Thinking about buying a house with a pool right here in the state of Florida? Well, you are not the only one! Even though Florida has some of the most heavenly beaches in the world, most Floridians prefer having their own peace of heaven. Pools are places where they come to relax, unwind, and of course, cool off from that hot Florida sun. However, most people who haven’t had a pool before feel frightened about buying a house with one. They worry about all the maintenance! This is understandable as pools do require a lot of work. But, there is nothing to worry about – as long as you follow our pool maintenance tips for Florida homeowners, you and your pool will be just fine. Thus, without further ado, here are some tips (and tricks) on how to take care of your pool.
Scrub and Skim Regularly
First things first, if you plan on buying a house with a pool, or even if you plan on building your own pool, you need to know that they require a lot of work – regular work! One of the things you will have to do almost every day is scrub and skim your pool. First, you should check the edges and see whether there is any algae or dirt buildup. If there is, you will have to scrub it off. Secondly, check whether there are any leaves or some other kind of debris in the pool. If there is, use a skimming net and take everything out. You need to apply these two essential pool maintenance tips every day if you want to have a clean, healthy, and of course, pristine pool.
Maintain Your Chemical Levels
One of the things that make people back out from buying a house with a pool is having to check and maintain that pool’s chemical levels. Yes, this sounds complex, but, trust us, it is not. All you have to do is check the water’s chemical balance once a week using a special kind of apparatus. Pool’s chemical levels must always be between the following ranges:
- Chlorine residual – 1 – 1.5 ppm
- Calcium hardness – 250 – 450 ppm
- Cyanuric acid – 30 – 50 ppm
- pH – 7.2 – 7.8
- Total alkalinity – 1 – 1.5 ppm
This may be one of the most important pool maintenance tips not only for Florida homeowners but for all homeowners out there! If these levels are imbalanced, you and your loved ones can be affected by many different kinds of skin, mouth, and eye irritations. But do not let this scare you from buying a house with a pool! All you have to do is check these levels weekly, and if something is not right, use other chemicals to fix it. Trust us, when it comes to your children and your need to support them during this time (the difficult time of moving), nothing helps lift the spirits like a good old pool!
Vacuum Your Pool
Without a doubt, the pool is one of the most popular features homebuyers look for. Until, of course, they realize they have to vacuum it once or twice a week. But, again, this is not something that should scare you – you should look at vacuuming a pool like vacuuming your living room. You just need to buy a suction vacuum and pick up the debris from the bottom of the pool. As simple as that.
Moreover, if our budget allows it, you can also get a robot vacuum for your pool and let it clean all by itself. Of course, these are pricey, but hey, they will do the job for you. No matter what kind of vacuum you decide to go for, make sure that nobody is in the pool when you use it. Although these vacuums are safe, short circuits and leakages can sometimes happen.
Power Wash the Deck
The inside of your pool should be your top priority, yes. But the outside should not be neglected! Your pool deck is the place ‘touching’ the water, a place where you lounge and where your children play. Thus, we cannot talk about essential pool maintenance tips for Florida homeowners without mentioning the deck. Your deck should always be as clean as possible. The easiest way to ensure that is to use a power washing machine. You can buy one, or you can hire a professional.
Hire a Professional
Speaking of professionals, if you have doubts about buying a house with a pool, you should hire a real estate agent. If you have problems with moving into a house with a pool, you should hire moving experts such as City Movers. And, of course, if you have problems with maintaining your pool, you should hire a pool maintenance team. They will do everything pool-related, and you will not have to lift a finger. Usually, professional pool maintenance teams come to your home once or twice a month and do the following:
- Scrub and Skim
- Clean the filter
- Maintain water levels
- Remove grease and oils
- Check chemical levels and regulate them
- Power wash the deck
- Clean the surrounding area of the pool
- Cover the pool
- Take precautions during winter
- Use professional tools, cleaners, and chemicals
Conclusion
There are a few essential pool maintenance tips for Florida homeowners you should pay attention to if you want to have a nice pool. If you do not want to do these things, there is a solution for that too – hire a professional who will do the job for you. The most important thing is to have a clean (and a healthy) pool. Having a pool is a great thing. It is something that will keep you happy, relaxed, and most importantly, it will bring your family close together. So, go for it. But, be careful when buying a house with a pool. Do not make a beginner house hunting mistake and buy a home with an utterly rundown pool – fixing that could cost you more than building a new one.