Basic Pool Maintenance for an Above Ground Pool

Filter

The filter is just as important as any pool chemical you will place into the water. A clogged, dirty and inefficient filter will release bacteria and dirt into the water, rendering your chemicals useless. Most above ground filters either operate with sand or earth, which is a powder-like substance. For example, if you have an earth filter you must backwash your filter once a week. By backwashing your filter, you turn off the filter and open the release valve, which will flush the earth from the filter along with all the dirt and debris it has collected form the past week. The earth, which went into the filter white, now usually resembles a dark greenish color. Keep the release valve open until the water runs clear. Use the pump handle to pump the filter three to five times to restore pressure. Turn on the filter, and add 1 qt. of earth to the filter through the skimmer to replenish the earth while the filter is running. If you have a larger pool, it's okay to add a little more earth, just never more than 2 qt.

After a long day of many people using the pool and going in and out, dirt will begin to settle on the bottom of the water. This is dirt that is often too heavy to float to the surface of the water, which enables the filter to pick it up. The dirt and debris unable to be sucked in by the filter will eventually float to the bottom, which creates an unsightly look for your pool and can make it feel grimy and disgusting. Connect the vacuum the filter, and use it whenever you see a recognizable amount of dirt and debris on the bottom of the water. People commonly vacuum the pool once a week or before use. Luckily many companies have began producing automatic pool vacuums that a user connects to the filter, and it vacuums the pool bottom automatically.

Invest in some test strips for your pool water, which makes pool maintenance more user friendly by telling you what chemicals your pool is lacking. When you first fill your pool, you will need to add a gallon of shock for every 5,500 gallons of water. This initial treatment will stabilize the water and allow the user to not waste a lot of chlorine to balance the chemicals. Once the shock has been added, allow 12 hours for the filter to run and test the water again with the strips. Take note of the chlorine level and adjust accordingly. Add the chlorine directly to the surface of the water. Many chlorine buckets will come with a scooper. Typically two scoops for every 5,500 gallons of water is a good maintenance amount for your pool. Add chlorine about three times per week or as per your reading on the test strip. Always test the water before adding chemicals. It may just be that you don't need to add anything.

Alkalinity levels and pH are the other two common pool readings on your test strip. These levels will rarely get out of the normal range if the pool is kept clean and chlorinated properly. This also includes vacuuming and backwashing the filter. But in the rare instances that the pH or alkalinity levels are too high or low, a chemical can be added to the surface of the water that will adjust it. Alkalinity up and down chemicals as well as pH up and down chemicals are good to keep on hand. Each chemical will have different instructions for the amount to put in. As long as you know your pool volume (gallons), the instructions will always be relatively easy to determine. Typically, chemical doses are added for every 5,500 gallons of pool water. After adding any of these test the water again in a few hours to see where the levels are at. You may need to add more of the product to achieve greater results.