7 Things Scottsdale Pool Owners Should Check Every Month

Living in Scottsdale means getting to enjoy your backyard pool for much more of the year than homeowners in most parts of the country. But Arizona pools also deal with some pretty unique conditions: intense sunshine, desert dust, hard water, high summer temperatures, monsoon storms, and plenty of evaporation.

The good news is that you don't have to become a pool expert to take great care of your pool.

If you already have professional weekly pool service, most of the regular cleaning and water care should be handled for you. But spending a few minutes once a month looking around your pool can help you notice small changes before they become bigger problems.

Here are seven simple things Scottsdale pool owners can check each month.

1. Take a Good Look at Your Water

This sounds almost too simple, but start by looking at your pool.

Healthy pool water should generally look clear and inviting. You should be able to see the floor and drains clearly rather than looking through hazy or cloudy water.

If you notice a change in clarity, don't panic. Scottsdale pools are constantly exposed to fine desert dust, landscaping debris, sunscreen, swimmers, weather changes, and intense sunlight. A cloudy pool doesn't automatically mean there's a major problem.

But it is worth mentioning to your pool service technician.

Regular Scottsdale pool cleaning and proper water chemistry should help maintain consistently clear water throughout the year.

2. Check the Water Level

Water levels can change surprisingly quickly in Arizona.

During Scottsdale's hottest months, evaporation alone can remove a noticeable amount of water from a pool. Wind and heavy swimming can contribute as well.

Take a look at where the water sits in relation to your skimmer. If it suddenly seems much lower than normal, add water as appropriate and keep an eye on it.

A dramatic or unexplained drop in water level can sometimes indicate a leak, particularly if you're having to add substantially more water than usual.

Low water isn't only a cosmetic issue. If the level falls far enough, it can interfere with the skimmer and potentially cause the pump to pull in air.

This is one of the easiest pool maintenance checks a Scottsdale homeowner can make.

3. Listen to Your Pool Equipment

You don't need to understand every valve, pipe, or piece of equipment in your pool system.

You already know something surprisingly useful: what your pool normally sounds like.

Once a month, spend a minute near your pool equipment while it's running.

Listen for anything different, such as:

• Grinding

• Rattling

• Squealing

• Excessive vibration

• A pump that sounds louder than usual

Also take a quick look around the equipment pad for dripping or pooling water.

Many pool equipment problems develop gradually. Noticing that something suddenly sounds or looks different gives your Scottsdale pool service company a chance to investigate before a small problem potentially becomes a larger pool repair.

4. Look at Your Tile Line

Scottsdale's hard water can be tough on pools.

As pool water evaporates, minerals remain behind. Over time, homeowners may notice white or grayish buildup developing around the waterline.

Some mineral buildup is incredibly common in Arizona and doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. But it's useful to notice changes early.

Consistent brushing and properly balanced water can help manage scale and protect pool surfaces. If buildup becomes significant, your pool professional can also help you determine whether additional cleaning is appropriate.

This is one reason Arizona pool maintenance is different from pool care in many other parts of the country.

Our climate and water conditions really do matter.

5. Check Your Skimmer and Baskets After Windy Weather

If you live in Scottsdale, you already know how quickly the weather can transform a backyard.

One windy afternoon can send leaves, flowers, dust, palm debris, and all kinds of mysterious little objects into a previously spotless pool.

Your skimmer is designed to collect much of that material, but a particularly windy day or monsoon storm can fill baskets much faster than normal.

After significant wind or a storm, it's worth checking them.

A packed basket can restrict water flow and make your circulation system work harder.

Your weekly pool cleaning service should empty baskets during normal visits, but Arizona weather doesn't always cooperate with the service calendar. This is one of the most useful things homeowners can check between visits.

6. Look Around the Pool for Small Changes

Every month or so, walk slowly around your pool and simply look at it.

You're not conducting a professional inspection. You're looking for things that weren't there before.

Maybe a section of decking looks different. Perhaps you've noticed water near the equipment. A return jet doesn't seem to be moving water like it used to. A light isn't working. Your automatic cleaner suddenly seems to spend most of its time in one corner.

Small observations can be incredibly helpful.

If you notice something unusual, take a picture or mention it at your next service visit. A good pool technician can tell you whether it's normal, something to watch, or something worth addressing.

Early pool repair in Scottsdale is often much easier than waiting until equipment stops working altogether.

7. Ask Yourself One Simple Question: "Does Anything Seem Different?"

This may be the most useful check of all.

You see your pool every day. Your pool technician sees it once a week.

That means you're often the first person who can notice a change.

Maybe:

• The water is evaporating faster than usual.

• The pump sounds different.

• The water doesn't look quite as clear.

• You're seeing more debris than normal.

• A feature stopped working.

• The pool suddenly seems to need more water.

• Something simply looks "off."

You don't need to diagnose the problem.

Just tell your pool service company what you've noticed.

One of the benefits of consistent weekly pool service is having someone familiar with your pool who can investigate those little changes.

Arizona Seasons Affect Your Pool Differently

Another thing Scottsdale homeowners quickly learn is that pool maintenance changes throughout the year.

Summer brings extreme heat, intense UV exposure, higher evaporation, and heavier pool use.

Monsoon season can bring an enormous amount of dust and debris seemingly overnight.

Fall may bring landscaping debris and changing temperatures.

Winter is easier on many aspects of the pool, but Scottsdale pools generally remain open and still require regular cleaning, circulation, and balanced water.

Spring temperatures begin climbing again, landscaping becomes more active, and pool use increases.

There isn't really an "off season" for Scottsdale pools. Instead, there are different seasons with different maintenance needs.

That's why consistent Arizona pool care tends to work better than waiting until something looks wrong.

What Your Weekly Scottsdale Pool Service Should Be Handling

If you have professional weekly pool maintenance, you shouldn't feel like you need a second job taking care of your pool.

A good weekly service routine should handle the core work required to keep your pool healthy and clean.

At The Good Pool Company, weekly pool service includes tasks such as skimming surface debris, brushing walls and surfaces, vacuuming the pool floor, testing and balancing water chemistry, emptying skimmer and pump baskets, and inspecting pool equipment for visible problems.

The monthly checks above aren't intended to replace professional pool maintenance.

They're simply a way to help homeowners and pool technicians work together.

Your Pool Should Be Something You Enjoy

Most Scottsdale homeowners didn't buy a house with a pool because they wanted another maintenance project.

They wanted Saturday swims with the kids. Friends gathered in the backyard. Quiet mornings outside. Pool parties. Warm evenings by the water. And, during an Arizona summer, somewhere to escape the heat.

Good pool maintenance should protect that experience rather than complicate it.

A few minutes of awareness each month, combined with reliable weekly Scottsdale pool cleaning, can go a long way toward keeping your water clear, your equipment protected, and your pool ready when you want to use it.

At The Good Pool Company, we provide weekly pool cleaning, pool maintenance, and pool repair throughout Scottsdale and surrounding communities. If something about your pool doesn't look or sound quite right—or you simply want someone else to take care of it—call or text Justin. We're always happy to help.