The weather is getting warmer and you’re ready to start enjoying your vinyl-lined pool! You’ve waited through a long winter and nothing sounds better than relaxing in that beautiful clear water. But, before you open the pool up for the season and hop in it the first time, making sure your pool is clean and ready for the summer should be at the top of your list. Then, as the summer progresses and the pool is used, you’ll want to keep it clean. Remember, the water gets dirty from the swimmers and pool accessories, as well as other components like bird droppings, decomposing leaves, wind-blown dirt, and so forth. So, a little bit of time each week is needed in keeping the pool water clean so it is a healthy environment for your family and friends.
Along with the warmer weather also comes the opportunity for algae to grow. You’ll want to be sure you take measures to stay on top of any algae and bacteria that can proliferate from the weather and use. At Prestige Pools, vinyl liner pools are our specialty. We help a lot of pool owners get their pools ready for the season and keep them clean throughout the warm months. In this article, we wanted to outline what you can do to keep your vinyl liner pool clean so you can enjoy it all summer long!
Keeping Your Vinyl-Lined Pool Clean for the Summer
Not only does keeping your vinyl-lined pool clean create a healthy environment for pool users, but it also extends the life of the liner. Taking proper care of your liner ensures the full return of your investment. Here are things you should do on a regular basis to keep your vinyl liner pool clean for the summer.
Skim the Surface, Vacuum the Bottom, and Brush the Sides
It’s important to keep the surface of the water clear, pick up debris from the bottom, and loosen anything that has adhered to the sides of the pool. At least on a weekly basis, use a skimmer to get leaves and floating debris off the surface of the water and vacuum the bottom of the pool. You can use a robot or suction pool cleaner to vacuum the bottom of the pool.
Your pool liner needs regular brushing to keep dirt, debris, and undissolved chemicals from causing a buildup on the sides. Use a brush with soft bristles or a sponge so as not to tear or puncture the liner. You should brush at least once a week but, if you have a lot of foreign material in your pool, you may need to brush more often.
Maintain Proper Water Chemistry
Maintaining the proper water chemistry is paramount in keeping a clean pool. You should test the pH and chlorine level every day using test strips. The ideal pool pH level is 7.4 to 7.6. When the pH is too low, the pool water is acidic, which can cause skin and eye irritation for swimmers. Even more important, acidic pool water can corrode your pool surface and the pool filter. When the pH is too high, chlorine can’t sanitize effectively and the pool may be unsafe from contaminants.
On a weekly basis, test the total alkalinity using test strips. The ideal total alkalinity level is 80 to 120 ppm. When the total alkalinity is too low, pH is unstable and can fluctuate. When total alkalinity is too high, the buffering effect can cause pH to rise and dilute the sanitizing efficacy of free chlorine.
Use Tennis Balls to Absorb Oils
Use a tennis ball to absorb oils from swimmers. Even when you shower before getting in the pool, oils from sweat, hair products, and sunscreen get into the water. Throw a tennis ball into the water and just leave it there. The fibers on a tennis ball can help absorb these oils and keep your water cleaner longer.
Remove Algae
Proper maintenance, routine cleaning, and having the appropriate chemicals help prevent algae growth in your pool. However, if the water in your pool is cloudy and appearing to be green instead of blue, you may have algae. You can learn more about how to clean a green pool here.
Warmer weather, lack of rain, and evaporation can stimulate algae growth. Furthermore, if the water level in your pool dips halfway below the skimmer, you can get extra algae.
There are three kinds of algae that can start to grow in the pool during warm months: green, yellow, and black (“What To Do If You Get Black Algae in Your Pool”). If you suspect there are algae growing in your pool, shock the pool immediately with a calcium hypochlorite shock. For green algae, shock twice. For yellow or dark green algae, shock three times. And, for black algae, shock four times. Always shock the pool at dusk or night. If you shock during the day, the sun causes most of the chlorine to evaporate before it has a chance to kill the algae. Put your tools in the shallow end during shocking so they will be sanitized.
Call Us for Keeping Your Vinyl Liner Pool Clean
Prestige Pools specializes in vinyl liner pools and is experienced in keeping them clean. Contact us to help you with your pool. Call at 919-586-8556 or contact us through our easy-to-use contact form.