What Happens If You Don't Clean Your Pool? (2024)

FAQs

What Happens If You Don't Clean Your Pool? ›

Without proper maintenance and care, a dirty pool can cause recreational water illnesses (RWIs). These illnesses include diarrhea, ear infections, respiratory infections, rashes, and/or inflamed eyes and lungs. That may sound alarming, but a well-maintained pool leaves nothing to fear.

By thoroughly rinsing off after swimming, you can help to prevent moisture-related infections. The health concerns related to swimming pool hygiene aren't limited to the skin. Chlorine and other pool chemicals can evaporate into the air around the pool, potentially affecting the respiratory system.

Leaving a pool untreated for just two weeks is enough for it to start to turn green thanks to algae, which can quickly breed and provide the optimum environment for dangerous bacteria like E. coli to proliferate. In addition to making swimming unsafe, algae can cause serious damage to the finish of your pool.

However, if you don't have a lot of debris, such as leaves, bugs, etc. or if you have a screened in pool, once a week should be sufficient. Vacuuming helps control the pH level in your pool much easier, so it's a great regular maintenance and cleaning task you can do to keep your pool clean and safe.

Signs of a Dirty Pool

If your water starts to look a little “off,” you notice a strong chemical smell, your eyes are always red after swimming, algae starts to visibly build up, or you find scale deposits of calcium on the walls, they may be signs that your pool could use a thorough cleaning.

Poor pool maintenance can not only pose health dangers as a result of improper water balance and bacterial buildup to you and those who use your pool; not taking care of your pool water can result in costly damage to the pool liner, which can eventually crack when the proper water balance isn't maintained.

Even without the water it's possible that the concrete will start to sag. So even though it's in theory possible to leave the pool empty for months, we at The Complete Backyard only recommend leaving it empty for up to 2 weeks.

Swimmers are infected when they swallow contaminated pool water. This parasite causes diarrhea and abdominal upset. Other organisms that can infect swimmers are Hepatitis A (liver disease), Norwalk Virus (abdominal upset), Pseudomonas Bacteria (swimmer's rash) and Giardia (parasite).

The most common symptoms of RWIs include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), vomiting, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fever. Other RWIs can cause skin, ear, eye, respiratory, or neurologic symptoms.

Cloudy & Smelly Water

If you've been scheduling routine cleanings, adding enough chemicals, and running your filter, the water should be clean and chlorine-scented. Murky, cloudy, or smelly water is another sign that you may need to schedule a swimming pool draining service.

How often does a pool need to be cleaned? ›

The professionals at Leslie's Pool recommend thoroughly cleaning your pool at least once a week. In addition to vacuuming, they say you should brush your pool's walls, steps and floors to remove dirt and debris, and skim the water's surface and pool floor to remove leaves and other items.

Chlorine can irritate the eyes, skin, hair, and teeth. Occasionally swimming doesn't cause significant side effects, but people who swim frequently are more likely to experience chlorine side effects. Pools with too high chlorine levels and built-up chloramines can also irritate the respiratory system.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SHOCK MY POOL? Shocking your pool regularly will help to keep the water clean and free of contaminants. You should aim to shock your pool about once a week, with the additional shock after heavy use. Some tell-tale signs that your pool needs to be shocked are cloudy, foamy, green, or odourous water.

Urinary tract infections, ear infections and tummy bugs are the most common illnesses caught here. Dirty pools can also cause your eyes to sting and harbor all sorts of bacteria and germs – including urine, faeces and sweat. In many ways, swimming pools are like a big bath filled with lots of strangers.

The effectiveness of chlorine depends on the pool's pH level, with an ideal range between 7 and 8 to ensure efficient cleaning. Despite its effectiveness in killing bacteria, chlorine can have undesirable side effects for humans, including skin irritation.

More importantly, empty pools pose a substantial threat to both property and public health. Pools are designed to hold water; without the weight of the water pressure keeping them in place, they're at risk of significant damage, including “pop out” or collapse.

It can weaken your hair strands, resulting in split ends. If your skin is sensitive to chlorine, it can result in an itchy and irritated scalp.

However, with proper maintenance, including the use of chlorine tablets, a filter pump, and regular cleaning, you can leave the water in a larger inflatable pool for up to two weeks. Hot tubs can be changed up to every three months. One of the easiest ways to maintain clean pool water is by using chlorine tablets.

Keeping water in the pool helps to prevent the liner from drying out, shrinking and cracking. An empty pool is far more prone to liner wear and damage. Additionally, even with a cover, an empty pool is more at risk for damage from debris.