Basic Swimming Pool Maintenance
Maintaining your pool is easiest when your chemical treatment program and your
filtration system work together. Here are the important points to recognize.
Sanitize your pool with a stabilized chlorine product to provide protection against
bacteria. These generally come in stick or tablet form and are fed into a distribution
container near the pump and filter system.

Use an algae preventive or inhibitor to help keep the more than 15,000 kinds of algae
from ever getting started. This liquid product is simply poured into the water near the

skimmer intake so that the pump system can distribute it to all areas of the pool.
Shock your pool on a regular basis - about every two weeks - to get rid of water-soluble
bather waste.

Find a pool professional or supply dealership that has a water test facility (or access to
one) and that offers computer analysis of samples you bring in. Many of the larger
companies offer this service free of charge if you bought your pool from them.

Troubleshooting pointers (these are important):
Listen for excessive pump noise as a warning of possible problems in that area. Today's
newer pumps are sealed units that don't require any maintenance, but rubber or
composition pump seals can go bad and result in bearing failure or electrical shorts.
Replace any pump that's more than 7 or 8 years old and is in need of repair. The newer
models are more efficient at moving larger volumes of water with less energy, saving you
money on many fronts: You'll need a smaller, less expensive pump; you'll have lower
monthly utility bills; and better circulation means better filtration and fewer chemical
requirements.
Keep a close eye on the pressure gauge. An inoperative pressure gauge means you can't
tell when water pressure begins to build from the normal levels indicated by a clean,
efficient filter and the higher pressure of a filter in need of cleaning. High pressure means
unnecessary strain on the pool pump and a less efficient filtering system.
Know what kind of filter you have and keep it clean (sand, D.E. or cartridge)
Special note…
The non-chlorinated systems are most often known as biguianide systems that use
hydrogen peroxide to purify and soften the water. Instead of the chlorinated shocker, a
solution of 27 percent hydrogen peroxide is used to shock the pool.