Swimming pools and hot tubs are hefty investments. The last thing you’d want is for your fancy pool or hot tub to become severely damaged before its estimated lifespan is up. Unfortunately, this is a much more common occurrence than you might expect. Failing to take good care of your swimming pool or making basic yet detrimental mistakes can severely shorten the duration in which you can enjoy the pool. To avoid such an unfortunate situation, here are a few effective maintenance tips to extend the lifespan of your swimming pool.

Inspect the Swimming Pool

First and foremost, you’ll want to inspect the walls and water circulation of the swimming pool. As a general rule, the walls of the pool should always be smooth to the touch. There are many things that could affect this smoothness, such as the building up of contaminants, the development of algae, or damage to the materials. At first glance, the inspection should point out all the visible damage, which could interfere with the circulation of water or require additional treatment. Next, the inspection should focus on any debris accumulating over time from using the pool, which should be vacuumed regularly. In the case of seeing visible cracks in the pool, it’s best to consult a professional, so they can assess the severity of the damage and recommend proper solutions. One of these solutions may be to get rid of the current pool and start again. If the damage is quite bad, patching it up isn't going to do much as it can look un-sightly, so it may be wise to take it down to its base and build it back up. Whether you want an above ground pool or would quite enjoy a fiberglass inground pool, always do your research first and speak to those professionals about your next steps.

Test the Water’s Chemicals

Once you’ve made sure that the structure and features of the pool are intact, it’s time to test the balance of the water’s chemicals. The pool water itself should be adjusted to a certain balance, but you won’t be able to maintain the proper levels if you don’t have an idea of what the standard ratio is. As it happens, the source water itself will contain a degree of chemicals, and it’s not always standardized or well-regulated. That’s why it’s better to hire a professional to test the water or request a water report from your service provider. Once you get the report or test results, you should estimate the amount of water used in the pool to calculate the amount of chemicals you’ll need to add. On average, the pool water should have a chemical balance of 1 to 3 ppm chlorine levels, 7.4 to 7.6 pH levels, 3 to 5ppm bromine levels, and 90 to 110 alkalinity levels. You should test the pool water at least thrice weekly and adjust the chemical balance accordingly. 

Keep It Clean

Just because the water is clear doesn’t mean it’s clean. Even worse, you can’t leave the water as it is if you can visibly see certain pollutants or in case the water has turned turbid. Make it a point to keep the water clean, but also pay close attention to the walls of the pool. Like we’ve previously mentioned, accumulating stains and debris need to be removed right away. While the best scenario is to prevent them from building up, sometimes you’ll need to use a designated stain remover to minimize the damage. 

In countries like Australia where people like going for all-purpose stain removers, many pool owners become quickly disappointed with the results. The background of this reason is simple; as experts at The Pool Stain Removers suggest, you can’t expect an all-purpose detergent to clean all stains. Instead, it’s much more effective to consult a professional and have them give you an accurate report of the cause of these stains, as well as their expert recommendation for the best stain remover to use. 

Maintain the Filters

Just as is the case with all filters, the building up of debris is bound to limit the entry of the filtered substance. In this case, leaving the filters unmaintained will only serve in limiting the amount of water filtered, which, in turn, will put more pressure on the pumps. The pumps will work overtime to push more water to be filtered, ultimately reducing its lifespan. Something as simple as cleaning the water filters regularly and changing them when they’re done their job can prevent all of this hassle. 

Inspect and Repair

At the end of the day, regularly monitoring, inspecting, maintaining, and repairing the pool is the key to extending its lifespan. That's why according to pool deck resurfacing contractors, it’s important to keep a regular inspection and maintenance schedule, so you can do repairs as soon as they’re needed. That way, you can prevent a small and simple problem from escalating into a hefty problem. 

Anyone who has invested in a swimming pool would want to enjoy it for as long as possible. For that reason, it’s crucial to regularly inspect the pool for any signs of damage and contact a reputable company like https://www.lazydaypools.com/services/in-ground_pool_liner_replacements/ to carry out any needed repairs as soon as possible. Keeping a good chemical balance, regularly cleaning the pool, and diligently maintaining are all necessary steps you must take to extend its lifespan.