How to Lower Swimming Pool Maintenance Costs

Swimming pools are a great way to beat the summer heat. But nothing can suck the fun out of a dip in the pool quicker than huge repair bills and massive upkeep costs. Keep your head above water with these tips for lowering swimming pool maintenance costs.

Turn the Heat Down - Do you heat your pool? This could be costing you a lot of extra money in energy bills. Try lowering the temperature. According to the National Swimming Pool Foundation, a good water temperature for active swimming is 78 to 80 degrees, while 82 to 84 is ideal for general use. For every degree the temperature is increased, your costs can go up by ten percent.

Keep it Clean - Experts say you should vacuum your pool at least once a week. It’s also important to clean out the skimmer basket and remove debris from the pump filter regularly. Clogged drains, filters and baskets can force the pump to work harder which translates into more energy use and higher bills.

Test the Waters - A swimming pool test kit is a simple way to check levels of chlorine, pH, alkalinity and water hardness. Any abnormal levels will quickly alert you to potential problems. And with just about anything in life, the sooner you fix the issue, the less it will cost.

Invest in a Solar Cover - Using a solar cover is a great way to heat your pool by using the sun. Solar covers also prevent heat from escaping when temperatures start to dip down in the evenings. The more you can regulate the water temperature using the sun, the less you’ll have to run your heater.

Use Proper Closing Procedures - It’s important to follow the guidelines from a pool professional when closing your pool at the end of the season. Most experts agree you should drain the water to below the freezing line in your pool, drain water lines and add anti-freeze. Cold winter weather can cause cracked pipes and lines so following proper closing procedures will save you lots of money.

By Alison Storm

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