Once you have done the needful as the pool is set to reopen for the season, you can lie back and enjoy the fruits of your labor! Yes, you have earned that first dip of the season! For the rest of the season, all you need to do is to maintain your swimming pool with the help of a well-organized plan.
With all the basics maintenance activities and checks completed once, a regular schedule to maintain your swimming pool can be adhered to for a problem-free season.
The most important thing in this regard is to keep tabs on the pool chemistry.
Maintaining your pool's chemical balance at optimal levels along with equipment efficiency will go a long way in saving big bucks.
The secret to maintaining the chemical balance of your pool is to have well-stocked pool test kit.
You can very well do the tests yourself.
Some pool services stores would even do free computer tests for you if you agree to buy all required chemicals from them.
That's an idea worth exploring! It is worth it to add a little to your knowledge of pool test kits so that you may make informed choices when you go out to buy that perfect testing kit! There are two types of test kits: strips and titrations.
Different strips for assessing the levels of different chemicals can tell you about chemical strength in your pool water by comparing with a colored chart provided in the kit.
Of the two, titrations are the more sophisticated with more accurate results - next best to getting the samples analyzed by computers.
Most pool professionals prefer the affordable titration method over the more expensive computer analysis.
The titration testing involves adding the pool water to separate chambers in the titration blocks to test the levels of different chemicals.
It is important to remember to withdraw the water sample from a depth of about two meters and about one meter from the sides of the pool.
This will give you a more realistic reading.
A practical advice is not to mix the contents of one test kit with another because different manufacturers may use different strengths of chemical reagents to help you test the pool water.
Any test kit worth having should have test block chambers and color comparison charts for pH, total alkalinity, and the specific sanitizing agent you use which could be chlorine or bromine among others.
If there are additional chambers in the titration kit to test for calcium, CYA (cyanuric acid) and copper, that is a bonus, though not essential.
As the chemical reagents are extremely sensitive, you must be careful to store the test kit safely in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
It is essential to read the instructions for proper storage that come with the kit or chemical reagents to ensure that the chemicals remain usable and give accurate results over a period of time.
  Chlorine and pH should be monitored weekly.
Test total alkalinity, calcium, copper and iron levels monthly, and clean filters once or twice a season.
Backwash when needed.
With this schedule and these handy tips, you can maintain your swimming pool with relative ease.