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Weekly Maintenance Routine

The consistent habits that keep pools crystal clear. Prevention beats crisis management.

When to use: Need to establish a sustainable maintenance routine that prevents problems.
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Your Weekly Pool Maintenance Routine

Consistent habits = crystal clear water. Follow this routine and you'll spend less time fixing problems.

Time Investment: 20-40 Minutes Per Week

Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 5 min each (15 min total) | Saturday morning: 15-20 min full test | Saturday afternoon: 15-30 min physical cleaning. Compare this to 6-8 hours fighting algae when you skip maintenance. Prevention wins.

Quick Reference Schedule

2-3× Weekly (M/W/F)
  • • Test FC & pH (5 min)
  • • Adjust if needed (5 min)
  • • Skim surface debris
Weekly (Saturday)
  • • Full test panel (20 min)
  • • Brush & vacuum (20 min)
  • • Clean baskets (5 min)
  • • Check equipment (5 min)
Monthly (1st Saturday)
  • • Deep clean filter
  • • Inspect SWG cell
  • • Check water level
  • • Restock chemicals
1

The Philosophy: Prevention Beats Crisis Management

Spend 30 minutes weekly on maintenance, or spend 3 days monthly fighting algae. Your choice.

Consistent testing catches problems BEFORE water turns cloudy
Small daily tasks prevent huge monthly emergencies
A routine removes decision fatigue - you don't think, you just do
Chemistry stability = less money on chemicals + clearer water + more swim time
This routine takes 20-40 minutes per week once you have the habit
Pro Tips
  • • Pick the same day/time each week - Saturday morning works for most people
  • • Keep testing kit and chemicals in same spot - remove friction
  • • Log tests immediately in Poolometer - don't trust your memory
  • • Miss a week? Don't panic. Just test and adjust. Pools are forgiving.
2

Monday/Wednesday/Friday: Quick Chemistry Check

Test FC and pH three times per week. That's it. 5 minutes each time.

Best time: Morning before sun hits the pool (most accurate FC reading)
Test FC: Should be at minimum target (7.5% of CYA) or higher
Test pH: Should be 7.2-7.8 (ideal: 7.4-7.6)
Log results in Poolometer immediately - get instant analysis
If FC is low: Add liquid chlorine (or run SWG longer if you have salt system)
If pH is off: Add muriatic acid (lower) or aerate (raise) - see Chemistry 101 playbook
Pro Tips
  • • FC drops fastest on hot sunny days - test more in summer, less in winter
  • • After parties, storms, or heavy use: Test within 24 hours and adjust
  • • If FC is consistently low: Either your CYA is too high, or you have contamination
  • • Keep it simple: Just FC + pH during the week. Save full panel for Saturday.
3

Saturday Morning: Full Weekly Test Panel

Once a week, test everything. This is your 'health checkup' for the pool.

Test FC, pH, TA, CH (and CYA if you suspect it changed)
Review trends in Poolometer: Is anything drifting over time?
Check CSI in Poolometer: Are you in -0.3 to +0.3 safe zone?
Adjust TA if pH has been unstable during the week
Adjust CH if CSI is drifting too positive (scaling) or negative (corrosive)
Document any weird observations: Cloudy? Algae spots? Equipment sounds different?
Pro Tips
  • • Full test panel takes 15-20 min with Taylor K-2006 kit
  • • Test BEFORE making adjustments - don't guess
  • • Only adjust ONE thing at a time (except TA+pH which are linked)
  • • Add 75% of calculated dose, wait 30 min, retest, then add remainder if needed
4

Saturday Afternoon: Physical Maintenance

Clean stuff. Your filter, skimmer, and pump do the heavy lifting - help them out.

Skim surface debris: Leaves, bugs, pollen (5 min)
Empty skimmer baskets: Clogged baskets kill flow and filtration (2 min)
Empty pump basket: Check for large debris that could damage impeller (3 min)
Brush walls and floor: Dislodge algae spores before they bloom (10 min, every other week)
Vacuum or run robotic cleaner: Remove settled debris (15-30 min weekly)
Check filter pressure: If 20-25% above clean pressure, backwash or clean filter
Inspect equipment: Any leaks? Weird sounds? Cracks in pipes? Address early!
Pro Tips
  • • Brushing is underrated - it prevents 80% of algae problems
  • • Brush toward main drain so debris gets filtered, not stuck in corners
  • • After brushing, run pump for 2-4 hours to filter dislodged particles
  • • Robotic cleaners are worth it - saves 15 min per week hands-off
5

Monthly: Deep Maintenance Tasks

Once a month, do the stuff you forget about. Set a phone reminder.

Clean filter thoroughly: DE filter add fresh DE, cartridge rinse and soak, sand backwash + rinse
Test salt level (if you have SWG): Should be 2700-3200 ppm depending on brand
Inspect SWG cell: Look for scale buildup, clean if voltage is spiking or low output
Check water level: Should be mid-skimmer. Top off if low (evaporation is normal)
Lubricate O-rings: Pump lid, filter lid, valves - use silicone-based lube
Inspect pool cover/safety equipment: Tears? Anchors loose? Fix before emergency
Review chemical inventory: Running low on bleach, acid, test reagents? Restock now.
Pro Tips
  • • Put monthly tasks on first Saturday of the month - tie to calendar
  • • SWG cells last 3-5 years - clean every 6 weeks in summer, 3 months in winter
  • • Water level drops 1/4" per day in summer from evaporation - totally normal
  • • Buy chemicals in bulk during off-season - cheaper and you'll always have supply
6

Seasonal: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Pools have seasons. Adjust your routine to match nature's cycle.

Spring (March-May)
  • • Spring Opening: Follow Spring Opening playbook if pool was closed
  • • Increase testing frequency: Water warms up = algae risk increases
  • • Check equipment after winter: Leaks from freeze damage? Replace parts now.
  • • Prepare for pollen season: Skim daily if trees are shedding
Summer (June-August)
  • • Peak season: Test FC 3-4× per week (hot sun burns chlorine faster)
  • • Monitor CSI weekly: Warm water drifts CSI positive (scaling pressure)
  • • Run pump longer: 8-12 hours/day in peak summer vs 6-8 in spring/fall
  • • After parties: Test within 24 hours, shock if needed, clean filters
Fall (September-November)
  • • Leaf management: Skim daily or use leaf net - leaves are chemistry chaos
  • • Lower testing frequency: Cooler water = slower chlorine consumption
  • • Reduce chemical demand: You'll use 50% less chlorine in fall vs summer
  • • Prepare for winter: Review Winter Closing playbook in October/November
Winter (December-February)
  • • Winter closing (cold climates): Follow Winter Closing playbook
  • • Winter maintenance (warm climates): Test 1-2× per week, normal routine
  • • Freeze protection (Zone 7-8): Have antifreeze on hand, run freeze guard if equipped
  • • Off-season planning: Research upgrades, order parts, clean storage area
7

The 'Oh Crap' Situations: When to Break Routine

Sometimes life happens. Here's when to TEST MORE and ACT FAST.

After heavy rain: Test immediately - rain dilutes chemistry and adds contaminants
Pool party: Test before (boost FC to high end) and 24 hours after (adjust down)
Cloudy water: Test full panel, run OCLT, proceed to Clear Cloudy or SLAM playbook
Green/yellow tint: SLAM process immediately - this is algae
Equipment malfunction: Pump died? SWG offline? Add chlorine manually while fixing
Vacation >1 week: Boost FC to high target before leaving, have neighbor check
Pro Tips
  • • Keep liquid chlorine on hand for emergencies - it's cheap insurance
  • • Most 'emergencies' are just delayed routine maintenance catching up to you
  • • When in doubt: Test, don't guess. Data prevents expensive mistakes.
  • • Join online pool chemistry communities for 24/7 expert advice on unusual situations
8

Building the Habit: From Chore to Routine

How to make pool maintenance effortless and automatic.

Week 1-2: Everything feels slow and unfamiliar. Push through.
Week 3-4: You'll memorize the steps. Testing becomes muscle memory.
Week 5-8: Pool care takes <30 min/week. You stop thinking about it.
Month 3+: You can tell something is off just by looking at water. Instincts develop.
Habit formed: Pool care is now on autopilot. Enjoy your crystal clear water!
Pro Tips
  • • Pair pool testing with something enjoyable: Morning coffee, podcast, music
  • • Track your streak in Poolometer - gamify it
  • • Take before/after photos: Cloudy → clear is satisfying proof you're learning
  • • Teach someone: Explain your routine to a friend or family member. Teaching solidifies learning.

You're ready! Print this routine, set phone reminders, and start Week 1. By Week 4, this will feel automatic. By Month 3, you'll wonder how you ever stressed about pool care. Crystal clear water is just consistent small actions. You've got this! 🏊‍♂️

Checklist

  1. 1Test FC and pH 2-3 times per week (5 min each).
  2. 2Run full test panel weekly (Saturday morning, 20 min).
  3. 3Perform physical maintenance weekly (skim, brush, vacuum, 30 min).
  4. 4Complete monthly deep tasks (filter cleaning, SWG inspection).
  5. 5Adjust routine by season (spring, summer, fall, winter).
  6. 6Handle emergency situations (rain, parties, equipment failure).
  7. 7Build the habit - from chore to autopilot in 8 weeks.

Related Playbooks

First 30 Days - Establishing Your Baseline

Build a reliable baseline chemistry profile and learn your pool's behavior in the critical first month of ownership.

Pool Chemistry 101

Understand the WHY behind every chemical adjustment. The foundation of pool care.

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Master the Taylor K-2006 test kit with step-by-step guidance that descalates the overwhelming complexity for first-time users.