Having a pool in Las Vegas is akin to having a backyard vacation home—until it’s a part-time job. Between the sun frying your chlorine in the desert and monsoon winds blowing debris in quicker than a slot machine spits out money, even the most experienced pool owners mess up.
But here’s the good news: most pool maintenance mistakes are easy to fix (or avoid altogether). After 40+ years of rescuing Vegas pools, we’ve seen it all. Let’s tackle the blunders that turn crystal-clear water into a swampy mess—and how to keep your pool so inviting, even your neighbor’s cat will want a dip.
This guide exposes the top ten mistakes—from neglecting skimming to shocking at the wrong moment—and demonstrates precisely how to avoid them. You’ll discover the correct chemical balance, filter maintenance, brushing habits, water-level control, and more. With these pool care do’s and don’ts, along with real-life statistics on why each step is important, you’ll waste less time repairing issues and more time enjoying your pool.
Why Avoiding Common Pool Maintenance Mistakes Matters
Owning a pool comes with responsibility. Neglecting basic tasks can lead to cloudy water, algae blooms, equipment damage, and even health risks , and repair bills that climb into the thousands. By mastering these Swimming Pool Care Mistakes, you’ll protect your investment, keep swimmers safe, and make your pool time truly relaxing.
Top 10 Pool Maintenance Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
1. Skipping Daily Skimming
Mistake: Letting leaves, bugs, and debris sit on the surface.
Why It’s Bad: Trash sinks, plugs filters, and nourishes algae. Omitting skimming even once can decrease filter effectiveness by as much as 40%.
How to Avoid: Incorporate skimming into your morning routine—5 minutes with a leaf net keeps your cleaning swimming pool tasks light.
2. Poor Chemical Balancing
Mistake: Ignoring pH and chlorine levels.
Why It’s Bad: Unbalanced water is irritating to eyes and skin, corrosive to equipment, and conducive to algae growth. Optimal pH 7.2–7.6, chlorine 1–3 ppm. During 2015–2017, improper management of chemicals resulted in more than 13,500 emergency visits in the United States.How to Avoid: Test pH and chlorine twice weekly when heavily used; first adjust alkalinity, then pH, then chlorine.
3. Overlooking Filter Maintenance
Mistake: Waiting too long to clean or backwash your filter.
Why It’s Bad: Dirty filters cut down on water flow, overwork the pump, and render your pool maintenance advice useless. When pressure increases 6–8 psi above clean levels, it’s time to backwash.
How to Avoid: Inspect pressure gauges every week. Backwash sand filters every month and DE filters every two months—or whenever pressure increases.
4. Shocking at the Wrong Time
Mistake: Adding shock during peak sunlight.
Why It’s Bad: UV light breaks down chlorine, wasting shock chemicals and allowing bacteria to survive.
How to Avoid: Evening shock when the sun goes down; wait at least 24 hours before swimming.
5. Neglecting Skimmer Basket Cleaning
Mistake: Emptying skimmer baskets infrequently.
Why It’s Bad: A full basket reduces circulation and welcomes debris into your pump.
How to Avoid: Drain baskets at least twice a week—daily during peak debris times—to ensure water flows freely.
6. Failing to Brush Pool Surfaces
Mistake: Vacuuming without brushing walls, floors, and steps.
Why It’s Bad: Algae and calcium deposits stick to surfaces, forming sneaky growth areas.
How to Avoid: Brush tile and liners every week; in heavy-debris zones (where trees are located or during pollen season), brush every other week.
7. Ignoring Water Level Management
Mistake: Letting water drop below skimmer level or rise above.
Why It’s Bad: Too low = pump cavitation; too high = skimmer ineffectiveness.
How to Avoid: Maintain water halfway up the skimmer opening. Check levels weekly (and following storms) to prevent expensive pump damage.
8. Over-Backwashing Filters
Mistake: Backwashing more often than needed “just to be safe.”
Why It’s Bad: Too much backwashing wastes water, drains DE media, and can drive debris deeper into the filter tank.
How to Avoid: Backwash only when the gauge indicates 8–10 psi above the baseline, rinse, and reset the pressure.
9. Using the Wrong Cleaning Tools
Mistake: Relying on household brushes or nets that can damage surfaces or tear liners.
Why It’s Bad: The wrong tools scratch vinyl liners and tile grout, causing leaks.
How to Avoid: Employ pool-specific nylon-bristle brushes for vinyl/fiberglass pools and stainless-steel brushes for concrete pools.
10. Going DIY Without Guidance
Mistake: Guessing chemical dosages or skipping professional tune-ups.
Why It’s Bad: One slip can trigger algae blooms or equipment breakdown.
How to Avoid: Adhere to manufacturer guidelines, use online calculators, or have biannual professional checks.
Pool Care Dos and Don’ts
Dos
- Do test water pH and chlorine twice weekly during summer, weekly in cooler months.
- Do skim and empty baskets daily during heavy-debris seasons.
- Do backwash filters only when the pressure gauge spikes.
- Do brush all surfaces weekly.
- Do shock in the evening and wait 24 hours before swimming.
Don’ts
- Don’t add shock under direct sunlight—it’ll evaporate before working.
- Don’t let skimmer baskets fill past three-quarters full.
- Don’t over-backwash; that wastes water and filter media.
- Don’t use household brushes on pool surfaces.
- Don’t ignore odd pump noises or leaks—address them early.
Seasonal Checklist for Las Vegas Pools
| Season | Key Tasks |
| Spring | Open cover, deep-clean, test start-up chemical balance |
| Summer | Skim daily, test twice weekly, and monitor water level daily |
| Fall | Clear leaves, inspect heaters, and backwash the filter before covering |
| Winter | Maintain minimal circulation, cover the pool to block debris |
Need a Lifeline? We’ve Got You
Preventing these Common Pool Maintenance Blunders will save you time and money, and keep your pool welcoming all year round. If life gets hectic, join forces with pros like Nationwide Pool, which has been serving Las Vegas since 1981. We do it all from swimming pool maintenance to pool cleaning, so you can concentrate on what matters most: enjoying that flawless dive.
Ready to avoid the headaches? Call Nationwide Pool today for a free consultation—your oasis awaits!