1. Not balancing pool chemistry often enough is an obvious choice for number one mistake. For chlorine to be effective pH, stabilizer, and alkalinity levels also have to be kept in check. Carefully check, record, and balance levels every week and twice a week in the summer.
2. Not cleaning filters on a regular basis. Whether you have a DE filter, Cartridge filter, or sand filter, the filter should be marked with the last cleaning date and serviced on a regular schedule after that. A DE filter should only be backwashed when the pressure reading goes up 8 to 10 points over the clean reading. When backwashing does not reduce the pressure or it has been 6 months since the last cleaning it needs to be taken completely apart, inspected and cleaned. A Cartridge cleaning every 3 to 6 months depending on the pool environment. A sand replacement is much less frequent, therefore less money to maintain but also the least effective filter type.
3. Not cleaning the salt cell (chlorine generator of a salt pool) is a common mistake. The salt cell will produce limited chlorine if it is clogged and the walls of the cell are calcified. The cell should be cleaned every 3 months.
4. Not keeping a close eye on water level. Unless your pool is equipped with an autofill system you need to keep the water level up to the point where water can easily flow into the skimmers so that your pool pump does not suck in air. That can cause a lot of wear and tear on equipment. A timer for your hose bib can be an effective solution.
5. A very common mistake pool owners make is not cleaning skimmer baskets, pool cleaner bags and leaf catchers, and the pump basket often enough. The season and how much debris is going into the pool will determine how often, but some leafy pools in fall may need to be emptied out as often as several times per day. Even with a weekly pool service pool owners should check these areas between service visits.
6. Not brushing the sides of the pool. Most pool owners neglect this step and it's very important for preventing algae from attaching to the sides of the pool. If you have a weekly pool service brushing should be on their schedule for every visit and vacuuming should be about every other visit depending on the pool and the season.
7. Not running the pool equipment long enough. In our climate run the pool 8 to 10 hours in the summer and 6 to 7 hours in winter. The pool cleaner should be run 3 to 4 hours per day depending on your pool. The pool cleaner can be run about half as long. Circulation is the key to overall pool maintenance.
8. Ignoring a pool leak. Due to fears of torn up concrete and huge repair bills, home owners often put off leak detection. But it is possible that your leak detection will be painless. The leak detection itself is around $300 then the cost of fixing the leak. Sometimes the fix is just a new fitting and some silicone; it's not always a big deal. However, if you are loosing water underground think of how the water in the soil could be impacting your pool or even your home's foundation over the long run. What if it causes displacement of your pool or pool deck? The water has to be going somewhere. Better to call a leak detection service or your pool service company and find out what's going on.
9. Keeping a pool cleaner too long or making too many costly repairs. Hopefully you get a good long life out of your pool cleaner but at some point it's time to retire it. Many pool owners have rebuilt their old pool cleaners so many times that they could have purchased a new one. When you purchase a new one you don't have to buy the most expensive model. The models in the $400 to $500 range are very effective and in most pools will last at least 5 years. It is important to have a good pool cleaner to keep the pool clean between service visits.
10. A pool mistake not to be overlooked should cover safety issues. A drain cover that is not up to code could be an entrapment risk. Broken child safety fencing, or a broken lock or gate, loose coping, cracks in the concrete, and outdated electrical systems can all be dangers around a pool. Most of these items are inexpensive fixes that can help keep your pool safe and fun!
