Most Toronto pools need some attention every week from opening day in spring until closing in the fall. How much depends on how often you swim, how many trees surround the yard, and the weather. Here is a realistic schedule for a residential pool.
Every few days
- Skim leaves and bugs off the surface before they sink.
- Empty the skimmer basket so water keeps flowing to the pump.
- Glance at the water. Cloudiness or a green tint is easier to fix early.
Every week
- Test and balance the water. Check sanitizer and pH at least once a week, and more often during heat waves or after a big pool party.
- Brush the walls, steps and waterline. Brushing loosens algae and debris before it takes hold.
- Vacuum the floor, or make sure your automatic cleaner is running and its bag or canister is emptied.
- Empty the pump basket and check the filter pressure gauge.
- Top up your chlorine feeder or floater.
Every few weeks
- Clean the filter when pressure rises above its clean reading. That means backwashing a sand or D.E. filter, or rinsing a cartridge.
- Shock the pool after heavy use, hot spells or rainstorms.
- Check calcium hardness, alkalinity and stabilizer, which change more slowly than pH.
What changes the schedule
Trees and gardens. Yards with mature maples or oaks, which are common across North York and the older parts of Toronto, may need skimming daily in spring and fall.
Weather. Hot, sunny stretches burn off chlorine quickly, and summer storms wash in debris and dilute your chemistry.
Bather load. More swimmers means more sunscreen, sweat and organic waste for your sanitizer to break down.
Want to skip the routine?
Poolmaster offers weekly and bi-weekly pool service across Toronto. A Weekly Pool Check covers baskets, backwashing, chemical feeders and water testing, and a Weekly Vacuum adds skimming, waterline cleaning and vacuuming. You can also bring a water sample to our store at 1875 Leslie St. for testing.
Prefer to swim instead of scrub? Request a quote or call 416-449-1450.
