10 Common Pool Care Mistakes To Avoid

Residential swimming pool care can range from very easy to tough depending on many different factors.

But for the average backyard pool, keeping a crystal clear pool should be an easy task. The key to success is to be armed with the proper information and a willingness to give the pool the attention it requires.

Following are 10 common pool care mistakes to avoid.

10 Common Pool Care Mistakes To Avoid

Insufficient Chlorine

Routinely test and monitor the chlorine level of the pool water. Without chlorine, nothing else will matter, and the pool will soon be turning green.

Test the chlorine levels weekly in the winter months and twice a week in the hot summer months and add as necessary.

Carefully document each test result, and over time the patterns will start making sense, and the task will get easier. While testing the chlorine, make sure to check the pH and alkalinity also and make adjustments as necessary to keep the water in balance.

After Pool Party Care (or lack of care)

Having a pool party with many swimmers can take a toll on the chlorine residual, and in most cases, by the end of the party, all the chlorine is gone. This is another of 10 common pool care mistakes to avoid.

If the chlorine level is not restored immediately after the party, the pool could start to turn cloudy and green by morning. As soon as all swimming is done for the day, shock the pool and run the filter for several hours.

Filter Neglect

Maintaining the main pool filter is a must. If the filter is ignored and gets too dirty, there will not be proper filtration.
And soon you can expect cloudy and green water in the pool. Depending on the size and type of the pool filter, the maintenance requirements can be very different.

Always install the filter manometer in good working order and watch it carefully.

When the pressure increases by 8 – 10 psi compared to the last cleaning, it is time to clean or backwash.

Clogged Baskets

Allowing the skimmer baskets and pump basket to get clogged with debris will lead to inadequate filtration, stress on the pool motor, and eventually a dark and green pool.

It only takes a minute to do a daily, or every other day, inspection to make sure all baskets are clean and free of debris.

Inadequate Filter Runs

It is an easy trap to fall into, but many people decrease the pool filter run time to save money on the energy bill. This practice is just asking for the pool problems.

Furthermore, there is no substitute for adequate filtration, and it is guaranteed that without it, the pool will not look inviting.

Water Level

It pays close attention to the water level in the pool, especially in the hot summer months. This is also important factor of 10 common pool care mistakes to avoid.

Make sure the water level is half way up the skimmer intake at all times. If the water level gets too low, the pump could lose its prime and run dry causing Expensive pump damage.

At least when the pump drains the water, there will certainly be a lack of filtration leading to a green pool.

Not Good Use Calcium Hardness

The hardness of calcium strengthens the water in the pool.

Keeping water in the pool carefully, it will help extend the life of your vinyl liner, concrete, fiberglass, plaster, and filter system.
You are only necessary to add it once at the beginning of the season to get the level where you need it, about 200 – 250 ppm.

However, be sure, you keep an eye on this throughout the season. You can lose calcium in water due to evaporation and spillage.

Adding Shock Directly

The Shock pool is a very high concentration of chlorine.

Chlorine can bleach things, turning black clothes into pink and white clothes well, whiter and so on. If a vinyl liner has in your swimming pool, you do not want to include a shock directly into the water.

Shock-granules lower the bottom and bleach your liner.This will also result in the area becoming fragile and weak, which can cause leakage.

Over Backwashing

Backwashing into the pool is what cleans the filter media inside the filter, whether it’s sand or D.E. (Diatomaceous Earth).

It takes water from your pool, flushes the filter material and emits dirty water from the backwash valve in the pool or drain plug. Besides, backwashing is important, but there is one good indicator of when you need to do this.

Observe the manometer on the filter tank. After the filter has been rinsed again, its necessary is pay attention to the manometer. In most cases, it will read from 10 to 15 pounds per square meter. Inch (per square inch).

Here your filter should work fine.

When the pressure rises to about ten psi from your normal pressure, it means that there is a lot of excess debris in your filter that causes high pressure. Now is the most suitable time for backwashing and returning the pressure back to normal.

Adding Pool Shock Through Your Skimmer

This is the biggest mistake when caring for your pool. For what? Your pool filtration system can explode!
Here’s how!

The pool shock (calcium hypochlorite) and chlorine (DiChlor or TriChlor), when combined and create a lethal gas.

If an automatic chlorinator has attached to your filter system as well as you pour a shock into the skimmer, the impact and chlorine will mix inside the chlorinator, which can cause the chlorinator in the EXPLODE state!

Final Verdict

Owning a backyard swimming pool can be a fun, entertaining, and refreshing experience when all aspects of the pool are in good order. But when pool problems start to show up, things can get ugly real quick and turn into major headaches and significant expenses.

Give the pool the attention it needs and above 10 common pool care mistakes to avoid and enjoy the pool all year long!