For many renters, living in a complex with a pool is a huge selling point — and finding one with an indoor pool is a major bonus. Since it’s inside, residents can take advantage of the recreation area and swim year-round. Landlords, however, may not share their excitement.
Even if a pool is indoors, it will still require a fair amount of maintenance, especially if you want to keep your tenants happy. Here are a few things to keep in mind when maintaining an indoor pool.
1. Test pH Levels Periodically
Maintaining a proper balance of chemicals in your indoor pool is a process that begins with testing its pH levels. Essentially, this entails measuring the relative proportion of acids and alkalis in the water. On the pH scale, zero indicates extreme acidity while a 14 signals intense alkalinity. Ideally, you want to keep the pH between 7.2 and 7.8, which is relatively neutral. Once you know the pH, add chemicals to tweak the balance and restore it to neutral levels.
2. Oxidize Regularly
One chemical you should use on a routine basis is chlorine. Adding this element to your pool is called shocking or oxidizing and gets rid of waste like grease, perfume, sunscreen and powders. Oxidize at dusk or at night and allow the pump to run for at least eight hours. Otherwise, the sun will bake the chlorine before it’s had a chance to sanitize the water.
3. Ventilate
Ventilating the area while shocking is also critical to maintaining your indoor pool. If you fail to ventilate, the waste will simply fall back into the water, rendering the oxidation process useless. Year-round ventilation is also important for maintaining humidity levels and minimizing mold and algae growth. Install a high-quality dehumidifier system to promote air circulation and ensure the air is dry.
4. Insulate
Most pool rooms have plenty of windows to recreate the feeling of being outside. However, single-pane windows can increase humidity and cause major fluctuations in temperature. To maintain a comfortable atmosphere and keep the pool clean, consider applying window film to cut air leaks and insulate the room. You might also install a high-efficiency recuperator to lower the heating requirements during colder months. This system transfers 90% of energy from the exhaust to the outdoor air.
5. Vacuum and Brush
Your pool may be inside, but dirt and debris can still find its way into the water and sink to the bottom. To prevent scum and grime buildup, vacuum the interior once a week. Brush the walls as well before running the vacuum to loosen particles and let them drift to the bottom. Use a stiff-bristle brush on plaster-lined concrete while and a soft-bristle brush on vinyl, tile and fiberglass.
6. Paint and Decorate
Maintaining an indoor pool is an excellent marketing strategy and can attract new tenants. However, if you want to level up your advertising, paint and decorate the pool area. Take a peek at your competitors’ pools. What color is the interior? Do they keep potted plants nearby to create a tropical ambiance? Take a few cues from their design schemes and begin reimagining the pool area. You might just receive a few more applications than usual after photos hit the web.
7. Clean the Filter
This should go without saying, but don’t forget to clean the filter every month or so. Otherwise, debris will build up over time and increase pressure on the filter system. Eventually, this will cause the flow rate and circulation system to drop as well. Use a hose to dislodge dirt and soak the cartridge in a cleaning solution to remove buildup. Completely replace the filter when you can’t eliminate the debris or the filter begins to disintegrate.
8. Maintain a Proper Water Level
Pools lose water over time from evaporation and splashing. If you don’t refill it, low water levels will ruin the pump. Avoid expensive repair costs and fill the pool with the garden hose when the level is level with the skimmer basket and intake tubes. Check the water level each time you skim the surface and clean the baskets to ensure it never dips too low.
Preventing Major Issues
In most cases, regular pool maintenance can minimize the risk of broken parts, chemical imbalances and other major issues. Moreover, being proactive will protect you from expensive repair costs to fix problems you could have prevented.
Of course, you’ll likely spend a few thousand dollars per year in maintenance costs. However, you’ll save even more by budgeting for these expenses and taking initiative when it comes to pool upkeep. If maintenance is too much to handle alone, hire a team to clean, fill and regulate the pool.
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.
