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Summer is practically upon us! That means summer vacations, family BBQs and plenty of fun in the sun. Best of all, it means plenty of pool days! Is your pool ready?

Summer pool time also means treating your pool with plenty of TLC. Since it will be in regular use, it’s important that you make sure your pool is clean and its chemical levels are proper. Weekly maintenance is a necessity during these summer months–both for the health of your pool and its swimmers.

At Island Pool and Spa, we’re here to help. We sell all the chemicals and supplies you need to keep your pool in tip-top shape all summer long. Not up to spending so much time keeping up with the pool maintenance? No worries–we can take of that for you. We provide a full offering of pool care services to Tenafly, NJ and the surrounding areas.

If you haven’t already gotten your pool ready for summertime fun, have no fear! You can still call us to schedule your opening, but if you’d like to handle it yourself, read on for a pool opening checklist. And, read on for a basic pool care checklist.

Come on into our retail store, or contact us today for more info about how we can help keep your pool sparkling and clean all summer long.

1. Don’t Empty Your Pool

You may think that since we live in a cold climate you have to empty your pool to get it ready for swim season. Wrong! Draining the pool can cause big issues.

2. Prepare

Clean out all the baskets, remove any plugs that you may have put in when the pool closed last year and put the filtration system together.

3. Top It Off

Your pool’s water level has probably dropped during the winter months; if that is the case, top it off. Clean the filter before you turn it on; you can clean a cartridge filter by removing the cartridge and washing it with a hose. If you have a DE filter, take it apart to clean it and put it back together. If you have a sand filter, set the filter to backwash in order to clean the sand–then turn it to the normal setting.

4. Bring in the Professionals

It’s important to get your water professionally tested before anyone gets in it. Bring a sample of your water into our store and we’ll test it for you and give you the 411. We thoroughly test the alkalinity, PH, chlorine and mineral content levels so that you can know exactly what’s going on with your pool and what needs to be done.

5. Get Balanced

Once you’ve had your pool’s water analyzed, it’s time to make the adjustments needed. Here is where your pool needs to be:

  • PH levels need to be between 7.2 to 7.4
  • Total alkalinity should fall in the 80 to 120 range
  • Calcium hardness needs to be between 150 ppm to 250 ppm (parts per million)
  • Chlorine needs to be from 1 ppm to 3 ppm

6. Wait Until Water is Clean and Clear

Although it’s enticing, don’t jump in just yet. Your pool’s filter has to be cleaned every day until the water is clear; estimate around a week. You will probably need to add chlorine to keep it at the right level. Once the water is clear and clean, and you can see the pool floor, you can start getting out those pool floats.

7. Keep it Up

Don’t let your pool get far gone–keep up with daily and weekly pool maintenance. It’s important that you keep the filter clean, vacuum the pool weekly and test the chemical levels every day. If you decide to get a pool professional, make sure they come every week. If you are maintaining yourself, bring in a pro once a month at least to make sure all is well.

Your weekly to-do list should include:

Brushing
Use a brush to remove dirt that has collected on the sides and bottom of your pool and brush sediment toward the main drain. That way it is easier to vacuum.

Vacuum
Make sure to submerge the vacuum head and hose before you connect the vacuum to the filter.

Clean the Skimmer
It is wise to clean out your skimmer weekly, or even more often if necessary. Making sure it is debris-free allows it to operate properly.

Check Water Circulation
You pool’s skimmer, pump, pump strainer, drains and filter comprise the circulation system. This system allows the chemicals to work properly and ensures that water is properly filtered. Also, remember to run your pump for an adequate amount of time each day to make sure the water is properly filtered. Also, make sure to keep each item clean and in good condition.

Check Filter
Pool filters keep your pool debris-free. Regardless of the type of filter you have, make sure to keep it clean. There are many types of filters, so make sure to follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions when it comes to cleaning and maintaining it.

Shock
Test your pool water on a frequent basis–daily or weekly depending on how often it is used.  Add chemicals if need be according to manufacturer’s instructions. Regular shock treatments rid your pool of dirt, bacteria, and algae. Again, follow manufacturer’s specific directions for shock treatments.

As you can see, a lot goes into making sure your pool is sparkling, clean and safe to swim in. Let us help!