Follow These Tips to Prevent Debris from Entering the Pool

Maintaining a backyard pool is often a lot more work than people realize. One key part of pool maintenance is scooping out the leaves and other debris that get into the water—something that many pool owners find themselves doing on a daily basis. If you’re tired of skimming your pool, follow these tips to keep the debris from entering your pool in the first place.

1. Use a pool cover – When you’re not using your pool, consider putting a pool cover over it to keep debris out. Motorized, retractable pool covers can be built into your pool’s design to make covering it easier.
2. Trim back trees – Leaves are the most common source of debris in a pool. Trim back branches of nearby trees so they don’t hang over the water and drop their leaves straight in.
3. Toss in a tennis ball – Some pool debris comes in the form of oily films caused by body oils and sunscreens from swimmers. You can combat this oiliness by tossing in some unused tennis balls. The fuzzy surface attracts these oils and pulls them out of the water.
4. Maintain proper water levels – While the right water level won’t prevent debris from entering your pool, it does enable your skimmer to work more efficiently, and that means less time with the net for you.
5. Use a retaining wall – If leaves are blowing into your pool from your lawn, consider putting a retaining wall, fence, or line of shrubs around your pool to help catch the debris before it gets in the water.