Tips for Maintaining an Above-Ground Pool

Follow a Maintenance Checklist

It's tempting to put off above-ground pool maintenance, but you will pay for it later through water problems, pool liner issues or structure issues, which are expensive to fix. To ensure that you're taking proper care of the pool, follow a weekly and monthly pool maintenance checklist.

Complete these tasks weekly: 

• Check the water level, which should be around half way up the skimmer mouth.
• Empty the skimmer and pump baskets. 
• Check filter pressure and pump operation. 
• Skim the surface of the water.
• Properly dose with algaecide, clarifier, and metal control. 
• Clean the pool deck and surrounding area. 
• Add chlorine tablets. 
• If the pressure gauge rises 7 to 9 psi above its usual operating pressure, backwash or clean the filter.

There are a couple of additional task you will also want to take care of on a monthly basis:

• Check the pool equipment for damage.
• Look closely at the pool cover for any wear and tear.

Test and Balance Chemicals

Testing and balancing a pool is the first line of defense to keeping your pool clean. Testing regularly will also alert you to any potential deficiencies the pool has before it becomes noticeable. Use a test kit weekly to test for the four main pool chemicals and adjust accordingly.

• Test the pH level to ensure it's between 7.4 and 7.6. 
• Test the chlorine level, which should be between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm. 
• Test total alkalinity to make sure it's between 80 and 120 ppm. 
• Test the calcium level, which should be between 200 and 400 ppm.
  

Ensure Water Circulation

Above-ground pools can have issues with water circulation, which allows algae to breed quickly. This is particularly evident in the dead spots of the pool, which typically have bad circulation, including behind ladders, around steps, under the skimmer, and in any cracks, crevices, or creases of the liner.

You can improve the circulation in the pool by installing return jets that are multi-directional but keep a pool brush on hand to manually circulate water, too. This is also another reason why it is important to brush the pool weekly.

Protect the Pool's Wall

The pool's wall needs care just as much as the water inside of it. Avoid letting guests sit or stand (even partially) on the edges or the top rail of the pool, which can cause damage by creasing, cracking, and collapsing the sides. Rusting under the top rail can result in rust falling into the water, so opt for your model's replacement rails that are available from your pool store or an online parts supplier (you'll need to perfectly match the rails for an exact fit).

Other hazards that could damage the pool's wall include:

• Falling tree branches
• Nesting insects under the top rail
• Pecking wildlife at ground level
• Mowing too close to the wall or shooting debris from the mower hitting the wall
• Accidents resulting from bike riding too close around the pool

Run the Pool Pump Daily

Even if you don't plan to use the pool for a day or two, you should still run the pool pump and filter daily for 12 hours. The two components work together to keep the water clean. The pool pump pulls the water from the pool using the impeller and into the filter to clean the water from the accumulated dirt and debris. The pump is also important because it keeps the water circulating to reduce algae growth and has its own basket to catch smaller debris that the skimmer missed.

Unclog the Impeller

Running the pump (and filter) daily will cause wear and tear to the components. So, if your pump fails or starts to make a funny noise, don't despair or close down the pool. It could simply be a clogged impeller inside of the pump, which is a detail that many above-ground pool owners may not often think about.

An impeller is a small part of your pump which pulls the water from the pool and sends it to the filter. But if it becomes clogged with leaves and other debris, it can reduce or even stop the flow of water.

To unclog the pump's impeller, turn off the motor first. Then, manually disconnect power to be sure that the pump cannot turn on by itself. After, find the location of your impeller with the help of your pool owner's manual. Take out the basket and use a screwdriver or impeller cleaning kit to remove the clog.

If this doesn't fix your pump, you might have to disassemble the housing to get to the clogged part of the impeller. At this point, it is best to call a professional to not risk damaging an expensive pump.

Patch and Clean the Liner

It may be tempting to neglect a pinhole or small tear in the liner, especially if it's above the water line. It's highly advisable to patch these problems as soon as you spot them or they can tear further and cause leaking and other problems. Have a pool patch kit, including underwater pool liner patch adhesive, in your arsenal of pool maintenance tools.

Vacuum More Than Once a Week

It's best to vacuum your pool at least once a week, and definitely after a big storm. This is because your filter is not able to remove all the dirt and debris in your water, especially the particles that fall to the bottom of the pool and stubbornly sit there. Manually vacuuming an above-ground pool is the best way to get all the debris up that the tilter cannot reach but can be a challenge. If so, opt for a great pool cleaner or a stress-free robotic cleaner that gets the job done.

Use a Solar Blanket

Adding a solar pool cover over your above-ground pool when it's not in use does more than just keep it a bit warmer. A solar blanket keeps the water clean from accumulating debris and insects; reduces water evaporation to help keep chemical levels stable; and extends the swim season by keeping the water warmer.

Shock the Pool

If you hesitate to use shock in the pool because you're using other chemicals, don't be. Shocking is encouraged, and often necessary, to rid your pool of stubborn algae, especially after heavy rainfall. Shock is a oxidizer that comes in a powdered or liquid form of chlorine and is added in the pool for water treatment. You can use it separately or at the same times from other chemicals. Be sure to read the label for proper dosage and instructions.

You typically would want to shock a pool if you need to quickly raise the chlorine level or your pool has turned green. For safety and efficiency purposes, it's best to shock a pool after dark night so the sun doesn't dissolve it, abstain from swimming until the next day, and leave the pump running all night to circulate the shock, whether it is powder or liquid.

Winterize the Pool Correctly

If you don't use the pool for the entire year, it needs to be winterized at the end of each swimming season. Here's how:

1. Clean the pool thoroughly, and add a winter chemical kit to the water. 
2. Remove extra chemicals, cleaning supplies, and the pool's ladder and store them in a safe, dry area. 
3. Disconnect the motor and pump, and store them in a safe, dry place.
4. Lower the water level to below all returns and skimmers. However, don't drain the pool entirely, as it can be damaged by hydrostatic pressure from ice conditions or a rising water table after a storm. You only want to remove enough water so that if the water freezes, it can expand up and not out, causing damage. Also, draining the pool entirely will cause an above-ground pool to collapse inward.
5. Add pool anti-freeze—not automobile anti-freeze—to the plumbing and install threaded winter plugs to keep water out of the pipes. 
6. Cover the pool with an appropriately sized winter cover.

Protect Your House From Leaks

Although national and local building codes require that above-ground pools are placed several feet away from your home due to electrical shock hazards, there remains the question of what to do if the pool fails and water starts gushing out of it. The ground, and possibly your basement, can become flooded fast. The best protection is to install a sump pump in your basement to handle any water overflow that reaches your home.