Installing efficient equipment and applying some ingenuity can help you save money on your pool’s monthly energy costs (see Part 1 & 2). Did you know that simply keeping up with proper pool cleaning and maintenance habits can also play an important role in keeping costs down? Implementing a methodical schedule for keeping your pool clean and well maintained will not only enhance your swimming experience, but you may also be surprised at how big of an impact it can have on your wallet.
So what important habits should you be forming to stretch your pool energy spending budget as far as possible? That’s going to be the topic of this next installment of our article series on Smart Ways You as a Pool Owner Can Dive into Energy Savings.
Always Strive to Keep Your Pool Clean
As with just about any cleaning-related task, cleaning your pool may not be your favorite way to spend your time. You’d rather be swimming in your pool than checking the chemicals, skimming, vacuuming, or taking care of any of the other regular tasks associated with pool maintenance. Procrastinating on these necessary chores, however, is a big mistake. Not only will a dirty pool be less sanitary, attractive, and pleasant for swimming, it can also hurt your pool’s energy efficiency. In short, a dirty pool can cost you significantly more money than a clean pool, especially in the long run.
So how exactly does failing to clean your pool affect its energy efficiency? It does so in several ways. For example, it can cause poor water circulation. Lack of water flow can make your pool equipment have to work harder than it should. This can lead to increased energy costs as well as unnecessary wear and tear on your equipment, causing that equipment to need to be replaced more often.
To avoid all of these problems, do your best to keep your pool clean on an ongoing basis:
- brush and skim it at least twice weekly
- vacuum up debris weekly
- shock your pool weekly
- run a chemical test twice weekly
- run your pool pump nightly for at least eight hours
Make Sure Your Pool Heater is Running Properly
If you own a pool heater, one important tip for achieving maximum energy efficiency is checking the condition of your pool heater at least once per swimming season. You can make sure it’s running safely and properly so as not to waste energy on a heater that’s not performing optimally. After this careful inspection, which should be done as soon as you open your pool, you can give it a quick once-over on at least a monthly basis all summer long. This checkup should include looking for leaks, clogs, and any warning lights indicating some sort of mechanical malfunction.
A clean pool with properly functioning equipment is an energy efficient pool. Though it may sometimes seem like a hassle to keep up with all the regular pool maintenance tasks, it’s a chore that’s work the extra effort. In our next article, we’ll take a look at a few practical items you could add to your pool for even greater energy cost savings.
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Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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