14 Aug 5 DIY Tips: Removing Algae and Debris from Your Swimming Pool
We’ve all been there — distracted by the demands of life and daily grind, we sometimes let our swimming pool maintenance needs fall to the wayside. One day we look up, towel in hand, bathed in sunscreen, ready to take a dip in our crystal clear, refreshing swimming pool and let the stress roll off our back in beads of cool, clean water when suddenly — we notice our beautiful clean swimming pool has been taken over by dirt and algae looking for a place to party.
We won’t scold you for ignoring your pool cleaning needs and preventative pool maintenance routine. We’re a pool cleaning and repair company — not your mom.
Instead, we would like to impart some DIY pool cleaning wisdom from our 32+ years of experience as Austin’s premier pool cleaning service company to help you get rid of that algae and debris in your pool so you can get back to swimming and relaxing.
DIY Cleaning Tip 1 – Scrub your swimming pool tile and walls
If you don’t have a brush handy (which you should), head down to your local pool cleaning supply and service company *ahem* and see what they have to offer. Once you get the brush in your hands, give your pool wall and that algae and debris what it deserves — a good, hard scrubbing. The water might be cloudy, so go inside, take a nap and let it all settle to the bottom.
DIY Cleaning Tip 2 – Vacuum to waste using your pool’s pump
Remember that little cylindrical workhorse making all that noise down the hill? Yes — that’s your pool’s pump. Turn the main valve to waste and let it run. Your pools filter will be bypassed during this period, allowing debris and algae to spray out onto the ground. It is a good idea to keep a water hose in the pool to keep the water level at recommended levels.
DIY Cleaning Tip 3 – Check your pool’s chemical balance
Get an accurate reading of your pool’s chemical balance from your local Texas pool company if you are unsure how to perform this on your own. Without an accurate reading of your pool’s chemical balance, you could end up using too much or too little chemical treatment to kill unwanted algae.
DIY Cleaning Tip 4 – Add shock and algaecide
This is the most satisfying step — killing that nasty, slimy algae. Sprinkle shock evenly across your pool based on the reading from your chemical tests. Do not do this without the recommendation of a pool cleaning service professional as using too much pool chemical can be hazardous. Let the shock do it’s thing for about 24 hours, then come back with round two — algaecide.
DIY Cleaning Tip 5 – Maintain your pool’s health
Put down the brush and go get an automatic pool vacuum from your local swimming pool service supply store. Let it run when you are not swimming in the pool. Using this little gadget, in conjunction with a weekly pool care routine and ideal chemical balance will keep your pool crystal clear year round.
Of course, you could save the hassle of doing this yourself by hiring an affordable Austin, Texas pool cleaning service professional to visit your swimming pool perodically and do the hard stuff for you. We might know a guy…give us a shout.
Do you have any pool cleaning tips to share? We would love to talk about it. Leave us a comment below, email us, like Crystal Clear Pools and Spas on Facebook or follow our leader, Jimmy Harvey on Twitter for pro pool cleaning tips, awesome before and after photos of pool repair and renovation, or to ask about pricing and services.
About Crystal Clear Pools and Spas
With over 35 years serving Central Texas, Crystal Clears and Spas provides a superior experience in pool repair, pool cleaning, pool renovation, and pool maintenance. Our swimming pool and spa services extend to most communities in the Greater Austin area, including Buda, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Kyle, Lakeway, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Westlake, and other surrounding areas.
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