In some areas of the country, owning a swimming pool might be more trouble than it?s worth; in places that experience freezing temperatures for a significant portion of the year, the headache of opening and closing a pool for only a few months of enjoyment might be too much. Fortunately for pool owners in Oakland, swimming pool maintenance is a small price to pay for having the convenience and fun that this backyard addition can bring. With one of the mildest climates in the country and pleasant temperatures for a good portion of the year (not to mention the occasional triple digit weather in the summer), Bay Area pool owners have good reason to keep their pools ready to be swum in at a moment?s notice.
Weekly Oakland Swimming Pool Maintenance
During the swimming season, there are several things that need to be done to keep your pool in good condition. By keeping up with weekly swimming pool maintenance, Oakland homeowners will create a more pleasant (and sometimes safer) environment to swim in, as well as protect the many mechanical components of their pool systems. For the best swimming environment, you?ll want to check the water quality (ph levels, chlorine levels, and the like) at least once a week. You should also remove visible debris like leaves and twigs with a skimmer whenever you notice it. Brushing or vacuuming the walls and floor of your pool doesn?t necessarily need to be done every week, but should not be neglected for too long; you should clean out your pool filter and have your water professionally tested about once a month.
Opening and Closing Swimming Pool Maintenance in Oakland
The two biggest tasks in Oakland swimming pool maintenance are opening in the spring and closing in the fall. Though freezing temperatures are hardly the norm in the Bay Area, since they are not completely out of the realm of possibility winterization is a precaution that is worth taking. Neither of these tasks is particularly confusing or difficult, but they can be time consuming. Additionally, different systems have different closing requirements (for example, some systems suggest adding anti-freeze to prevent damage to pool components, while others require blowing out all the water from these components so that freezing cannot occur).
Professional Oakland Swimming Pool Maintenance
Though maintaining a swimming pool is something that some homeowners find pleasing, for many others, balancing ph levels and brushing pool walls is a job they?d rather leave to a professional. Pool maintenance companies often offer several different levels of service and the frequency of visits is generally flexible enough to provide you with anything from a little help once a month to a weekly visit complete with all the bells and whistles. Pool companies also offer opening and closing services as many homeowners who prefer to take care of their own weekly pool maintenance will still prefer a professional touch for these tasks.
As with many things, professional Oakland swimming pool maintenance is generally cheaper when you purchase in bulk. While two visits a year for opening and closing might each cost several hundred bucks, when you purchase it along with a weekly service package, the price per visit will go down significantly.

Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement.