Why work harder than you need to, especially when you can hack your way through?! While “hack” might rhyme with “slack,” sometimes a few smart shortcuts can make routine pool ownership a little easier (see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4). Today we’re going to look at a few more pool maintenance tips that may leave you wondering why you didn’t think of them before. Work smarter, not harder, during pool season, and leave yourself more time to relax in your very own backyard swimming pool!
Add a Fountain or Water Feature
It’s no secret that fountains and other water features can add visual appeal to a swimming pool, but moving water can also add another dimension to your pool environment. A fountain can create movement at the surface, and the sound of splashing water can help give the pool area a more relaxing atmosphere.
Just don’t think of a fountain as a replacement for your pool’s circulation and filtration system. Your pump, returns, skimmers and filter are still responsible for circulating and filtering the pool water as designed. A fountain is better viewed as an attractive addition that creates some extra surface movement while adding a little personality to your backyard.
Before adding one, make sure the fountain or water feature is designed for use with your type of swimming pool and compatible with your existing equipment. This hack can still be a win-win in our books — just for slightly different reasons than you might have thought!
Make Your Pool Area Less Attractive to Bees and Wasps
Bees and other pollinators are an important part of the environment, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily want them gathering around the area where your family is swimming. Rather than relying on supposed scent barriers, start by looking for the things that may be attracting insects to your pool area in the first place.
Keep sugary drinks and food covered, clean up spills promptly and don’t allow open trash or recycling containers to become an easy food source. If bees appear to be visiting primarily for water, providing a separate water source farther away from the busiest part of your outdoor living area may sometimes help redirect their attention.
If you notice persistent bee or wasp activity or discover a nest near the pool, don’t attempt to disturb it while people are swimming nearby. Consider contacting an appropriate pest-control professional or local beekeeper, depending on the type of insect and situation. This is especially important when someone in the household has a known allergy to stings.
Clean Your Filter When It Needs It
Okay, cleaning might not seem like much of a hack; it is actually work. Keeping your pool filter properly maintained, however, can help the entire circulation system do its job effectively.
Instead of automatically cleaning every pool filter once a month, follow the maintenance recommendations for your particular filter. Sand, cartridge and diatomaceous earth (DE) filters have different cleaning and maintenance requirements, and factors such as the amount of debris around your pool and how heavily the pool is used can affect how frequently attention is needed.
Keep an eye on your filter’s pressure gauge and water flow as well. A noticeable increase over the filter’s clean starting pressure or a reduction in flow can indicate that cleaning or other maintenance is needed. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper procedure before opening, cleaning or backwashing your particular filter.
Consider a Salt Chlorine Generator
If you’re looking for a different way to manage your pool’s chlorine, a salt chlorine generator may be worth considering. Often referred to as a “saltwater pool,” this type of system still uses chlorine to sanitize the water. The difference is that the generator uses electrolysis to convert dissolved salt in the pool water into chlorine rather than requiring you to routinely add chlorine in the same way you would with a traditionally chlorinated pool.
For many pool owners, one of the biggest advantages is convenience. A properly operating salt chlorine generator can produce chlorine automatically while the circulation system is running, reducing the need to buy, transport, store and manually handle conventional chlorine products.
That doesn’t make a saltwater pool maintenance-free, though. You still need to test and maintain appropriate chlorine, pH and other water-chemistry levels, monitor the pool’s salt concentration and maintain the generator cell according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Salt chlorine generators also have an upfront cost, and their cells eventually require maintenance and replacement.
Whether a salt system makes sense for you depends on your pool, equipment, maintenance preferences and budget. If you’re considering converting an existing pool, make sure the generator and required salt levels are compatible with your pool surfaces and equipment.
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