Weekly Pool Maintenance

Weekly Pool Maintenance

Part of owning a pool is ensuring that it is regularly maintained. Regular maintenance elongates the lifespan of the pool and its equipment.

In this article, we will review essential practices and equipment that you should use on a weekly basis to keep your pool clean and functioning.

Here are 1st Direct Pools, we pride ourselves on our great selection of products, such as our water treatment systems, and our expertise. Please do not hesitate to contact a member of staff for more advice on recommended products or how to care for your pool.

Pool Vacuuming

Dust and debris will regularly blow into the pool, sink and settle on the pool floor. You will need to use a pool vacuum or an automatic pool cleaner once a week to remove these.

When operating a pool vacuum for the first time, you may encounter some difficulty.

Here are some pointers to help you use your pool vacuum as efficiently as possible:

1. 1. Fill the pool with water until it reaches just below the skimmer faceplate. Check the hose for any holes; if holes are found, it will not work.
2. 2. Fit the pool vacuum head on the telescopic pole with the hose attached. Lower the vacuum into the pool near the skimmer/vacuum position, stretch the hose along the pool surround to ensure the hose is long enough.
3. 3. Turn the pump OFF. Close all suction valves except the vacuum point or skimmer you will be using.
4. 4. Open the backwash/waste valve if one is fitted. Turn the multiport valve to waste. Turn pump ON.
5. 5. Feed the hose down into the water steadily; this will fill the hose with water (priming it) and remove any trapped air. Using the vacuum without priming the hose will take much longer and air-lock the pump.
6. 6. Fit the end of the hose into the skimmer or onto the skim/vac plate that fits over the swimmer basket. If there is no skim/vac plate available, remove the skimmer basket and place the hose in the suction hole at the base of the skimmer. Alternatively, if the vacuuming is carried out from a vacuum point, attach the hose directly via the hose to the wall connector.
7. 7. Give the pump a few minutes to clear out any air in the hose. Do not remove the vacuum head from the water; this will cause the pump to lose its prime. When moving the vacuum head, it should only be pushed slowly across the floor and slopes. If the vacuum head is pushed too fast, it will cause the debris to stir up and suspend in the water; it will sink back down onto the floor in a few hours.
8. 8. Once the pool has been vacuumed, turn the pump OFF and select rinse on the multiport valve. Disconnect the vacuum hose from the vacuum point or skimmer and slowly remove the vacuum head from the pool; allow it to drain as it’s lifted.
9. 9. Check the skimmer basket and empty if you have vacuumed through the skimmer with a vac/skim plate.
10. 10. Check the pump strainer basket and empty. Replace the secure pump lid. Switch the pump ON and run for 10-20 seconds and clear out any debris. Switch the pump OFF, select filter on the multiport valve. Switch pump ON.

What to Do if Your Pool Vacuum Stops Working

• • If using a vac plate adapter, the basket in the skimmer may be blocked by leaves or other debris.
• • Check to see if a large leaf or similar may be blocking the opening to the pool vacuum head. Remove the debris and start over.
• • Leaves or other debris may be blocking the hose.
• • The basket in the coarse strainer in front of the pump may be blocked, especially if vacuuming through a vac point; empty and continue.
• • The pump may have become un-primed through sucking in too much air. This can happen quite easily during start-up if all the air has not been removed.
• • If the pool is particularly dirty, before vacuuming, net the leaves as it’s much quicker than vacuuming and a hassle-free alternative.

Backwashing Your Swimming Pool

Backwashing is essential when it comes to keeping your pool clean and functional. Over time, unwanted particles build up, which will often increase pressure on the filter, reduce its efficiency, and damage the equipment.

Backwashing your pool dislodges the debris by pushing the particles through the hose via the pool pump or waste line. Backwashing should be done at least once a week.

Before backwashing, ensure the heating is always turned off and follow the instructions below.

1. 1. Switch the pump OFF. Ensure that any automated equipment such as UV systems are also switched off, as the water will no longer be passing through.
2. 2. Depress lever on multiport and turn to the backwash position. Open the backwash/waste valve.
3. 3. Switch the pump ON and run for approximately 2-3 minutes. The dirty water will pass through the sight glass on the multiport, which will gradually clear once the filter is clean. If using a new glass filter media, reduce the time by 50% as the debris will be released from the media quicker.
4. 4. Switch the pump OFF. Move the multiport lever to the rinse position.
5. 5. Switch the pump ON and run for 20-30 seconds before switching the pump OFF again.
6. 6. Return the multiport lever to the filter position and switch the pump ON to recommence filtration.
7. 7. Close the backwash/waste valve.
8. 8. Once finished, make sure to test and chemically treat the pool accordingly.

We hope this article will help you to maintain your swimming pool. For more information about how to care for your swimming pool, check out our blog.