Thinking about installing a fiberglass pool? You may be wondering what’s involved in the cleaning process. Or perhaps you already have a pool and you’re not sure what you should be doing to take proper care of it. Well, you’ve come to the right place! Today we’re going through the basics of fiberglass pool care so you don’t have to second guess a thing. Let’s jump in!
How Much Pool Care is Involved?
Compared to other inground pool options, such as vinyl or concrete, fiberglass is one of the easiest pools to maintain! With that being said, there is still a handful of things you’ll need to be doing on a regular basis to ensure your pool stays in great shape!
Opening and Closing Your Pool
Believe it or not, when you decide to open and close your fiberglass pool will have a direct impact on how clean you’re able to keep it throughout the summer months. It’s recommended that you open your pool once the temperature is above 21 degrees Celsius during the day. If you wait too long to open your pool, you may experience a build-up of algae or pollen which can make cleaning your pool difficult right off the hop!
Once your pool cover is off, you’ll want to do a full clean of the pool before you start using it for the season ahead. When summer comes to an end and fall rolls around, you’ll want to start thinking about finding the time to close your pool. The best time is before temperatures reach below 0 degrees Celsius at night. Beware you don’t want your pipes or equipment to freeze!
Cleaning Your Pool
When your pool is up and running, first thing’s first … it’s time to get cleaning! Don’t worry, it won’t be as much work as you think. Here are a few things you can do to prepare for cleaning your pool and maintaining a clean pool when it’s being used.
Invest in a pool cover – While it can admittedly be a pain sometimes to put on at the end of the day, a pool cover will save you hours of cleaning by stopping excess bugs, leaves or dirt from falling into the pool.
Use a skimming net to remove surface-level debris – Bugs, leaves and other dirt will accumulate over time so having a skimmer net to remove it is essential.
Brush it once a week – Gently brush the bottom and sides of the pool to avoid algae growth or get rid of it altogether!
Get yourself a robotic pool vacuum – Say goodbye to the dirt and grime that live on the bottom of your pool! Most vacuums do a great job at staying on top of any build-up so your pool stays looking great.
You’ll also find a range of simple cleaning products that are tailored specifically to fiberglass pools at your local pool shop! Ask a professional about what products you should be using because harsh chemicals can damage your pool.
Maintaining the Water Level
With any pool, it’s important to have the water level at the midpoint of the skimmer. All pools need to maintain this water level for the skimmer to effectively suck debris into the basket. Having the water level to high or to low can prevent the skimmer and filtration system from working properly.
Whatever you do, don’t drain your pool! If absolutely necessary, call in professionals to do so but you shouldn’t have to drain a fiberglass pool.
Stay on Top of Water Chemistry
Understanding the water chemistry needed to keep your pool clean is incredibly important. There may be a few things to learn but once you’ve got it down pat, it’ll be a breeze! Here are the most important aspects to keep tabs on:
Calcium hardness
Cyanuric acid
pH
Free chlorine
Total alkalinity
Running the Filter System
In order to keep your pool clean, you’ll want to have a handle on the filtration system. Fiberglass pools only need one circulation through the filter each day to ensure the water is clear and clean!
Before you start your system, you need to know how long it should be running. This will vary depending on the size of your pool but for an average pool, it should take about 7 -8 hours of run time.
Take Your Pool Care into Your Own Hands
Since fiberglass pool care is much easier than tending to other pools, you should be able to easily care for your own pool by yourself. Doing so will allow you to save easily over $500 per year in cleaning services and it’s a great way to get a little more exercise each week!
If you’re looking to install a fiberglass pool of your own for the summer ahead, Hipel Pools can set you up with the pool of your dreams. Contact us today for a free quote.
