Pool Maintenance near you

A service visit usually works from the surface down and then to the equipment, so debris comes out before it sinks and the filter is checked after it has done its work.

The filter catches what the sanitizer leaves behind, and it works best when it is neither clogged nor cleaned too often. Sand and diatomaceous earth (DE) filters are backwashed, reversing the flow to flush dirt to waste, once the pressure gauge rises above its clean reading by the amount the manufacturer specifies; a DE filter is then recharged with fresh powder, handled so the dust isn't breathed in. Cartridges are hosed off, soaked in a filter cleaner from time to time and replaced when the pleats tear or stop coming clean.

Run time balances clear water against energy use. Hydro-Québec notes that an efficient pump can cut filtration costs by up to 80%, and more with a timer, but it advises against a timer when a heat pump heats the pool, since the circulating pump has to run whenever the heat pump does.

Sanitizer kills germs and algae, pH governs how well chlorine works and how the water feels on eyes and skin, alkalinity steadies the pH, and calcium hardness protects plaster and equipment from etching or scale. The right ranges depend on your pool's surface, its sanitizer and the product labels, so a good technician works from those rather than rules of thumb.

HealthLink BC advises checking disinfectant levels and adjusting them as needed, and notes that local pool suppliers can test water. Strips and drop kits both work when they are fresh and used as directed, and testing more often after heavy use, storms or a large top-up catches problems early.

Algae needs warmth, sunlight, nutrients and a gap in sanitizer or circulation, and a summer heat wave can supply all four within days. Green algae is the most common and the quickest to clear; yellow or mustard algae clings to shaded walls, and black algae roots into plaster and grout and is the most stubborn.

Clearing it follows the same logic every time: brush hard, balance the water, shock it as the product label directs, and run the filter continuously, cleaning it often while it traps dead algae. Prevention is simpler: steady sanitizer, good circulation, regular brushing of corners and steps, and prompt attention after a storm or a busy weekend.

Maintenance means handling concentrated chemicals week after week. Health Canada's household advice applies: keep products tightly closed in their original containers, out of reach of children and pets, and never mix bleach with ammonia or acids. The Quebec government's guidance on chlorine adds rules for pools and spas.

Many owners split the work: they skim and empty baskets between visits, while a technician handles chemistry, filter service and anything mechanical. A service plan buys consistency and a trained eye on the equipment; doing it yourself saves the visit but takes time every few days all summer and a willingness to learn the chemistry.

Pools lose water every week to evaporation, splash-out and backwashing, and some municipalities regulate when a pool may be filled. In Montreal, filling a pool between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. is prohibited, except between April 1 and May 15 or when a new pool is being installed. Other cities publish their own rules and can restrict water use during a drought or heat wave, so check before a large top-up.

Hydro-Québec notes that a solar cover reduces heat loss, evaporation and wasted water, and it should come off completely before anyone swims. Fixing leaks quickly saves water and chemicals, and keeping the water balanced means fewer partial drain-and-refill jobs.