8 Swimming Pool Maintenance Tips For Beginners

Swimming pool maintenance is vital for ensuring the clarity and hygiene of pool water. This comprehensive process for beginners, founded on eight key steps, minimizes time and costs while maximizing pool cleanliness.

1. Check the water level: Ensuring the water reaches the correct level for optimal filtration.
2. Scrub the pool: Regular scrubbing to prevent algae and deposit buildup.
3. Remove dirt: Clearing visible debris to maintain water clarity.
4. Vacuum the bottom: Removing debris settled at the pool’s bottom.
5. Clean the filter: Regular cleaning of the pool pump filter for efficient operation.
6. Backwash and rinse filter system: Essential for maintaining filter efficacy.
7. Pack and store accessories: Proper storage of pool accessories to prolong their life.
8. Check and optimize water parameters: Regular monitoring to ensure safe and balanced water chemistry.

We explain how a swimming pool stays permanently clean with these pool maintenance instructions and what products are needed to clean the swimming pool. This pool maintenance process is suitable for both beginners and experienced pool owners. Pool owners can keep their water in the swimming pool clean by following the instructions below.

1. Check The Swimming Pool Water Level

The pool’s current water level needs to be examined first. If the water level is too low, start topping up the water. To do this, simply lay the garden hose out to the pool’s edge and let the water run into the pool.

A low water level in a swimming pool can cause the skimmer and the pool pump to suck in air. And if the pool pump sucks in air, the remaining water in If the pool pump is unable to properly circulate water. This can cause damage to the pool equipment in the worst case.

But don’t forget to turn off the tap after filling the pool – you will hear the water splashing. The correction for the water parameters will be made later.

2. Scrub The Swimming Pool

Take a pool brush, attach it to the telescopic rod and scrub the edge of the swimming pool first. Then the rest of the pool is brushed properly. Don’t forget to clean the stairs in the pool.

To clean a swimming pool, full muscle strength is required to scrub the floor and walls. The swimming pool bottom should be scrubbed thoroughly with the pool brush, as it can later be difficult to clean certain corners with the pool vacuum.

3. Get The Dirt From The Swimming Pool

To get the dirt out of the swimming pool, you have to clean the pool with a landing net. Take a pool net and use it to remove any coarse dirt from the surface of the water as best you can.

Usually, a skimmer filters out most substances from the water surface, but there is always dirt left over like leaves, bark mulch, or insects. Especially after cleaning The pool with the brush, you will find a lot of dirt along the waterline.

If the dirt is not removed, it ends up on the pool floor after a certain period of time and provides bacteria with free food.

It is best to net the pool once a day – preferably in the evening. Buy a fine-meshed pool net, with which you can also remove insects from the pool. The frame should be stabilized as nets break easily.

When you are done with the net, the sieve is removed from the skimmer and emptied. Then it goes to the cleaning of the pool with the pool vacuum.

4. Vacuum The Swimming Pool Bottom

Next, the swimming pool bottom is cleaned with a vacuum. For this purpose, the pool vacuum is connected to the existing filter system in the pool via a suction hose.

When using the pool vacuum, the air must escape from the hose. This prevents air from entering the pool system and helps to clean the pool more efficiently.

The manual mode is always used for vacuuming. Therefore, first set the operating switch in the technical room from automatic to manual. Also, close the floor drain (often the lowest pipe). This directs the most suction to the skimmer – the bottom and skimmer are closed when you use the side connection for suction.

Make sure that the return pipe to the pool always remains open when using the pool vacuum – the return is the pipe that leads from the multivalve to the pool and has no sight glass. You set the multport valve (MV) on the sand filter system to filtration, and vacuuming the pool can begin.

Drive the pool vacuum from one corner towards the center of the pool and first vacuum only one side of the pool. Then the other side of the pool is vacuumed using the same principle. When using the pool vacuum, you should always vacuum with an overlap. This prevents lines on the pool floor.

Alternatively, a pool robot can make pool maintenance easier. You can find recommended pool robots in my blog.

5. Clean The Pool Filter Pump

After vacuuming, the filter in the pool pump should be cleaned. Before doing this, set the multivalve to close and close all pipes – skimmer, floor connection, and the return. Then you can open the pump housing and remove the filter screen. Clean the sieve by rinsing it with clean water.

The cleaned sieve is reinserted into the pump housing, and the cover closed – just tighten the screw connection hand-tight so that it does not break. When inserting the sieve, ensure that all the seals on the pool pump housing are clean and positioned correctly in the groove. If no leak is found during a visual inspection, the pump has been appropriately closed.

The regular pool pump operation is set at the end. To do this, open all the necessary valves and set the multiport valve to filtration again. The pool pump can now be switched on again.

6. Backwashing And Rinsing Of The Swimming Pool Filter System

Backwashing and rinsing of the swimming pool filter system is important for pool maintenance. If the pressure is too high after turning on the pump, you need to backwash the filter. Here are 3 steps on how to backwash a sand filter.

1. The operating switch of the pool pump is set to zero and the multivalve to flushing.
2. Then turn on the pump and wait until the water in the sight glass becomes clear.
3. Is the water in the sight glass clear? Well! Now the pump is switched off again, and the multivalve is set to rinse.

Detailed instructions on how to backwash a pool sand filter can be found on our site. Follow the link.

Rinsing must continue until the water in the sight glass becomes clear. You might be wondering why a rinsing of the sand filter system is necessary now? The system must be rinsed after every backwash. Rinsing is important so that no dirt ends up in the pool via the return flow.

If the rinsing is successful, the pump is switched off again and set back to filtration – done.

Don’t forget to set the pump’s operating switch back to automatic.

After using a flocculant, the system should not be flushed for 7 to 14 days. The pump must be flushed when the pressure reaches 1.3 kg per cm²!

7. Pack And Store Your Swimming Pool Accessories

Now is the time to pack and store your swimming pool accessories. Please stick to the order listed – this is important.

1. – Disconnect the vacuum hose from the filter system in the pool. This avoids air in the pipes.
2. – Now the pool vacuum can be taken out of the pool and laid out to dry.

Store the pool vacuum in a dry place and never leave it in your swimming pool.

8. Check And Optimize Water Parameters In Your Swimming Pool

When pool maintenance is complete, essential parameters such as the pH value in the water must be checked. You can use different water testers for this – with test strips, wrong measurement results are expected.

The table below shows which parameters are measured in the pool and which values ​​are considered optimal. This table also shows how often you have to measure the individual parameters in your pool.

As more people use the pool, the water balance is checked more often. If the pH level changes, fix it right away after cleaning the pool. In my blog, you will find detailed guides on how to optimize every parameter in the swimming pool.

What Equipment Do I Need For Pool Maintenance?

Maintaining a swimming pool’s cleanliness and functionality hinges on the use of 7 essential equipments. Each tool plays a critical role in upholding the pool’s hygienic standards and aesthetic appeal.

• Telescopic Rod: Facilitates extended reach, crucial for larger pools.
• Pool Brush and Sponge: Vital for removing algae and other deposits.
• Pool Net: Essential for capturing floating debris on the water’s surface.
• Pool Vacuum and Hose: Integral for cleaning the pool’s floor and walls.
• Water Tester (Strips, Tablets, or E-tester): Necessary for monitoring water quality and chemical balance.
• Water Bucket and Small Shovel: Used for dissolving and distributing pool chemicals.
• Soft Pads: Provide knee protection during maintenance activities.

Notably, the pool filter, a fundamental component for water clarity and hygiene, is assumed to be part of every pool setup and is not listed separately. By focusing on these essential items and avoiding superfluous accessories, pool maintenance can be streamlined, ensuring a clean and safe swimming environment.

How Does A Professional Swimming Pool Maintenance Plan For Beginners Look Like?

A professional swimming pool maintenance plan is key for clean water. The precise processes for swimming pool care save you time, and you can quickly get into a routine that makes your pool maintenance more manageable. Learn how to maintain and clean a pool daily, weekly, monthly and annually in the following chapters.

Daily pool maintenance

• Remove the coarse dirt such as leaves and insects from the pool with a landing net.
• Remove the skimmer basket and clean it with clear water.
• Do a visual inspection of algae in the pool.
• If the water level is too low, add some water.
• Check the pH value in the pool 1-2 times a week and, if necessary, optimize the pH value.
• Check the level of disinfectant and add a chlorine tablet if necessary.

Weekly pool maintenance

• Use a pool brush to clean the pool floor, walls, and stairs. Alternatively, you can use a pool robot for floors and walls.
• The pool bottom should be cleaned with a pool vacuum at least 1-2 times a week – then clean the pump basket!
• If necessary, clean the waterline with a simple sponge.
• I recommend pouring a non-foaming algaecide into the pool.

Monthly pool maintenance

• Check the alkalinity, calcium hardness, and cyanuric acid with an electronic water tester.
• Clean the cartridge filter in the pool or do a backwash and rinse.
• I recommend using a flocculant in the pool.

Annual pool maintenance

• When cleaning the pool after the winter, check the pool and pipe system for possible damage – remove the damage before filling.
• Change the filter sand in the sand filter system – but no later than every 2 years.
• If the concentration of cyanuric acid in the pool is above 50 mg/l, then one-fifth (1/5) of the water or more must be changed.

We recommend our blog and the search function for more guides about pool maintenance. For any clarifications about pool maintenance, don’t hesitate to contact us on social media. We’re happy to help.