Taking Care of a Pool for Your Country Home
It’s summer, which means the scorching heat is back! On days like these, what’s better than jumping in cool water or lounging poolside? If you have a home in the country, you have plenty of room for either an above ground or in-ground pool. If you’re thinking of adding a pool to your backyard, but don’t know much about taking care of it, here are some tips to help you get started.
Keep it clean. To keep your pool healthy, beautiful and safe, you’ll want to regularly test your water, which means two to three times per week. There are easy-to-use testing kits available. These kits will test the PH levels, calcium hardness, alkalinity and metals.
Use the right chemicals. Part of keeping your pool clean and healthy is not only using the right chemicals, but also the right amount.
– Chlorine breaks down bacteria and sanitizes your pool. A chlorine level of 1-3 parts per million (ppm) should be maintained at all times.
– Algaecide prevents algae from starting and growing in your pool. It should be added after your shock treatment.
– Shock treatments eliminate waste and debris and prevents cloudy water.
Get familiar with different parts. Every pool needs a pump and filter. Side tip: You’ll also want a pool vacuum and a cover for regular upkeep.
– A pump keeps your water moving and weeds out the debris, dirt and leaves. The ideal amount of time to run a pump is one hour for every 10 degrees of temperature. For example, 80 degrees equals eight hours of run time.
– A filter will keep undissolved dirt and debris out of your pool. The most common and inexpensive is a sand filter, which uses a process called backwashing to reverse the water flow.
Once you have the right tools and information, it’s time to have fun! Fun fact, did you know Marco Polo is the most popular pool game even though it was developed 60 years ago?
If you’re looking for more space so you can install your own pool, contact one of our experts at United Country Real Estate. We’ve been selling rural real estate for more than 90 years. Learn more at www.UnitedCountry.com.
Sources:
https://www.swimmingpool.com/maintenance/water-care/pool-water-basics/
https://www.sanchezpoolsinc.com/10-interesting-facts-about-swimming-pools/