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 circulate and clean your water properly. 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. Check your Free Available Chlorine and Total Available Chlorine levels to determine if you need to shock your pool. 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 any debris is 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. 

Best Houston Pool Builder

Knowing the basics of how to care for your pool is a part of your pool ownership experience. When you choose Cypress Custom Pools as your custom pool builder, you’re choosing a company committed to teaching you everything you need to know to ensure a healthy pool year-round. Contact us today to schedule your design consultation and learn more about the pool building process and caring for your new pool. We also offer service, repair and warranty work by contacting us here. 

About the Company

Cypress Custom Pools is a custom pool builder best known for luxurious pool design & construction services throughout Cypress, Houston, The Woodlands, Conroe, Katy and the surrounding areas. As the best pool builder near me, Cypress Custom Pools specializes in new pool construction, pool renovation and outdoor living design & construction. We take pride in providing our clients with cutting-edge construction practices, quality craftsmanship, high-end building materials and superior customer service. 

Cypress Custom Pools has a long-standing reputation as a premier pool builder, providing area homeowners with custom pool design & construction services, as well as outdoor living design services,to provide a seamless transition from the indoors out. Whether you’re looking to incorporate a new inground pool or custom outdoor living space featuring an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, fire pit, patio covers, gazebos and more, contact the design experts at Cypress Custom Pools today. Our luxury custom pools are built to the highest standards. Be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, or visit us on YouTube. Contact us to schedule your design consultation today.