Using Pool Robots Versus Other Ways to Clean Your Pool

Last updated on September 12th, 2024 at 05:22 pm

Having a pool just a few steps outside your door is bliss. You can take a plunge anytime you want. And, with the many benefits of swimming, having a pool can help you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Add to that, the fact that you’ll always have the perfect place to entertain your guests and somewhere to keep your kids occupied during the hot, lazy days of summer. What’s not to love?

But, we can’t forget that pool ownership also comes with a downside: making sure that it’s clean and sanitized before someone dives in. Depending on how large and how murky your pool gets, pool cleaning can be a tedious, whole-day affair. That’s where pool robots come in!

Pool Robots: The Easiest Way to Clean a Pool

Generally, there are two ways to clean a pool: the easy way and the hard way. Using a pool robot falls under the first category and will make pool upkeep considerably less time-consuming.

Pool robots work very well in doing most of the dirty work for you. They’re effective, low-maintenance, and simple to use. You don’t have to manually vacuum the pool because pool robots use your pool’s pump and filtration system, saving you from cleaning up afterwards.

How do they work? Robotic pool cleaners are powered by electricity. They’re connected to a waterproof wire attached to a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). They include a filter basket that captures dirt and particles. You just plug them in, set them in the pool, and let them do the rest. The vacuum may float at first, so press it down until all the bubbles have been removed.

Some models of pool robots clean the stairs and move up the walls too. You simply take the vacuum out of the pool, remove and empty the basket, and then hose down the suction and baskets when finished.

Of course, a robotic pool cleaner is not a one-size-fits-all solution to pool maintenance. You may still need to skim the bigger debris floating in the water, balance the water chemistry, and do other necessary tasks. But overall, a cleaning robot frees you from most of the manual labor, saving time.

Skimming the Pool

Skimming means removing the visible particles that often stay afloat on the water surface. They can be dead algae, insects, twigs, leaves, and other water pollutants. When not removed from the water, they will eventually decay and sink into the bottom of the pool, which makes them harder to take out.

Some robotic pool cleaners have large mouths and cartridges for sucking up big debris. If you don’t have one, you may need to skim the pool every day especially if it’s surrounded by trees.

Brushing the Pool Walls

Algae and tiny debris can accumulate on the walls and pool fixtures such as ladders and slides.

Brush the pool walls and fixtures weekly to eliminate dirt and prevent algae growth. Clean the dirt at the edges and bottom of your pool, as well as on ladders, slides, and other accessories. Brush sediment toward the main drain so it may be readily cleaned up.

Clean the Skimmer

Ideally, your pool should have been built with a skimmer on the poolside(s). This fixture naturally removes debris that floats in the water.

As part of your pool maintenance routine, brush the skimmers weekly or more frequently if necessary. Getting rid of the debris by skimming manually helps the skimmer to perform at peak. When well-maintained, the skimmer can capture a lot of waste in the pool.

Keep an eye on the water level in your pool. Debris will not be gathered successfully if the water level is more than halfway up the skimmer.

Check the skimmer every time you skim the pool’s surface to ensure it is clean. Remove whatever is trapped there so that it can continue to gather more debris.

Turn on Your Pump

Your pool’s circulation system includes the skimmer, pump, strainer, drains, and filter. These parts guarantee that water is adequately filtered and that chemicals are distributed evenly.

Run your pump long enough daily to ensure the water is filtered properly. Take some time to clean each component of the circulation system to maintain its good working condition.

Backwash the Filter as Needed

Pool filters screen out dirt and particles from the water. You should clean and maintain your filter as directed by the manufacturer.

Check your pool filter monthly, and clean out any debris that has accumulated.

If your pool seems to always be dirty, you might need to backwash the filter weekly. If the pool has a filter gauge, check to see if it reads 8-10 psi higher than usual. If it does, it’s a good indicator that you need to backwash the filter.

Water Chemistry Balancing

Now, this is the part where things can get a little tricky.

Keeping hazardous microorganisms at bay is critical to pool maintenance and your health. When checking for the chemical balance, consider the alkalinity, pH, free chlorine, and cyanuric acid levels.

Ensure the alkalinity is between 80 and 120 parts per million (ppm). Alkalinity acts as a buffer for the pH and can stop big swings in how acidic or basic the water is. You can buy a pool water tester online and use it to check for the pool’s alkalinity. If it is too low, combine baking soda and water and pour it into the pool to raise it. If the alkalinity is too high, use muriatic acid to correct the imbalance.

Maintain a pH level of 7.2 to 7.8. The tap water used to fill your pool should have a neutral pH of 7. However, pollutants can modify the pH. A pH range of 7.2-7.8 is just right. You should adjust if the pH level is above or below this range.

To lower the pH level, you need a muriatic acid. To increase it, you need soda ash or sodium carbonate. The amount you need to use depends on how big your pool is. Retest the water after adding these chemicals.

So, as you can see, having a backyard pool comes with some work, but now that pool robots are an option, you can eliminate a lot of the work of pool ownership. That leaves you more time to relax and enjoy your backyard oasis!

Also read:
How to Create a Cozy Patio Space: 9 of Our Best Tips
5 Key Benefits of Having a Swimming Pool at Home
How to Have an 80s Summer (Free Printable Bucket List for Kids) + the Ultimate 80s Playlist

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