How to Develop a Pool Maintenance Routine

How to develop ideal routine: when to open the pool, when to service your heater, pump, filter, salt cell, when to close the pool, when to do standard maintenance and chem checks, what does a winter routine look like.

A pool is a living, breathing thing. Or at least, it is if you understand it in terms of human physiology. If we think of the pump as the heart, the filter as the liver and kidneys, the inlets and returns as part of the vascular system sourcing water through the “veins” back to the pool after cycling through the pump…you get the idea.

Our personal maintenance routine has different levels of care in order to cover all the bases. There’s the daily routine of eating enough vegetables and drinking enough water. Weekly routines of exercising a few times to get the ol’ ticker tickin’. Once a year going to the doctor for our annual physical, and all the appointments in between to maintain our health.

Our pools are no different. There’s the weekly brushing, vacuuming, and chemical balancing. The monthly or as-needed filter backwashing, the one to two times a season that you need to inspect the pump, heater, filter, and salt chlorine generator to ensure everything is functioning as designed.

But how does one get to that routine? If you’re new to pools, the idea of all this new work can seem daunting. If it’s just not for you, I can recommend a class service team to take care of all the nitty-gritty so you don’t have to! But if you do decide to tackle the process yourself, you’ve found a great resource!

Below is a maintenance routine chart that I use to help me remember to maintain layers of safety boundaries daily; I can look back at see when I last cleaned my pool, as well as what chemicals I have added and when; this helps me recognize trends and patterns so that I can more effectively dial in my pool care. 

I can also track when I inspected my equipment, and plan for future inspections. On the reverse side of my form, is another chart where I can list the equipment on my pool, and the dates of my last inspections. I've put notes next to my equipment to remind me how often each should be serviced or replaced. Some of my routine inspections will line up with one another, and others won't. It is often on an "as needed" basis. You'll see below two different ways this chart could be filled out. It all shakes down to what works best for you and your pool!

Here is a downloadable option, with a blank equipment inspection chart so you can fill it out specific to your pool. By tracking your maintenance, and scheduling your inspections, you can better spot trends, patterns, and prepare for future seasons. Each season will be smoother and more enjoyable than the last!