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A swimming pool can be a lovely addition to your backyard, but it can also be a headache to maintain. While many homeowners choose to shoulder the task themselves, others turn to a professional service to keep their pool clean and safe. There are plenty of pool services to choose from, depending on where you live, but not all of them are created equal. Before you hire a service to maintain your backyard swimming pool, check out these tips for how to find the best service for your needs.

What a Service will Do

Before you begin looking for a swimming pool service to hire, it is a good idea to know what you expect this company to do. Swimming pool maintenance involves numerous steps and you need to decide which ones you will handle yourself and which you would like the service to do for you. Some basic maintenance chores include:

• Water Testing - The pH and chlorine levels of your swimming pool need to be tested regularly to ensure your pool water remains safe and clean for swimming. The best schedule for water testing at home is two times a week, with adjustments as necessary. Professional testing should also be done once every month or two to make sure there aren't contaminants left in the pool that your home test might have missed.

• Light Cleaning - Light cleaning involves scooping out large debris from the surface of the water using a long-handled skimmer, as well as removing and cleaning out the skimmer basket. Light cleaning should be done once or twice a week or as needed.

• Big Cleaning - Major cleaning involves brushing down the walls and floor of your pool and vacuuming out the debris. A shock treatment should also be applied to thoroughly clean the pool water. Most people like to have a professional service handle weekly cleaning.

• Equipment Maintenance - The cleanliness of your pool will depend largely on the operational efficiency of your pump and filter. Filters need to be backwashed or cleaned regularly to keep them running well. Pumps also require periodic maintenance to ensure they are operating correctly.

Once you have determined precisely what maintenance you would like your service to do, you can begin calling companies in your area for quotes and references. It is a good idea to compare at least three companies before hiring one. The following questions will be helpful in determining which company will meet your needs best:

• Where are you located and how long have you been in business?
• What types of services do you offer?
• Do you provide repair service as well as regular maintenance? (It can be helpful to find a service that meets both needs in case you run into damage or other problems with your pool.)
• How much do you charge?
• Are your technicians licensed, experienced and bonded?

Doing your homework will pay off when you find a maintenance company that can handle all of your swimming pool needs. Follow these tips and you are sure to find a service that will provide the service you are looking for at a price you can afford.

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