What is the easiest way to keep my pool clean?

If you have a pool you know part of your summer is going to be spent cleaning and maintaining it.  Some people enjoy pool maintenance, a peaceful time spent outdoors enjoying the beautiful water.  On the other hand, some people would rather be doing anything else than cleaning their pool.  Whatever your view on pool care, everyone wants to know what is the easiest way to keep their pool looking great all season?

Dolphin Edge Robotic Pool Cleaner

Let's start with the easiest method first.  Robotic cleaners have become easier and more efficient, which can simplify your pool maintenance to pushing a button.  The Edge cleaner we offer is a full service butler to your pool surface.  It is designed to vacuum the bottom, clean the walls and even scrub the waterline!  The Edge is completely self contained, like a miniature pool filter system inside.  Don't have time to push the on button?  Set a weekly timer at different intervals and your cleaner will search out your pool from the deck to clean it.  Being remote control compatible, you can sit poolside sipping your favorite summer beverage while directing the Edge where to clean.  Maintain your pool by barely lifting a finger!

Dolphin Endeavor Robotic Pool Cleaner

Not quite ready for the full package yet?  Save some money with the Endeavor robotic cleaner, the little brother to the Edge cleaner.  The Endeavor cleaner focuses mostly on the floor of the pool.  It houses the same filtration system as the Edge, which is all self contained.  Set the weekly timing cycles to clean even if you're not home.  You do still need to brush the side walls of the pool down occasionally to prevent bio-film from building up.  All said, the Endeavor makes for an easy method of keeping your pool clean during the season.

Kreepy Krauly Suction Sided Cleaner

If a robotic cleaner isn't going to fit into your pool budget this summer, their are automatic cleaners available.  Take a suction sided cleaner like the Pentair Kreepy Krauly .  This type of cleaner takes over your manual cleaner by attaching to the pool skimmer with a vacuum hose.  Using the pools filtration system, the suction through the vacuum hose powers the vacuum throughout the pool.  This cleaner moves randomly across the pool bottom picking up debris and sending to your pool filter.  As the filter holds more dirt and debris the cleaner will slow down due to lack of suction, then needing to be backwashed.  The suction side cleaner works great, however can be limited to how well your filtration system works.

Volt rechargeable pool vacuum 

Not looking for a cleaner that moves on it's own?  There are cleaners available that work like underwater handheld dirt devils.  These cleaners turn on with a push of a button and can be held while in the pool or attached to a pole for cleaning from the deck.  While being very quick and easy to use, these type cleaners hold only small amounts of debris.  Homeowners find them to be perfect for steps, corners and small pockets of dirt.

The trusty manual vacuum head.

The final way to clean your pool is a good old fashioned manual vacuum.  Like the suction sided cleaner, you will hook a vacuum head to a hose and pole.  Using the pools filtration system you then can maneuver the vacuum around the pool picking up debris where necessary.  This method can be the most time consuming, especially if the pool floor has a lot of heavy debris.  Some homeowners prefer this method of vacuuming at the start of the season but can become tired of dragging out all the equipment every week.

No matter what option is best for you, regular pool maintenance is one of the keys to keeping your pool sparkling clear. These are some of the most common types of cleaners on the pool market.  You may find your local pool store has different varieties of these cleaners available.  Talk with your local pool professional for pricing and what cleaner may be best for you!

How long will it take to clear my pool after it's opened?

You are excited for summer and you know it's just around the corner.  You can see the pool parties and lazy Saturday's floating on your favorite raft in your near future.  Ready to get a head start on the pool season you get your pool opened up and running.  As the cover pulls back off the pool your excitement turns to disgust as you stare at what looks like a backyard swamp! What should you do?

Every summer we hear of homeowners opening pools hoping for crystal clear water, only to find the opposite looking back at them.  The first question we get from new homeowners is "how do I drain and refill the pool?"  Before you start pumping out your pool here is some advice you may want first.

Most of the time, and I can't stress the word MOST enough, you can clear up a pool much cheaper with chemicals and some elbow grease than with draining and refilling.  Every pool is a different situation, we've seen black, brown, green, and dark green all clear up using chemicals.  It is possible to clear it chemically!

Leaf Rake used to dip debris from bottom of pool.

Before any rash decisions are made on how to clear the pool, try and find out how much debris is in the bottom.  Take a pole with a leaf rake attached to the deepest part of the pool.  Push across the bottom and pull it back up.  You may do this a few times.  But this will help determine where to start.  If the leaf rake pulls up empty or just a few worms, breath a sigh of relief.  However if you have a full leaf rake that seems to weigh 100 pounds, you have some work ahead of you.


If you are going to chemically treat the water there are a few steps to the process.  First you need to remove as much debris from the bottom as you can.  We know you can't see the bottom, but the more you remove the less chemicals you will need to add!  So if there is a lot of debris, use your leaf rake to dip debris for some time and then let the water settle from stirring it up.  You could be dipping leaves and debris for the entire day to week depending on how bad it is.  Once you feel like there isn't much on the bottom, try to vacuum the pool.  Vacuuming is an easier way to remove the smaller dirt, worms and debris by filtering them out.  Vacuums can clog very quickly when lots of debris is present, so make sure you get all the big stuff with your leaf rake.

**Tip: This is a great time to utilize a flocculant.  A flocculant will settle suspended particles to the bottom of the pool.  After everything settles, you can then vacuum the pool to waste which bypasses your filtration system and removes it completely.


Now that the hard work is done and you feel confident the bottom of the pool is somewhat clear, it's time to start the chemicals.  If you are in a rush to clear the pool, you can always start balancing the pH and Alkalinity while you are working on clearing the bottom.  Once the pH and alkalinity are both in range adding chlorine to the pool will help turn the pool back clear by killing algae and bacteria.

Pool water lab with customer getting
help balancing their pool.

If you aren't sure how to balance the pool or how much chlorine to add, bring a water sample into your local swimming pool store for a water analysis.  How much chemical your pool will need to balance and clear varies depending on how much algae is in the water to how far out of balance the water starts out.  When in doubt, keep bringing in water samples and let the experts help!

So you made it through all that and are now second guessing opening up the pool knowing what work is in front of you.  There is always the option to drain and refill and have your crystal clear water without all the work.  Why doesn't everyone just drain and refill their pool when it looks like a disaster?

Pool being filled from a water truck.  Pool water delivered by
a water truck can have a pool filled within a few hours.

First reason, most people will need water trucked in from a water filling service.  Depending on how big your pool is this could cost anywhere from $600 to $1500.  In our area the average backyard pool costs about $1000 to have new water trucked in.

The second reason is you still have to drain out all the old gross water from the pool.  In an earlier blog we talked about why your liner floats or pool pops out of the ground.  If you drain the pool, you always risk floating the liner which can ruin it or even shrinking the liner if the temperature is to cold.  If draining and refilling the pool is your option, choose a time when it will be warmer and sunnier to help prevent shrinking.  It helps to have the new water scheduled so the pool isn't empty very long.  The longer the pool sits empty the greater the chance the liner shrinks, floats or needs replaced!

If you still aren't sure what the best option for your pool is the best thing you can do is consult with your local swimming pool dealer.  They are there to help get your pool ready for the summer!