintenance

You asked, so we are answering. As a full-service pool designer/installer with certified technicians on staff who perform everything from routine swimming pool maintenance to complex repairs, the Neave Pools team gets a lot of swimming pool maintenance questions from clients and people considering building a pool.

We love it because we take pride in our work and believe that when you have accurate information about caring for a pool, it will be in optimum condition and provide years of recreational enjoyment. And, we also know that there is a lot of misleading or false information about pool maintenance service out there, and we’d rather you come straight to the source.

Here, we are answering your swimming pool maintenance questions—the questions you ask most often about taking care of a pool, from adding chemicals to changing filters and beyond. We hope you learn something new!

How often should I clean the skimmer and pump baskets?

Clogged skimmers and pump baskets prevent water from properly circulating and can result in issues like the pump overheating or damage to skimmer baskets. The best prevention is to simply check the pump and skimmer basket every day and remove any debris you find. Keep your pool clean and your water flow unobstructed by clearing the skimmer and pump baskets of leaves, twigs, and other debris regularly. This also enhances the efficiency of your pool filtration system and decreases pool costs of repairs or equipment failures.

Call Neave Residential today for professional swimming pool maintenance.

What are the ideal pH and alkalinity levels for my pool?

Ideally, your swimming pool water pH level should be 7.4 to 7.6. Total alkalinity should be 80 to 120 parts per million (ppm). Maintaining proper pH is an important process in swimming pool maintenance because otherwise, you’re creating an environment for bacteria and algae—not the type of water that’s healthy (or pleasant) for swimming.

What does cloudy pool water mean?

If your pool water is cloudy, there could be contaminants in the pool—including suntan lotion or shampoos/conditioner residue from people who were swimming. Or, your filtration system might not be functioning properly, and the culprit is often a pool filter that needs changing.

Contact the experts at Neave today to administer pool cleaning services that keep your pool crystal clear. We like to use a pool cleaner on the cartridge and filter periodically that helps break down greasy oils from contaminants. We recommend running the pool pump and filter system longer to be sure pool water is circulating completely to remove contaminants. Another reason for cloudy pool water can be improper pH levels. A pH test and pool chemicals adjustment can fix the issue.

After shocking a pool, how long should I wait to swim in it? And, why shock a pool?

We recommend waiting eight to 12 hours before swimming after shocking a pool with chlorine or other pool chemicals. There are several reasons for pool shock services. If a pool is uncovered during heavy rains or storms, shocking it afterward will eliminate contaminants. It’s also a good idea to shock your pool after a heavy bathing load. So, if you host a pool party over the weekend and the water becomes a “high traffic zone,” shocking it afterward will help remove bacteria and contaminants.

Another reason to shock a pool that many homeowners don’t realize is to get rid of combined chlorine that is no longer effective. If combined chlorine exceeds 0.2, shocking it to turn that “tired chlorine” back to available chlorine that does its job will ensure proper chlorine levels and water balance for safe swimming.

Why is my swimming pool green?

Algae growth from phosphates or metals in the water is a common reason for turning pool water green. This is especially true if your swimming pool has a hot tub attached to it. The warm water in the hot tub provides an ideal environment for algae to thrive. Our pool technicians generally deal with green pool water by vacuuming to remove debris, and thoroughly cleaning the pool walls and floor.

A pH test will reveal whether chemistry needs to be adjusted. Filtering the pool is necessary to turn over the pool water. Then, another pH test will tell whether those steps worked or if chemistry needs to be tinkered with again. Achieving the ideal pool chemistry is a science that is sometimes under-recognized by new pool owners, who think they can do it themselves. Shocking the pool with a higher dose of chlorine can also help kill the existing algae growth and makes swimming pool and hot tub care easy.

There’s no cookie-cutter formula because proper pH levels depend on the pool’s physical attributes, biological impacts, and environmental surroundings, not to mention who’s using the pool. That’s why we always recommend a professional test and adjust water chemistry so you can be sure it’s safe to swim.

Do I need chlorine for a salt-water pool?

Salt water pools use the salt in the water to generate chlorine, therefore you do not need to buy chlorine at your local pool store for your salt-water swimming pool as you would in a traditional pool. However, there may be times your pool will need to be shocked. Maintaining proper levels for all other chemistry parameters such as pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness remain just as important as chlorine pools.

Why is my pool losing water? Should I worry if water levels are low in my pool?

Depending on the time of year, pool water can evaporate up to ¾ inch in a day and this is completely normal, especially for in-ground pools. But if you notice excessive pool water loss, that’s a sign of a possible leak and you might need a pool liner to prevent more leaks. You should call your pool professional immediately for pool service. Low water levels in your pool can be attributed to various factors, such as evaporation, leaks, or excessive splashing. However, worrying about low water levels in your pool is unnecessary when Neave can fix it.

Have a Question about Swimming Pool Maintenance? Call Neave Group.

Neave Pools takes the swimming pool maintenance burden away with certified, experienced technicians who make sure you get a return on investment.

Let’s talk more about how pool maintenance is a key preventive measure for making the most of your luxury swimming pool.

Contact us at 845-463-0592 in Hudson Valley, 914-271-7996 in Westchester, and 203-212-4800 in Connecticut. Or, fill out this contact form and one of our pros will get in touch with you so you can get the pool of your dreams this summer.