MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--School may be out for the summer for kids, but for pool-owners, it’s just begun. As you get ready for summer pool parties, BBQs and family get-togethers, it’s important to care for your pool using expert advice. American Home Shield, the nation's largest provider of home warranties and a business unit of ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV), suggests that homeowners spend a little time studying up on the following #AHSPoolSchool maintenance tips to avoid preventable issues.
“We get thousands of pool and spa service calls each summer, and many could be avoided with simple preventative care,” says Shane Barger, owner of Expert Pools, a top-rated American Home Shield service contractor. “About half of our calls are due to mismanaged chemicals that have led to more expensive issues such as broken heaters, pumps and filters. To make the most out of the short pool season, all it takes is a little education and a few simple pool care tips.”
American Home Shield and its network of almost 13,000 professional service contractors responded to nearly 130,000 pool service requests in 2016 and more than 56,000 so far in 2017. Whether you’re a new pool owner or just want to refresh your memory, make sure you’re studying up on your system manuals, or schedule a pool school session with a certified pool and spa professional. Either way, get the most out of your pool this season with these simple tips from American Home Shield’s top pool service contractors:
#AHSPoolSchool Study Guide
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Evaluate the task at hand.
Always check for leaks at the start of the season. All you need is a bucket – just fill it three-fourths of the way full and mark the water line inside, place it in the pool, mark the line on the outside and let it float for a couple days. If the water goes down the same amount inside and out it is from evaporation, but if it goes down more on the outside, there is a leak and you’ll need to call a pro. -
Keep it clean.
Skim Debris – If you have trees, bushes or other plants nearby, the wind can blow debris into the pool. To keep it clean, increase the water circulation and use fewer chemicals, use a skimmer to scoop out the debris out on a weekly basis.
Vacuum Frequently – Not all debris floats to the top, so to get the hard-to-reach debris, you should vacuum the pool on a weekly basis for about half an hour. You can always buy an automated vacuum that runs on a schedule so you don’t have to worry about it.
Filter and Pump – To keep water clean and save energy, run the pump for an hour per day for every 10 degrees of air temperature. For example, if it’s 80 degrees outside, run the pool pump for eight hours. Keep water healthy and clear by cleaning the filter every other week. Simply empty the filter bag or remove the filter and hose it down. If the pump is unusually loud, leaking or doesn’t hold pressure, it’s time to call a professional. If you have a home warranty like American Home Shield with pool coverage, you’ll also save time and energy not having to find a qualified service professional yourself. -
Check chemical levels.
Test water levels weekly with a home pool water test kit to make sure chemicals are balanced and safe. Optimal chemical levels vary depending on the season and weather conditions, but the pool’s pH levels should fall between 7.2 and 7.8 consistently for the cleanest water. This will also help protect your pool equipment. Water becomes more acidic with lower pH levels, which can cause costly damage your pump, filter and anything else it comes in contact with.
For more information and helpful pool tips from American Home Shield, visit the Home Matters blog or check out their YouTube Channel for Pool Repair & Maintenance videos.
About American Home Shield
American Home Shield founded the home warranty industry in 1971 and remains the industry leader. Together with all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, American Home Shield services approximately 1.6 million customers in all 50 states. The companies operate five customer service centers, employ approximately 1,700 employees and have a national contractor network made up of almost 13,000 independent home service contractors and more than 45,000 service technicians. American Home Shield® is the Official Home Warranty of Minor League Basbell™. American Home Shield is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), one of the world's largest residential and commercial service networks. The ServiceMaster network of companies includes AmeriSpec, American Home Shield, Furniture Medic, Merry Maids, ServiceMaster Clean, ServiceMaster Restore and Terminix.
About ServiceMaster
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV) is a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services, operating through an extensive service network of more than 8,000 company-owned locations and franchise and license agreements. The company’s portfolio of well-recognized brands includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). We serve residential and commercial customers through an employee base of approximately 13,000 company employees and a franchise network that independently employs an estimated 33,000 additional people. The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Go to www.servicemaster.com for more information about ServiceMaster or follow the company at twitter.com/ServiceMaster or facebook.com/ServiceMaster. ServiceMaster® is the Official Home Services Provider of Minor League Baseball™.
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