A backyard swimming pool is a luxury that brings relaxation, entertainment, and value to your home. However, maintaining its cleanliness, balance, and safety takes regular attention. While many homeowners handle basic pool maintenance themselves, hiring a professional pool cleaning service can save time, prevent costly repairs, and ensure your pool stays in pristine condition year-round.
If you’ve ever wondered what exactly a professional pool cleaning service includes, this article breaks it down. From routine cleaning to chemical balancing and system checks, here’s what you can expect when you hire the pros.
Why Hire a Professional Pool Service?
Pool maintenance is about much more than removing debris from the water. Water chemistry, filtration systems, and environmental factors all play a role in keeping your pool safe and clear. Without regular, proper care, problems like algae blooms, cloudy water, or equipment failure can quickly arise.
A professional pool cleaning service provides expertise, specialized equipment, and consistent care — ensuring your pool is clean, balanced, and running efficiently.
What’s Typically Included in a Professional Pool Cleaning Service?
While services may vary slightly between companies and depending on your pool’s needs, most professional pool cleaning services offer a comprehensive package that includes:
1. Skimming Debris from the Surface
One of the first steps during a cleaning visit is removing floating debris like leaves, bugs, and pollen from the water’s surface. Regular skimming helps prevent this organic material from sinking to the bottom or clogging your filtration system.
2. Brushing Pool Walls and Steps
Algae, dirt, and bacteria can cling to your pool walls, steps, and tile line. Professional cleaners will use appropriate brushes to scrub these areas, preventing build-up and keeping surfaces clean and smooth.
3. Vacuuming the Pool Floor
Using a manual or automatic vacuum, technicians will clean dirt, sand, and other debris from the bottom of your pool. Some companies use high-powered, commercial-grade vacuums for a deeper clean.
4. Emptying Skimmer and Pump Baskets
The skimmer and pump baskets trap larger debris before it reaches your filtration system. Regular emptying of these baskets ensures proper water flow and protects your equipment from clogging or damage.
5. Testing and Balancing Water Chemistry
One of the most critical aspects of pool care is maintaining balanced water chemistry. A professional service will test for:
- Free chlorine
- pH levels
- Total alkalinity
- Calcium hardness
- Cyanuric acid (stabilizer)
After testing, the technician will adjust chemical levels as needed, adding chlorine, pH increaser or decreaser, algaecides, or other necessary treatments to keep your water safe, clear, and properly balanced.
6. Inspecting Pool Equipment
A professional pool cleaning service also checks the essential components of your pool system to catch small issues before they become costly problems. This typically includes inspecting:
- Pool pump and motor
- Filter system (cartridge, sand, or DE)
- Heater (if applicable)
- Valves, timers, and plumbing
- Automatic pool cleaners
They’ll ensure everything is functioning efficiently and report or recommend service if repairs are needed.
7. Backwashing or Cleaning the Filter
Depending on your filter type, the technician may perform a backwash (for sand or DE filters) to clear out accumulated debris and maintain optimal water circulation. Cartridge filters are typically removed, cleaned, and reinstalled as needed.
8. Adding Specialty Treatments (If Needed)
Based on your pool’s condition, a service visit might include specialty treatments like:
- Shocking the pool (super-chlorinating to kill bacteria and algae)
- Algaecide treatments
- Clarifiers to help remove fine particles
- Stain and scale removers
These treatments help maintain water clarity and prevent common pool issues.
How Often Should You Schedule Professional Pool Cleaning?
The ideal frequency for professional pool cleaning depends on:
- Pool size and type
- Location (exposure to debris, sunlight, or wind)
- How often the pool is used
- Seasonal changes
Many homeowners schedule weekly or bi-weekly cleanings during peak swim season and reduce to monthly service during cooler months.
A professional pool cleaning service does much more than just skim the surface. From water chemistry management and equipment inspections to deep cleaning and specialty treatments, these services help protect your investment and ensure your pool remains clean, safe, and swim-ready.
If you value your time and want peace of mind knowing your pool is properly maintained, partnering with a reliable pool cleaning service is a smart, worthwhile decision.