Maintaining a clean and inviting swimming pool is a year-round task that requires consistent care and attention. Among the essential maintenance tasks for pool owners, pool brushing and skimming stand out as two of the most important. While these tasks may seem straightforward, many pool owners make mistakes that can lead to poor pool hygiene, clogged filters, and even costly repairs. To keep your pool in pristine condition and avoid common issues, it’s important to understand the correct techniques and avoid some of the most frequent mistakes.
Pelican Pools, a trusted name in pool maintenance, understands how crucial it is to keep your pool clean, safe, and sparkling. In this guest post, we’ll walk you through some of the common mistakes pool owners make when brushing and skimming their pools and how you can avoid them for a healthier, better-maintained pool.
The Importance of Pool Brushing and Skimming
Before diving into the common mistakes, let’s take a moment to understand why pool brushing and skimming are so important.
Pool brushing helps remove dirt, algae, and debris that can collect on the pool walls, tiles, and floor. It also prevents the buildup of algae and mineral deposits, which can lead to staining and water imbalances.
Skimming is the process of removing debris, such as leaves, twigs, insects, and other floating objects, from the pool’s surface. Regular skimming helps maintain water clarity and prevents debris from sinking to the bottom, where it can create more cleaning issues.
Both of these tasks help maintain the overall cleanliness of your pool, improve water circulation, and reduce the workload on your pool filter. However, doing them incorrectly can lead to less effective cleaning, longer cleaning times, and even damage to your pool’s equipment.
Common Pool Brushing Mistakes to Avoid
1. Brushing Too Hard or Too Aggressively
One of the most common mistakes pool owners make when brushing is using too much force. While it’s important to scrub away dirt and algae, brushing too aggressively can damage your pool’s surface, especially if it’s made of vinyl or fiberglass.
The key is to use moderate pressure while brushing the pool’s walls and floor. A soft bristle pool brush is typically best for cleaning vinyl-lined pools, while a harder brush may be suitable for plaster pools. The goal is to remove debris and algae without scratching or scuffing the surface.
Tip:
If you notice stubborn stains or algae buildup, focus on those areas gently instead of applying too much pressure. You can also use pool-safe chemicals to treat stubborn spots before brushing.
2. Neglecting to Brush All Areas of the Pool
Another mistake many pool owners make is neglecting certain areas of the pool while brushing. For example, it’s easy to forget the pool steps, corners, or the waterline, which can all harbor buildup of dirt and algae.
A thorough brushing of all areas is necessary to maintain a clean pool. These hard-to-reach spots, if left uncleaned, can quickly accumulate dirt and become breeding grounds for algae. Regular brushing ensures that no area is left behind.
Tip:
Make sure to brush the pool’s steps, corners, ladder, and the waterline. These areas are often prone to algae and calcium buildup. For best results, brush these spots gently in a back-and-forth motion.
3. Brushing During the Wrong Time of Day
Brushing your pool at the wrong time can lead to inefficiency in cleaning. For instance, brushing a pool under the hot midday sun can cause chemicals to dry too quickly, leaving streaks on your pool’s surface. Moreover, brushing the pool after adding chemicals can also interfere with the effectiveness of those chemicals.
Tip:
It’s best to brush your pool early in the morning or in the evening when the sun is not at its peak. This helps avoid streaking and ensures that your pool’s chemicals have time to work without being prematurely dried out.
Common Pool Skimming Mistakes to Avoid
- Not Skimming Often Enough
It’s tempting to skip skimming when your pool looks relatively clean, but neglecting this task for too long can lead to debris sinking to the bottom of the pool. Once debris sinks, it becomes harder to remove, and your pool filter may struggle to catch it.
Tip:
Skim your pool every day or every other day to prevent debris from accumulating. If you have trees or plants near your pool, you may need to skim more frequently. A pool skimmer net is a simple yet effective tool for this task.
- Using the Wrong Skimming Tools
Using the wrong skimming tools can make the process more difficult and less effective. For example, using a net with holes that are too wide can let smaller debris slip through, while using a net that’s too small can make skimming take longer than necessary. It’s essential to use the right skimmer for the job, which means a fine mesh net for smaller debris and a larger mesh net for bigger leaves and twigs.
Tip:
Choose a skimmer net that’s the right size for your pool and the types of debris you typically encounter. Larger debris like leaves may require a more durable, wide-mesh net, while smaller debris like bugs or pollen will need a finer mesh.
- Skimming Only the Surface
While surface skimming is important, many pool owners make the mistake of only focusing on debris that floats on top of the water. However, there may be debris that is suspended below the surface or near the pool’s walls that can still cause problems if left unattended.
Tip:
Make sure to also focus on skimming debris near the walls of the pool and any debris that might be suspended just below the surface. A quick sweep along the pool’s perimeter can catch these sneaky bits of debris before they sink.
- Skipping Skimming Before Pool Brushing
Skimming after brushing can make the pool cleaning process harder. If you brush the pool first and then skim, the debris that was removed during brushing may end up floating back into the water. It’s much more efficient to skim the pool first, so when you brush the walls and floor, the debris is easier to remove.
Tip:
Always skim your pool before brushing to avoid pushing debris around and making extra work for yourself. This way, you can remove floating debris first and then focus on deeper cleaning with the brush.
Why Trust Pelican Pools for Pool Maintenance?
At Pelican Pools, we understand that maintaining a clean pool requires more than just basic skimming and brushing. Our professional pool cleaning services ensure that every corner of your pool is spotless and that you’re avoiding common mistakes. Whether you need regular cleaning or deep maintenance, Pelican Pools is here to help you keep your pool in top shape.
We offer expert advice and services tailored to your specific needs. With the right tools, techniques, and experience, Pelican Pools ensures that your pool stays safe, healthy, and enjoyable for all to use.
Conclusion
Pool brushing and skimming are vital tasks for any pool owner, but it’s easy to make mistakes that can lead to inefficient cleaning and potential damage. By avoiding the mistakes outlined above, you can ensure that your pool stays sparkling clean, your water quality remains high, and your pool equipment runs smoothly.
To avoid the hassle and ensure that your pool gets the best care, consider professional pool cleaning services from Pelican Pools. With our expert team, we’ll help you keep your pool in pristine condition year-round.