Looking After Your Above Ground Pool

Surprisingly there is a little bit of maintenance required with an above ground pool. It isn’t as simple as just filling a pool with water and jumping in. Of course, being able to cool off in summer and watching your family and friends enjoying themselves in the summer it is all worth it. For sparking water that is clean and healthy there are things you will need to do.

1. The filter and pump can be considered the heart of your above ground pool as it helps keep your water clear. Pumps provide the force to circulate the water pushing it through the filter. You should aim to push ALL the water in your pool, through the filter every 8 hours. The best time to run your pump and filter is during the day for an 8 to 12 hour stretch. It’s very important that the water circulates around the perimeter of your pool. Water that is in motion makes it harder for algae and bacteria to form and directs debris into your skimmer where it can be captured by your filter
2. Your filter is there to catch and remove both microscopic particles and debris. Cartridge filters have a cartridge inside that can be removed and washed using a garden hose, however, your cartridge will need to be replaced eventually to ensure your filter is working correctly.
3. Above ground pools have different areas with little or no circulation and these areas are breeding grounds for problems like algae, so the walls and floor of your pool should be brushed and vacuumed once a week. Even if you use an automatic cleaner brushing once a week is recommended.
4. Test your water regularly for both sanitisers and PH levels. By testing 2 or 3 times a week you’ll understand how rain and sun and chemical applications affect your pool water. Regular testing will ensure crystal clear water all season long. A digital test strip reader will make this job a lot faster. If you find it hard to maintain your PH, check your alkalinity to ensure it’s within the right range and adjust accordingly.
5. Chlorine tablets are the most efficient and common sanitisers to use in an above ground pool. These tablets are compressed so they will dissolve slowly to release chlorine to keep your water clean and wipe out any bacteria. Chlorine also comes in sticks and granules but whichever one you choose, you want a stabilised chlorine which is a process that protects it from the damaging rays of the sun – making the chlorine last longer and work more effectively.
6. Debris will build up in the water from hair spray, sun lotions and even perspiration and this can cause skin and eye irritation or odour. Chlorine is often blamed for this, but it can be the contaminants which are stopping the chlorine from doing its job. When this happens, you need to *shock* your pool once a week to oxidise contaminants and free up the chlorine to keep your water crystal clear. Regular treatments will also kill any resistant algae in the water.