A pool at a rental property is a great amenity that your renters will love! The more you maintain that pool, the more accustomed you’ll be to its maintenance requirements. Your tasks will get easier over time.
So where should you start? Read these 10 tips on how to maintain a pool at a rental property.
1. Keep It Safe
Before diving into weekly pool maintenance, you’ll want to make sure the pool area is safe. Because you own the property and have others renting it, you could be held liable for any accidents in or around the pool.
Especially during the months that the pool is in operation, check to make sure safety features are installed and function properly. You should provide a gate around the pool, instructions for the renters to cover the pool when not in use, a locked storage area for chemicals, signs posted like “no diving” and life-saving equipment.
2. Open and Close the Pool at the Right Time
Depending on where the rental property is located, open and closing times will differ. If your pool is outdoors, you should know when to open and close it for the season.
You should open the pool when the temperature is above 70°F (21°C) consistently. Upon opening the pool, remove the cover, hook up and run the filtering system, clean the pool and add necessary chemicals.
Close the pool when temperatures drop below 30°F (-1°C) at nighttime and follow the necessary instructions provided by your installer to ensure a hassle-free opening in the spring.
3. Check the pH and the Free Available Chlorine Levels Often
Two times per week, you should head to the rental property to check the pH levels. This helps maintain the proper balance of chemicals.
An ideal pH level is between 7.2 and 7.8. Add chemicals as needed to get the pH level between those two numbers to keep it neutral.
Check the free available chlorine levels as well. You can test them with a test strip that should come in a kit to maintain your pool. The ideal level is between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm.
4. Remove Debris
Just like you should regularly clear your gutters of leaves and twigs to ensure proper water drainage, you need to do the same for your pool! Over a small amount of time, leaves, dirt and other debris build up in your pool.
Empty the skimmer basket and use a net to pull out anything that’s floating in the water, like leaves or insects. Since this task is relatively easy, almost anyone is capable of doing it, even your renters.
5. Shock the Pool
About once per week, or after a rainstorm, a scorching day or heavy usage, shock the pool. This will allow the pool to stay clean and boosts the sanitizing measures.
Shock the pool at night rather than during the day. The sun can prevent chlorine in the shock from doing its job. After adding the shock, run the pump for at least 8 hours so the chemicals can circulate.
- Get Rid of Algae
When algae collects in the pool, it can be an alarming sight, making your tenants not want to use the pool. Green, yellow and black algae are the most common types of algae in swimming pools.
To get rid of algae, shock the pool and then brush and vacuum it. Run the pump until the water clears. If you’re trying to prevent algae, frequently clean the filters and add an algae preventer.
7. Brush and Vacuum
Debris can build up quickly. Once a week, brush the walls and floor of the pool. This will lift away anything that has attached itself to the surfaces.
Once you brush the pool, use a pool vacuum to suck up the debris. It’s just like running a vacuum over a carpet. There are automatic cleaners available that clean the pool hands-free if it’s within your budget.
8. Clean the Filter
There are a few different types of pool filters, but you need to clean it to keep your pool cloud-free, no matter what kind you have. The filter clears out dirt and other unwanted substances from your pool.
Generally, wash the filter at least two times during the pool’s season of operation.
9. Maintain Water Levels
Over the pool season, the water level may decrease due to use. Check the skimmer’s opening — the water should be between the midpoint of the skimmer and one inch from the top of the skimmer.
You don’t need to drain your pool unless there is a major repair needed.
10. Make a Maintenance Schedule
The most effective way to make sure you stay on task to keep the pool its best is to create a pool maintenance schedule. You know the pool the best — not the renters.
Write down the schedule or add reminders in your cell phone. If you trust the renters, they can help relieve you of some of the simpler tasks, so make a schedule for them as well. After all, they chose the property that has a pool!
Learning How to Maintain a Pool
Proper pool maintenance for your renters allows them to enjoy their place to its fullest. A pool can be a lot of work, but when you keep up with the maintenance required, it will keep both you and your tenants satisfied.
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.
