Getting Your Pool Ready For Summer

With the winter snows finally melting away and the temperature steadily rising, it may be time to start on all kinds of new projects and maintenance on your home. Certain parts of your home need seasonal maintenance, and now that winter is over, it’s time to get started on it. If you own a pool, you now might want to think about getting it ready for the summer. Pools can take quite a bit of maintenance; so getting a jump on taking care of it now should allow you to enjoy it all summer long. If you haven’t done so, you might even want to consider getting your pool covered with a home warranty. Here are some common maintenance items you may face with your pool and the advantages to having your pool covered under your home warranty. If your pool has been covered all winter long, it’s now time to peel that cover back. Not all homeowners drain their pool in the winter, but if you decided to drain it, you will still need to turn everything on and make sure it’s running okay. When you turn your pool on to test it out, you are making sure that is runs quiet and that there are no leaks. You’ll want to check around the actual pump for leaks. Getting to cracks and leaks early can save you a lot of time and money. It’s much easier to take care of leaks when they are still small, so inspect your pool very carefully. Another thing that you will want to do is test the total dissolved solids level (TDS) of your pool water. This is testing for things like calcium to make sure that the level is not too high; as such mineral buildup can interfere with your pool working properly. The risk of such buildup is higher in areas that have hard water. If your TDS level is too high, you may need to drain your pool and fill it with fresh water. As stated above, you don’t necessarily have to drain your pool every year. At the same time, you will want to drain it every three years or so, and don’t wait longer than five years between pool drainings. It is advisable to hire a professional to drain your pool for you. While it is drained, the professional may be able to clean your pool for you as well. This will help you to keep on top of hard-water stains in and around your pool. You should also monitor your pool’s chlorine levels to make sure that it stays at an acceptable level, and shock it if necessary to help prevent bacteria and algae growth. A huge part of getting your pool ready for the summer is to inspect all of its equipment, safety features, and wiring. You’ll want to make sure the diving board is in good working order and that any railings are firm in place. Make sure any slides or ladders are also secure and all light bulbs are working. You may be able to get help from an electrician if you are concerned about your pool’s wiring. Getting your pool ready for summer can be a lot of work, so getting it covered under your home warranty is a great idea. There are a lot of things that can quickly go wrong with a pool from year to year, and if it’s not covered under a warranty you are often left footing the bill. Even insurance might require you to meet a deductible before helping you out with needed repairs or replacement. Home warranty coverage could help you with the costs of certain maintenance, repairs, or equipment replacement. If you are purchasing a home with a pool, consider putting the pool under your home warranty. If you run into any issues, you will really be glad you did.]]>