How Care works
Weekly and Monthly Maintenance Checklist
A simple checklist Virginia homeowners can actually stick to — weekly, monthly, and after a storm.
Most pool problems start as small skips: a week without testing, a filter that went too long, baskets left full after a storm. This is the checklist we hand to families. Keep it on the fridge or in your phone.
Every week in peak season
- Test free chlorine and pH (two or three times in July and August)
- Empty skimmer and pump baskets
- Check filter pressure; clean if it has risen above your clean baseline
- Skim surface debris
- Brush walls and steps, especially corners and the waterline
- Glance at the equipment pad — leaks, unusual noise, error lights
Every month
- Test alkalinity and cyanuric acid
- Inspect the salt cell, if you have one, for scale
- Check water level; top up as needed
- Walk the deck and coping for settled pavers or cracked grout
- Wipe waterline tile if you see early film or scale
After storms or heavy use
- Test chemistry the next morning
- Empty baskets
- Run extra filtration if the water looks dull
- Remove debris before it sinks and stains
Twice a year
- A structured look at the pad — spring and mid-season is a good rhythm
- Filter deep clean as required by filter type
- Review auto-cover operation and track cleanliness
What you can skip obsessing over
You do not need to test every day in mild weather. You do not need to dump chemicals on a schedule that ignores the test results. You do need a habit you can keep when life is busy — and a Care visit when you cannot.
If you are on a Tidewater Care route, notes and chemistry readings live with the stop. You are not guessing what happened last Tuesday.
When something on the list keeps going sideways, inquire about service.