The words pool and summer are really synonymous. During the cold winter months, kids and grownups alike share dreams filled with warm weather, cool pools, and days spent relaxing in the sun. If you are lucky enough to have a pool in your own backyard, now is the time when it will be getting the most amount of use, and putting in the effort to make sure the pool is both clean and safe is a must-do for any responsible head of household. Follow these simple tips and you’ll be sure that your home’s own oasis is in prime shape to be enjoyed all summer long. 

1. The Underwater Vacuum: Vacuuming your pool once a week with a pool vacuum is one of the most important steps to keeping your pool clean. Not only does the vacuum help eliminate debris that’s settled to the bottom, but by keeping the pool clean it naturally reduces the amount of chemicals you have to use, therefore keeping your family more healthy when spending time in the water.
2. Skimming the Surface: Want to embody the classic Hollywood image of a pool boy? Head outside to catch some rays and bring the pool skimmer with you. Getting leaves off the surface before they decompose and fall to the pool floor makes the task of removal a great deal easier, and it helps keep the filters from clogging with debris.
3. A Level Playing Field: Be it cannonballs or evaporation—during the course of the summer water will be lost from your pool and it’s your job to fill it back up. Low water levels can damage the pool pump which is expensive to repair, so don’t make it hard on yourself—do a weekly check of water levels and when you notice it getting low don’t hesitate to bring out the garden hose.
4. Filtery Goodness: The filter plays a vital role in the health of your pool by keeping the flow and efficiency of your pool at optimum levels. Unlike other areas which can only benefit from over-attention, cleaning the filter too often will actual hurt its productivity, and so it is important to only service it at certain times. Regularly look at the pressure gauge and flow meter, look for a difference of around 10 lbs. per square inch as your cue that it is time to do some filter cleaning.
5. Maintaining pH: As a standing body of water, generally, keeping the pool sanitary takes some effort and attention. One of the most important indicators of the pool’s health is the level of its pH, since a good level will allow the pool’s sanitization agents to work properly. Test kits can be easily purchased online and the instructions should be followed carefully. The ideal range that you are aiming for is between 7.2 and 7.8.

TIP: Use WD-40® Multi-Use Product to lubricate gears on pool pump filter systems.