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Are you going out of Town? Whether you are going away on vacation or just doing your pool’s annual check the same pool check procedure applies. 1. The first thing to do is to check for any cracks or damage. If there are any cracks or leaks, get in touch with your Swimming Pool Repair Company. It may be possible to repair them and could save a lot of expense later. 2. Test the chemical levels to make sure they are at the right levels. The recommended pH

Level is between 7.4 and 7.6.  The level of chlorine in the water should be between 1.0 to  3.0 ppm.    
Testing is best done at dusk but remember to allow at least eight hours before testing if  there has been a storm.  Testing should only be done at least four hours after the pool has  been used.  If required add more chemicals to the water following the manufacturer’s  instructions.

3. If you have any accessories such as ladders, slides, diving boards, ropes or pool toys these should all be removed from the pool. Skimmer baskets and any other submerged accessories should also be removed. 4. Reduce the level of the water by draining it as required. It is not necessary to drain all the water from the pool, but simply to reduce to a level which is below the lowest pool return. 5 Protect your pool by using a pool safety cover. This should fit tightly around the pool. Once this preparation has been done, your pool will be kept in good condition, allowing you to enjoy your out of town trip with peace of mind.

Pool Maintenance Once you are back in town you can open up your pool again. Many people prefer to use a pool service company to undertake this service for them and if you have a busy schedule this may suite your life-style better. Many pool businesses offer a Swimming Pool Cleaning Service. This can be a maintenance visit done on a weekly or monthly basis or on a one-off basis. DIY Pool Maintenance If you have the time and energy looking after your pool will ensure its long life. Here a few basics which you can do yourself:- 1. Keep the surface of the pool clean. The easiest way of doing this is by using a net and skimming the surface. If your pool is near trees or foliage this may need to be done quite frequently. 2. If you have an in-ground pool and you can see debris at the bottom, a specially designed vacuum clean will take care of this. 3. Empty the skimmer baskets regularly to prevent blockages. 4. The pool walls can be kept clean by using a pool surface cleaner and pool brush. By scrubbing the walls which are just under the water surface you will ensure that your pool looks its best. 5. Shock the pool on a regular basis. In order to do this a large dose of chlorine is added to the the pool in order to maintain the water in healthy condition to prevent infection.

Shocking is best done at dusk so that the pump and filter can be run overnight and the pool  shouldn’t be used within 24 hours of shocking.

Apart from doing these tasks on a regular basis, keeping the filtration system on will stop the water from stagnating. For further advice, your local pool company is usually a good source of information.