How To Clean Your Backyard Pool In Five Easy Steps

Following an appropriate maintenance schedule helps ensure that your backyard pool stays clean, free from algae, and safe to swim in whenever the urge hits, and it’s surprisingly easy to keep things behaving properly once you’ve established a routine.

With that in mind, we’ve put together the below quick tips for a clean pool:

Circulation Is Key

Your pool pump doesn’t just move water around because it can, it actually serves an incredibly important function in keeping your pool clean. This is why selecting the right pool pump is key to the health of your water, your local Irrigear Independent Expert can assist you in finding the right pump for your pool if you are unsure which option is best for your needs.

Adequate circulation ensures that your pool chemicals and treatments are mixed in properly, while also helping to prevent the growth of bacteria and algae. As a general rule, you’ll want to circulate your pool water for at least eight hours each day during periods of use, and a minimum of four hours each day when the pool is not in use.

Note: Additional circulation is recommended during the hotter months even if your pool is not actively being used, as warmth and sunlight are two key factors for boosting the growth of algae and spread of bacteria.

Don’t Forget The Pool Vacuum And Brush

Although circulating the water in your pool will help keep the majority of it clean, there are certain areas that will always carry more build up as they receive little to no natural circulation and can even avoid the efforts of your pool pump. For this reason, it is vital that you brush and vacuum the walls and floor of your pool each week to prevent the build up of harmful bacteria or algal blooms.

Automated pool vacuums are available to assist with this, so if you’d like to outsource some of your pool maintenance, speak with your local Irrigear Independent Experts about which option would be best suited to your pool.

Keep An Eye On Your Pool Equipment

Your pool equipment works hard to keep everything how it should be, but it isn’t immune to experiencing its own concerns. For example, the skimmer and pump basket can fill and clog if left too long. To prevent this, they should be monitored regularly and emptied at least once per week to protect and maximise performance of your pool pump and filter.

Speaking of your pool filter, this element of pool care is arguably the most important piece of equipment you’ll install in your pool, as it is constantly removing visible debris and microscopic matter from your water. These contaminants, however, do not simply disappear, instead getting collected within your pool filtration system. The good news is that by regularly cleaning your filter, you can help ensure it functions optimally.

Pool Filter Cleaning

The process for cleaning your pool filter will depend on the brand of the unit and the way your system is set up. Material that is trapped within the filter can be removed either by backwashing the system in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, or by cleaning your cartridge with a specialised solution. Both methods will assist with removing oils and scale, however, deeply embedded debris may require soaking and/or manual intervention. Once you are satisfied that your pool filter is clean, gently hose it down with fresh water before returning it to operation.

Water Testing Is Your Friend

A lot of factors can impact the quality of your water leading to potential imbalances, algae growth or even an unsafe environment. For example, people, pets (and wild animals) using your pool, the weather, and product application all affect pool water quality and its necessary pH balance. Your local Irrigear Independent Experts can perform water testing and provide recommendations on how to rectify any issues that your pool water quality may have.

Make Sure You’re Using The Right Pool Products

Finally, not only can a chemical imbalance make your swimming experience uncomfortable, but it can also cause damage to your pool. In extreme cases, imbalances can even cause harm to those who use the pool and/or costly rehabilitation for the pool. In other words, it’s important to ensure that everything is balanced correctly. Every pool will have different needs, so be sure to speak to your local Irrigear Independent Expert about what treatments and chemicals are best/needed for yours.