Your Home Pool Care Routine, Week by Week

Applies to: In-ground and above-ground home pools with vinyl, fiberglass or plaster surfaces; chlorine and salt-chlorine systems; sand, cartridge and DE filters.

Why a routine matters

CDC calls chlorine and pH the first defense against germs that can make swimmers sick, and says it is a home pool owner's job to check them regularly.^[1]

PHTA puts it simply: keeping a pool clean, safe and swim-ready takes regular upkeep. Its checklist is general guidance, so always follow your manufacturers' recommendations and local rules.^[2]

Every day: chlorine and pH

CDC recommends testing chlorine and pH at least twice a day, and more often when the pool is busy.^[1][3]

CDC recommends pH 7.0–7.8 and at least 1 ppm chlorine in pools. If you use cyanuric acid (stabilizer) or stabilized chlorine such as dichlor or trichlor, CDC recommends at least 2 ppm.^[1]

Chlorine levels need routine testing because many things use them up, including pee, poop, sweat and dirt from swimmers, plus sunlight.^[1]

AquaChek, a test-strip maker, also advises testing after a party or heavy use, after animals have been in the pool, after heavy rain and after fertilizing.^[4]

For how to test and read results, see our guide to testing pool water.

Your weekly checklist

PHTA's weekly maintenance list includes these tasks:^[2]

• Test the water: check chlorine, pH, alkalinity and other levels, and adjust as needed. Read and follow all directions on product labels.^[2][3]
• Skim: clear leaves, bugs and floating debris with a skimmer net.^[2]
• Brush walls and floor to help prevent algae and stains. AquaChek notes that algae can follow poor circulation, which leaves dead zones of still water.^[2][4]
• Vacuum dirt and debris from the floor.^[2]
• Empty the skimmer and pump baskets so water keeps flowing. Latham, a pool maker, calls these baskets the first line of defense for a clean pool.^[2][5]
• Check the water level, which matters for efficient circulation.^[2]

Add a quick safety walk-around to the same day:

• Look at drain covers. Pool Safely (CPSC) says never to enter a pool or spa with a loose, broken or missing drain cover.^[6]
• Test the gate. Pool Safely says the water should only be reachable through a self-closing, self-latching gate.^[6]
• Check covers and alarms. Pool Safely advises a door alarm from the house to the pool area and pool covers kept in working order.^[6]

Your monthly checklist

PHTA's monthly list covers the filter, shock and equipment:^[2]

• Clean the filter as needed: PHTA says to backwash sand filters or clean cartridges. Latham notes that backwashing is used for sand and DE filters, but a cartridge filter cannot be backwashed.^[2][5]
• Use the pressure gauge. Latham says the gauge is a benchmark for when to clean any filter type; check your filter's manual for the reading that means it's time.^[2][5]
• Shock the pool: PHTA lists shocking to oxidize contaminants and keep water clear. Use the product label for your pool's volume.^[2][3]
• Inspect pumps, filters and heaters for wear or damage.^[2]

Latham also suggests having a professional pool expert check your water once a month.^[7]

Less often, PHTA adds a quarterly test for total dissolved solids (TDS) and cleaning tile and grout.^[2]

Keep a pool log of test results and maintenance. AquaChek says a log helps you see how your water changes and spot recurring problems.^[2][8]

How your routine changes with your pool

• Filters: Latham says to first identify which filter type you have before cleaning it, because the process differs. Your filter's manual is the final word.^[2][5]
• Vinyl liners: Latham says both low and high pH can damage a liner. Below pH 7.0 a liner can develop wrinkles, and high pH speeds up its aging.^[7]
• Salt systems: PHTA explains that salt chlorine generators use electricity and dissolved salt to make chlorine. Different generators need different salt levels, and scale forms inside the cell even in balanced water, so follow your maker's instructions for salt and cell cleaning.^[9]
• Heaters: Hayward's heater troubleshooting guide says only qualified technicians should remove the panel, and to contact an authorized service center for service.^[10]
• Above-ground pools: follow the manufacturer's instructions for your pool and its equipment, since PHTA's checklist is general guidance.^[2]

Chemical and equipment safety

As the season winds down

PHTA's seasonal tasks for opening and closing include balancing the water, inspecting equipment and winterizing when needed.^[2]

When and how you close depends on your climate and equipment, so follow your manufacturers' instructions. Our guides to closing your pool and freeze protection walk through it step by step, and the pool closing safety checklist covers family safety.