Brush and vacuum weekly
Brushing stops algae before it appears. Vacuuming handles the corners your robot can't reach.
What you'll learn
- Why brushing is the #1 algae prevention tool
- Use a nylon brush on plaster and stainless steel on gunite (stainless should never touch vinyl)
- The spots worth hitting each session (steps, corners, shade, behind ladders)
- Is a robot cleaner worth the money
Step by step
- Use the right brush: nylon for plaster/aggregate, stainless for gunite.
- Begin at the shallow end and brush the walls downward toward the main drain.
- Pay attention to steps, seats, corners, and any shaded spots.
- To vacuum by hand: connect the head and hose to a pole, prime the hose, then hook it to the skimmer.
- Work in slow, overlapping stripes. Hurrying just kicks dust back into the water.
Safety note
A robot cleaner (Dolphin, Polaris) handles the vacuuming for you and covers the floor more evenly than most people can do manually.
Prefer to let a professional take care of it?
For weekly maintenance, repairs, or urgent issues anywhere in San Diego County, leave us a message and we'll return your call.
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If the water level is off, your pool pump can burn out in under an hour. This is how to check it and keep the skimmer functioning correctly.