Like the auto-fill line, this is another very inexpensive feature that over the years you will appreciate having. Spring and summer rainstorms are common where I live and some of these are true downpours that fill the pool quickly. Without an automatic drain line, you have to manually set the pool pump to drain or risk erosion damage from water seeping between the tiles and coping. The auto drain line is simply a PVC drain pipe connected to a drain grate that is installed in the tile at the correct height. When the water rises to the level of the grate the water drains into the pipe. This is an invaluable feature, especially if you travel and will be away from the home for any length of time or just don’t want to worry about erosion problems from an overflowing pool.

There are thousands of opinions concerning the various automatic pool vacuums/cleaners. I have bought and tried many types over the years and in my opinion, the best type of cleaner is a suction side cleaner. They do not require a separate pump and do a great job at the lowest cost. Of all the suction side cleaners I have tried, I like the Hayward Navigator the best. Couple this with a leaf canister that collects the debris from the cleaner so it does not end up in the pump basket and you have a simple but effective cleaning system. Plus maintenance and repair of the Navigator are simple and rather inexpensive.

On a side note, many pool guys like to push the Polaris, which is a good cleaner but you need an extra pump, upgraded controller, plus it cost more to operate. I have never seen it make sense when a suction side cleaner works just as well and costs less to buy and operate.

Most pool builders will recommend either a DE or cartridge filter. Based on our experience, we recommend that you use an upsized cartridge filter that is 1.25 to 1.5 times greater than the size necessary for your pool. The pool guys will tell you that a DE filter will keep your pool cleaner (we’re talking micron filtration levels) but the cost and level of maintenance a DE filter requires is not worth the few microns of extra cleaning.

We recommend upsizing the cartridge filter because it allows for better filtration and the larger cartridges will extend the time between cleaning to once a year at startup. To keep the water as clean as possible you should add a few pounds of DE to the cartridge filter upon initial start-up or after cleaning the cartridges (many manufacturers recommend adding a little DE). This will ensure you have a crystal clear pool without the constant maintenance DE filters require.

You should have two skimmers installed for any pool over 8,000 gallons. Believe me, one is not enough. The second skimmer allows for potential problems if one it gets clogged. Plus it will help keep the pool clean without any extra effort on your part.

PRO TIP:  If you use a suction side cleaner you need to make sure the connection port is far away from the skimmers. Otherwise, the pool cleaner hose and leaf basket tend to get in front of the skimmer and act like a dam (they float on top of the water) which can prevent water from flowing into the skimmer. This will cause the skimmer to be sucked dry, air enters the line, and the pump runs dry. This can destroy a pump quickly.

Since a pool cleaner cannot get on steps or benches you should add additional return jets that are strategically placed so the steps and benches are automatically kept clean by the flow of the return jets. A few extra return jets are not that expensive, make the pool operate at a lower pressure, and will keep the steps/benches clean without any effort on your part. The alternative is sweeping the stairs and benches regularly.

For chlorination, I like the simplicity and cost savings of a chlorine tab automatic chlorinator. It is very simple to maintain with no moving parts, can be repaired and replaced by most pool owners, and chlorine tablets are usually cheap and readily available. The tried and true KISS principle. This is more of a preference as many people like the saltwater system which is fine just be ready for more maintenance and cost associated with repairing a salt system.

We hope these tips allow you to spend most of your time this summer swimming and very little time maintaining your pool!