DIY Maintenance on Your Pool (Guest Post)

Keeping good care of your pool will prolong its life and have you enjoying it for years to come. A pool is a luxurious asset to have, and one well worth investing in for the well being of you and your family. The only downside is the constant maintenance you have to perform in order to keep it up-and-running, sparkling, clean and bacteria free. Unfortunately, pool cleaning isn't yet automatic; you can't just leave your pool pump running and it'll clean itself. Pool shops and pool cleaners can perform this maintenance, but there's a certain level of pride involved in knowing that your pool's state of perfection is thanks to your own efforts.

Let's start with the most regular level of maintenance. This involves testing your pool for imbalances between your chlorine, pH and alkalinity levels. Testing every two or three days is best, if not every day. Test kits come with a strip of plastic with three testing pads that you dip into your pool water. The colours these pads turn can be compared on the outside of the test kit and will tell you how out of balance your pool is. You can then make adjustments by dosing your pool with the correct level of chemicals. If you own a salt water chlorinator then it is unlikely that you'll have to make many adjustments at all.

Your pool will need to be regularly scooped and vacuumed to remove dirt, grime and leaves that have fallen in. Pool cleaners can chug along the bottom of your pool quite happily doing this, and can even come with attachments to allow you to swim whilst they do all the hard work. It's also a good idea to invest in a leaf eater, as whole leaves that are taken through your vacuum may clog up your pool filter system.

After every swim it's a good idea to shock your pool back into cleanliness. A chlorine shock treatment will restore balance and get the chlorine breaking down all of the bacteria that's been introduced by bodies being in the water.

Your pool pump and filter will need to be checked regularly to make sure they're running smoothly and efficiently. Performing a backwash on your pump involves vacuuming it first, then usually manually switching the pump handle to 'backwash' and following the instructions set out on the pump itself. If you leave your pump to get clogged and don't backwash, the pressure may build up and your pump could crack or even explode.

Your pool liner obviously needs to be taken care of. A leak could have disastrous consequences. If you've discovered a leak in your pool or a wet patch outside your pool then you will want to take action immediately. Once you've located the hole, you will need to drain the pool, at least until the hole is well away from the water. You'll then need to scrub the area around the hole with soapy water to remove the chemical residue. Cut a square or circle of marine-grade vinyl and attach it using waterproof epoxy resin, applying pressure for several minutes. Leaving the patch on overnight before you refill your pool will ensure it sticks. Let's just hope that's the only leak!


There's nothing quite so satisfying as being proud of a pool that you maintain and fix without any outside help. By taking responsibility for your pool and ensuring that it's safe, clean and in good working order, you and your family will enjoy it far more.