Pool Ownership: How Much Maintenance is There?

If you’re thinking of installing a pool, you likely have many questions. Perhaps the one at the forefront of your mind is: how much time can I expect to spend on maintenance? Valid question! The thought of pool upkeep is often the biggest barrier for people taking that leap into pool ownership. While the tasks are many, you can alleviate the stress of maintenance by hiring a professional.
However, here’s a look at what you can expect in terms of ongoing maintenance. Remember, regular upkeep is essential in extending your pool’s life and keeping potential repairs at bay.

Preliminary Considerations

Your first consideration should be to explore why you want the pool in the first place. If you’re like most people, you’re buying one to spend more time with family and friends, entertain with parties and just have somewhere to relax on a warm summer day. All great reasons to get a pool. Enjoyment of your pool is the first priority, which means you don’t want to be spending all your spare time on maintenance.
When interviewing pool builders or service companies, inquire about what products, options and services you can choose that will eliminate some if not all of the demands of pool maintenance. Many pools these days are installed with features that help reduce maintenance time, such as a state of the art circulation system. Your plumbing system should be adequate enough to handle the demands of your pool, with the right size and ample return and inlet lines built in.
The right size will encourage more efficient operation, which reduces the amount of time you have to spend on maintenance. Also, ask about the annual maintenance requirements of the filter, which is in charge of cleaning and purifying the pool water. Other features to look for include an in-floor cleaning system and chemical automation to decrease runtime and operating costs.

Service After Construction

Choosing the right pool service company after construction is vital. Start your research now. Ask questions like:

• Do you offer on-demand services? 
• Can I expect timely service from your team when I call?
• What kind of maintenance services do you offer? Look for a company that does it all: from cleanup and pool openings to repairs and pool closings.
• Do you offer warranty support for products?
• Are your technicians trained in all aspects, such as testing and monitoring pool chemicals, adjusting chemical levels and cleaning the pool? 
• Do you offer a regular maintenance program so I don’t have to worry about schedules?

General Maintenance Tasks

You can hire your pool service company for all services pertaining to the pool, or you can take care of some tasks and have them take care of the tough stuff. In general, here are some maintenance tasks you will have to take care of in one way or another:

• Chemical balancing and adding
• Tile cleaning
• Skimming
• Filter maintenance
• Vacuuming
• Tile maintenance
• Opening and closing
• Skimmer and pump basket cleaning
• Deck cleaning
• Equipment pad inspecting
• Checking pressure gauges

If you need help with any of the above, Central Jersey Pools offers regular maintenance services to ease the burden so you can fully enjoy your pool this summer. Call us at 732-462-5005 to schedule your weekly pool service.