Your Top Pool Care Questions Answered

While pool ownership brings many fun moments with family and friends, not to mention complementing the overall aesthetic of your home, it does come with expected regular responsibilities. There are many aspects to pool care, from routine maintenance and service to equipment repair and beyond, that require your attention. 

Read on to get your top pool care questions answered for a stress-free pool ownership experience. 

How Often Should I Run My Pool Pump?

This is dependent on the time of year and the conditions surrounding your pool. Your pool should filter through its entire volume of water twice a day. With that said, your filter system should run about 8 hours per day to properly circulate and clean your water. Please keep in mind that during the warmer months of the year when pool usage is at an all-time high, the demand for chemicals and filtration increases. Respectively, the demand for chemicals and filtration will decrease during your off-season.

How Often Should I Test My Pool Water?

Testing and balancing your pool water is imperative to a healthy pool, and it’s one of the most important aspects of pool maintenance. Water testing frequency is dependent upon a number of factors, including pool size, how often the pool is being used, and the outside temperature. That being said, during peak usage, your sanitizer levels and pH balance should be tested at least 2 to 3 times per week, total alkalinity (TA) at least once per week, and water chemistry, including calcium hardness (CH), cyanuric acid (CYA), total dissolved solids (TDS), and the presence of metals and phosphates at least once per month. 

Keep in mind having an increased bather load, like after a pool party or weekend of visitors, may cause you to test your water more frequently. 

Do I Need to Brush My Pool Walls?

Without a doubt, yes! Not only does brushing your pool walls agitate the water, but it also prevents algae spores from adhering to the pool surface as well as helps prevent stains and water scale. You should brush your pool walls at least once or twice a week, keeping in mind that while pool vacuums (automatic pool cleaners specifically) do reduce the time needed to manually clean the walls, they can’t always get in those hard-to-reach areas that harbor algae spores. 

What is the Importance of Shocking the Pool?

Shocking your pool is designed to break apart chloramines, raise your chlorine level and kill algae, bacteria, and other harmful pathogens. You should typically shock your pool once a week once swimming season begins, and then again after heavy rains, when temperatures are extremely hot, and when the pool has been used a lot. To determine if you need to shock your pool, check your Free Available Chlorine and Total Available Chlorine levels. They should be identical or within 0.2 ppm of each other. The wider the gap, the more quickly you need to shock the pool. 

How Often Should I Clean My Filter, Skimmer & Pump Baskets?

Dirty or clogged filters, skimmers, and pump baskets will restrict your water flow, causing your pool pump to work overtime, which can lead to significant issues down the road. While there’s no set schedule for filter, skimmer, and pump basket maintenance, it’s important to pay attention to how often you’re using the pool and if there is any debris circulating around. Be sure to check your skimmer and pump baskets daily. And clean your filter when the pressure gauge reads 8 to 10 PSI higher than when it’s clean. 

Your Virginia Beach Pool Care Experts

Knowing the basics of how to care for your pool is a part of your pool ownership experience. The pool care experts at Aqua Leisure Pools are committed to giving you everything you need to know to ensure a healthy pool year-round. Stop by our pool supply store in Virginia Beach to speak with one of our pool service professionals or pick up any of your pool care supplies. 

About the Company

Aqua Leisure Pools is the leading pool and hot tub supply store and service company serving Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk and the surrounding areas. Since 1985, Aqua Leisure Pools offers a number of pool and hot tub services, including inground vinyl liner replacement, weekly pool service, pool repair, and pool openings & closings, and much more. 

Aqua Leisure Pools has five conveniently located pool and hot tub stores throughout Virginia Beach and Chesapeake to help make pool ownership easy and stress-free. Our stores are stocked with reliable pool chemicals, energy-efficient equipment, pool toys and floats, pool cleaners and more. We also offer complimentary water testing to ensure your water is well-balanced and healthy. We are a Hayward Platinum Dealer and Totally Hayward Warranty Service Center. 

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