Good pool maintenance takes an average of 30 to 60 minutes per week. Do the right tasks at the right time and you prevent 90% of problems before they start.
Daily maintenance (5-10 minutes)
Empty the skimmer: the skimmer catches leaves, insects and floating debris before they sink. A full skimmer basket reduces pump flow and increases energy costs. Empty it every day.
Check water level: the water level should be halfway up the skimmer opening. Too low and the pump draws air. Too high and the skimmer does not work properly.
Check the pump: is it running? Does it sound normal? Good flow at the return jets? A silent pump or reduced flow can indicate a blockage in the skimmer, filter or pressure line.
Weekly maintenance (30-45 minutes)
Test the water: test pH, free chlorine and alkalinity. Use test strips for a quick check and a DPD kit or digital tester for the weekly accurate measurement.
Target values:
- pH: 7.2 to 7.6
- Free chlorine: 1.0 to 3.0 mg/l
- Total alkalinity: 80 to 120 mg/l
Add chemicals if needed: correct in order — alkalinity first (if far outside range), then pH, then chlorine. Wait at least 4 hours between each addition.
Brush walls and floor: brush the walls from top to bottom. Pay extra attention to corners, steps, the waterline and shallow areas where algae grow first.
Vacuum the floor: vacuum slowly and methodically with a manual pool vacuum or automatic floor cleaner.
Backwash the sand filter: check the filter pressure. Has it risen by more than 0.5 bar? Backwash. As a preventive measure: backwash weekly.
Monthly maintenance
Extended water test: test calcium hardness and cyanuric acid in addition to the standard parameters.
Check filter media: inspect the sand in the filter. Pool filter sand needs replacing every 3 to 5 years.
Seasonal maintenance
Spring: opening the pool — see our complete spring opening guide.
Summer: at temperatures above 28°C and heavy use, test daily, run the pump 12 hours per day, add preventive algicide weekly.
Autumn: winterizing — properly winterizing the pool saves hours of work in spring and prevents frost damage to equipment.
