Pool Care Tips

Whether you choose to have the service professionals at J. Tortorella keep your pool pristine – or prefer to handle routine maintenance yourself – properly caring for your pool throughout the year will help ensure it provides you and your family with luxurious enjoyment for years to come.

For more answers to your questions, please visit our Pool Care FAQs.

Opening Your Pool for the Season

Generally, the best time of year to open your pool is towards the end of freezing temperatures. When the water is cool, it is easier to sanitize and will require less chemicals. Another advantage of opening your pool earlier in the season is it limits the potential growth of algae and other organic matter that can make the pool green and/or cloudy. When opening your pool:

Clean all leaves and other debris off the cover before removing it.
Check for loose tiles, cracks in the pool deck or gaps in the bond beam.
Make sure your heater or heat pump is working properly.
Run your filter around the clock until the water is completely clear.

Heating Your Pool

According to the National Swimming Pool Institute and the American Red Cross, the most healthful swimming temperature is 78°F.
Reduce heat loss – as much as 70%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy – with a pool cover. Sheltering your pool from the wind with fencing, landscaping or a cabana, is another tip.
There also is a choice of pool heaters to choose from, including gas, oil, electric and energy-efficient solar powered.
To maintain your heater's efficiency, follow a regular program of preventive maintenance, including annual inspection and deliming of the heat exchanger when necessary.
If your pool heater is more than five years old, chances are a new high efficiency gas heater could quickly pay for itself in utility bill savings.
If you use your pool only on weekends, reduce your heater or heat pump thermostats settings by eight to ten degrees during the week. Better yet, install a timer or control system to automate the hours of operation.
When leaving for vacation for more than a week, turn off the pool heater or heat pump, including the pilot light.

Your Filtration and Circulation System

Replace your pool pump with a more energy-efficient model. New variable speed pumps with permanent magnet motors and digital controls can save as much as 90% in utility costs compared to one- or two-speed pumps with induction motors.
If using an energy-efficient one- or two-speed pump, make sure your pump is sized to your pool's requirements.
Reduce run time or speed to reduce energy use. If using a one-speed pump, reduce filtration run time. In general, water needs to be circulated through the filter once every 24 hours. If using a two-speed or variable speed pump, use the lowest speed to appropriately circulate the water. Reducing speed saves more energy than reducing run time.
Turn the pool pump off before operating the multiport valve.
If your pump starts running louder or making unusual noises, shut it off and contact your pool professional.
Make a habit of checking and emptying skimmer and pump baskets regularly.
Run your pool's filtration system during off-peak hours when electricity demand is lower, generally between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. Install a timer or a control system to automate the hours of operation.
Keep intake grates clear of debris. Clogged drains require the pump to work harder.
If your filter pressure gauge indicates that pressure has dropped below the normal reading for a clean filter, check to see if you have a clogged pump or skimmer basket.
To obtain maximum filtration and energy efficiency, backwash or clean your filter regularly, as required.
When cleaning cartridge filters, soak them in a cleaning solution for 24 hours, then hose them off before reinstalling.
D.E. filters should be disassembled and cleaned at least once per season.
If your sand filter is 3- to 5-years old, ask your pool professional if it's time to replace the sand.

Keeping Water Clean and Debris-Free

Keep your filter, pump, lint trap and skimmer baskets clean and in proper working condition to help ensure that your pool water stays sparkling clear.
Empty your skimmer baskets frequently. You'll help minimize the amount of leaves that end up on the bottom of your pool.
When cleaning the surface of your pool with a leaf net, work your way around the sides first, then clean from the middle of the pool to the sides.
Empty your leaf net occasionally when cleaning your pool's surface. Otherwise, the net's contents may accidentally end up back in the pool.
Keep the trees and shrubs around your pool trimmed back to minimize the amount of leaves and debris that end up in the pool.
If your pool water appears green or has an unpleasant odor, you may have a problem with algae. Test for proper chlorine level, and consult a pool professional if the problem persists.
Pool inlets should be adjusted so the surface water is moving in a circular direction.
Check to make sure the skimmer weir is in place and is moving freely.
An automatic pool cleaner will dramatically reduce the time spent on weekly maintenance.

Checking your Pool's Water Level and Chemistry

Maintain your pool water level halfway up the skimmer box opening.
A pool may typically lose a minimal amount of water each day (no more than ¼ inch) due to evaporation and/or splash out. If your pool is losing more water than that, there could possibly be a leak. Monitor closely and consult your pool professional if you suspect a leak.
If you notice water-saturated soils in the area around the pool, pool pumps or plumbing, your pool may be leaking.
If you see bubbles in the return water when the pool's pump is running, it's likely there's a leak in the suction side of the filtration system.
To maintain the proper level of residual chlorine when bather load is heavy, shock your pool once a week with a 3- to 5 times higher than normal dose of chlorine. Do not enter the pool until the chemical level is normalized.
Chlorine is broken down by the sun's ultraviolet rays. Using cyanuric acid to stabilize the chlorine in your pool at the beginning of the swim season will help you maximize your chlorine's efficiency all summer long.
Filters remove suspended particles from pool water, but don't control bacteria or algae. Maintain a residual chlorine level of 1.0 – 3.0 ppm to kill bacteria and/or algae present in the water.
The ideal pH for pool water is 7.5. A pH range of 7.4 – 7.6 is considered acceptable.
Maintaining a total alkalinity range from 80 – 120 ppm will help minimize changes in pH, which can result in scaling and corrosion. Frequent testing can help prevent these problems before they get out of hand.
If you fill your pool with well water, you'll need to add a metal remover.