Weekly Pool Maintenance Guide

Introduction

Hey there, and welcome back to the Pool Nerd. I’m Justin, your resident pool aficionado, and today I’m taking you through my weekly pool maintenance routine to help you create your own pool maintenance schedule.

Even once you have mastered all of the essential components of pool maintenance, all of the tasks can seem overwhelming until you have created a schedule. I already have a video on all of the essentials of pool maintenance, so go check that out if you are still learning how to care for your pool. Now, let’s jump into what you should be doing every week to keep your pool clean!

Building Your Schedule

My pool is used most often on the weekend, so my schedule revolves around that. I recommend building your schedule around when your pool is used most, so it can always be the cleanest for those days. There are three key pieces of weekly pool maintenance: shocking your pool, testing your water, and scrubbing the walls, waterline, and floor.

1. Shocking Your Pool

I typically shock my pool on Sunday or Monday night, after it has seen a lot of use over the weekend. If you don't know how to shock a pool, follow along on my guide to shocking a swimming pool. Here’s how you should approach it:

• When to Shock: Always shock your pool at night or near sunset. The reason? The sun’s UV rays can dissolve the chlorine before it has had time to properly sanitize your pool.
• How Much to Shock: The cost of weekly shocking can add up quickly. I personally use a little bit of pool shock weekly or even shock every other week, thanks to my Spectralight Ultraviolet light sanitation system. The Spectralight does the work of chlorine and other sanitizers but without chemicals, meaning your pool will be healthier and cheaper to maintain because you’ll use about 90% fewer chemicals.
• Alternative to Traditional Shock: If you’re not ready to make the upgrade, stick to shocking your pool weekly to ensure all contaminants that enter your pool are killed off.

2. Testing Your Water

Maintaining balanced water chemistry is crucial for a healthy pool. Here’s how I handle it:

• Frequency: I test my pool’s chemistry and make adjustments twice a week.

  • First Check: The day after shocking the pool to ensure that the water is balanced post-shock.

  • Second Check: The day before the weekend to ensure everything is good before heavy use.

    

• Target Levels:

  • pH: Between 7-7.5
  • Alkalinity: Between 100-150 ppm
  • Total Chlorine: Between 1-3 ppm (or just 0.5 ppm if you have a Spectralight UV System)

• Additional Tips: Always check your water after a spill or a big storm to ensure everything is still balanced.

3. Scrubbing and Vacuuming

Keeping your pool surfaces clean is essential to preventing algae and other build-ups:

• Frequency: Ideally, you should scrub and vacuum your pool weekly. Daily skimming and scrubbing are even better if you have the time.
• Tools: Use a pool brush to scrub those pesky spots like the waterline. A vacuum will handle the bottom of your pool.
  • Robotic Pool Cleaners: If you want to save time, consider switching to a robotic pool cleaner. These devices can scrub and vacuum for you, and some even clean the waterline. They run on 90% less energy than traditional pressure side cleaners, saving both time and money. For recommendations, check out my guide on the best robotic pool cleaners

Conclusion

So there you have the basic components and timeline of weekly pool maintenance so that you can build your pool cleaning schedule! Start by figuring out when you use your pool the most, shock the day after heavy use, check your pool chemistry twice a week, and clean it as often as you can, preferably with a robotic pool cleaner!

If you want to keep nerding out over your pool, be sure to hit that subscribe button to keep learning how to make pool maintenance way easier. Head on over to thepoolnerd.com to view my comparison page and see all the differences between the many robotic pool cleaners out there. Until then, enjoy that pool and check back soon for more pool maintenance tips and insight.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How often should I shock my pool?

A: You should shock your pool weekly, preferably at night or near sunset. If you have a UV sanitation system like Spectralight, you might be able to shock less frequently.

Q: Can I test my pool water just once a week?

A: While testing once a week is better than nothing, testing twice a week is preferable to stay on top of any changes in your pool’s chemistry. Also, be sure to test after a storm or any spills.

Q: What is the benefit of a UV sanitation system like Spectralight?

A: A UV sanitation system reduces your reliance on chemicals by up to 90%, leading to a healthier pool environment and significant cost savings on pool chemicals.

Q: Do I really need a robotic pool cleaner?

A: While not essential, a robotic pool cleaner can save you hours of manual labor and ensure your pool is consistently clean. They also use significantly less energy than traditional cleaners.

Q: What are the ideal chemical levels for my pool?

A:

• pH: 7-7.5
• Alkalinity: 100-150 ppm
• Total Chlorine: 1-3 ppm (0.5 ppm if using a UV system)

Your resident pool aficionado.

For over 4+ years, The Pool Nerd has been a leading source in the swimming pool industry. With years of experince owning a swimming pool, our hope here is to guide and help making owning a swimming pool easier.