Pool Tips & Tricks: Keep Your Water Crystal Clear

After more than a decade of caring for pools across Northwest Arkansas — from backyard residential pools to commercial and POA properties — we've picked up a lot of knowledge along the way. The good news? Keeping a pool clean and safe doesn't have to be complicated. It just takes consistency and knowing what to watch for.

Here are our top tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your pool this season.

This is the single most important habit you can build as a pool owner. Water chemistry can shift quickly — especially during hot Arkansas summers when evaporation is high and swimmers are in and out all day.

What to test for:

• pH — Should stay between 7.4 and 7.6. Too high and chlorine becomes ineffective. Too low and the water becomes corrosive.
• Free chlorine — Aim for 1–3 ppm. This is your primary sanitizer.
• Total alkalinity — Keep it between 80–120 ppm to stabilize your pH.
• Cyanuric acid (stabilizer) — Especially important for outdoor pools. Keeps chlorine from burning off in the sun. Target 30–50 ppm.

A simple test strip or a liquid test kit works fine for routine checks. If something looks off, bring a water sample to a pool store or give us a call — we're always happy to help.

Your pump is the heart of your pool's circulation system. If it's not running long enough, chemicals won't distribute evenly and debris won't make it to the filter.

General rule of thumb: Run your pump at least 8 hours per day during summer. In cooler months, you can cut that back to 6 hours.

If you have a variable-speed pump, run it at a lower speed for longer periods — it's more energy-efficient and does a better job of filtering fine particles.

Even if your water looks clear, algae spores are always present. Brushing the walls, floor, steps, and tile line every week disrupts algae before it can take hold and keeps your surfaces looking great.

Pay extra attention to:

• Corners and crevices where water flow is low
• Steps and ladders
• Behind ladders and fixtures
• The waterline tile

A good brushing takes about 5–10 minutes and can save you from a full algae treatment down the road.

Shocking — also called superchlorination — means adding a large dose of chlorine to oxidize contaminants that regular chlorine can't handle. Things like sunscreen, sweat, body oils, and combined chlorine (chloramines) build up over time and make your water cloudy and smelly.

When to shock:

• After heavy use (pool parties, lots of swimmers)
• After a rainstorm
• When the water looks hazy or has a strong chlorine smell (that smell is actually chloramines, not free chlorine)
• At the start and end of the season

Shock at dusk or night so the sun doesn't burn it off before it can work. Wait until chlorine levels drop back to 1–3 ppm before swimming.

Your filter is doing the heavy lifting when it comes to removing fine particles from your water. A dirty or clogged filter means poor circulation and cloudy water — no matter how well-balanced your chemistry is.

Filter maintenance by type:

• Sand filter — Backwash when pressure rises 8–10 psi above normal. Replace sand every 3–5 years.
• Cartridge filter — Rinse with a garden hose every 2–4 weeks. Replace cartridges annually or when they show wear.
• DE (diatomaceous earth) filter — Backwash regularly and recharge with fresh DE. Disassemble and clean thoroughly once a season.

Pool water evaporates — especially in the NWA summer heat. If your water level drops below the skimmer opening, your pump can run dry and overheat, causing expensive damage.

Check your water level weekly and top it off as needed. On the flip side, after heavy rain your pool may overflow, which can dilute your chemicals and throw off your balance. After a big storm, test your water and adjust accordingly.

These baskets catch leaves, bugs, and debris before they reach your filter. If they're full, water flow is restricted and your pump has to work harder.

Empty them at least once a week — more often if you have trees nearby. It takes two minutes and makes a real difference in your system's efficiency.

Once algae takes hold, it can turn a pool green in 24–48 hours. Prevention is far easier than treatment.

Algae prevention tips:

• Keep your chlorine and pH in range consistently
• Brush walls and floor weekly
• Run your pump long enough each day
• Use a weekly algaecide as a preventative during peak summer months
• Shock after heavy use or rain

If you do see green, yellow, or black spots forming, act fast. The sooner you treat it, the easier it is to clear up.

Northwest Arkansas winters can be mild, but we do get freezes — and a pool that isn't properly closed can suffer serious damage to pipes, equipment, and surfaces.

A proper closing includes:

• Balancing the water chemistry before closing
• Lowering the water level
• Blowing out the lines and adding antifreeze
• Removing and storing equipment
• Securing a quality cover

Skipping steps here can lead to cracked pipes or a green swamp come spring. We offer full opening and closing services if you'd rather leave it to us.

Water chemistry can get complicated — especially when you're dealing with a stubborn algae problem, a new pool surface, or equipment issues. After 10+ years in the industry, we've seen just about everything.

If you have a question about your pool water, your equipment, or anything else pool-related, don't hesitate to reach out. We're a local, family-owned business and we genuinely enjoy helping people get the most out of their pools.

Give us a call at (479) 466-9660 or email us at [email protected] — we're always happy to help.

AquaCare NWA is a CPO-certified, family-owned pool service company serving Northwest Arkansas. We provide weekly maintenance, chemical balancing, seasonal openings and closings, and more.