Got a sweet plunge pool right by the dock? Awesome. Keeping it clean with all that nature around… well, thats a different story. But dont sweat it; a few tricks can keep your little oasis sparkling without a ton of fuss. Those refreshing dips are totally worth a little smart upkeep.
Keeping dock gunk out
Plunge pools near lakes or the ocean catch all sorts of extra stuff. Think leaves, twigs, bird droppings, pollen, and even critters finding their way in. Your first line of defense is dealing with this surface mess before it sinks and causes bigger problems.
- Skim often: Use a good hand skimmer daily. It’s quick and stops debris from breaking down and clouding the water or clogging your filter.
- Cover it up: When you’re not using the pool, a simple solar cover or even a lightweight tarp can make a huge difference. Less debris means less work for your filter.
- Try skimmer socks: These are fine mesh bags that fit over your skimmer basket. They catch tiny particles before they even reach your main filter. Its a cheap trick that really extends filter cleaning intervals. Just remember to clean or replace em regularly.
- Trim nearby plants: If you got bushes or trees hanging over your dock pool, trim em back. Fewer falling leaves and blossoms mean cleaner water.
Dealing with this surface stuff consistently makes all other maintenance easier.
Smarter filter cleaning
Your filter is workin overtime with a dock-side pool. So, you gotta be smart about keepin it clean. Forgetting this step means cloudy water and a struggling pump, no fun.
For cartridge filters, which are common in smaller pools:
- Rinse em weekly with a strong hose spray. Get between all the pleats.
- Do a deep clean monthly. Soak the cartridge in a filter cleaning solution. This breaks down oils and gunk regular hosing cant touch.
- Hack: Keep a spare cartridge. When one gets dirty, swap in the clean one. Then you can clean the dirty one at your leisure, no pool downtime.
If you have a sand filter:
- Backwash when the pressure gauge reads 8-10 psi above its clean reading. Dont overdo it, though. A little bit of dirt in a sand filter actually helps it trap finer particles.
- Use a sand filter cleaner product at least once a season, maybe twice if your pool gets heavy use or lots of organic debris. This prevents channeling and keeps the sand fresh.
A clean filter is key to clear water. Make it a regular part of your routine, not an afterthought.
Balancing water near nature
Water chemistry in a dock-side plunge pool can be a bit more… lively. Rainwater, for example, can dilute your chemicals and lower pH. If you’re near the ocean, salt spray or even splash-over can mess with your sanitizer levels and add unwanted stuff.
Test your water more often than you would a regular backyard pool, maybe 2-3 times a week, especially after heavy rain or if the pool’s seen a lot of use. Key things to watch:
- Sanitizer: Keep chlorine or bromine levels in the ideal range. Dockside pools often have a higher bather load (people and nature!) so sanitizer gets used up quicker.
- pH and Alkalinity: These are the foundations of balanced water. Rain pushes pH down. Organic debris can also affect it. Keeping alkalinity in check helps stabilize pH.
- Calcium Hardness: Especially important if you have plaster or concrete surfaces, but good to monitor for all types.
Using a good quality test kit is essential. Dont just rely on guesswork. A little preventative algaecide can also be a good idea, as spores can easily blow in from the surrounding environment.
Best filter stuff for docks
Choosing the right filter media (the stuff inside your filter) makes a difference, especially with the extra load from a dockside location. Each type has its pros and cons.
Here’s a quick look:
| Filter Media | Filters Down To (Microns) | Maintenance Effort | Dockside Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand | 20-40 | Moderate | Good for larger debris, easy backwashing. |
| Cartridge | 10-20 | High | Great filtration, needs frequent cleaning. |
| DE (Diatomaceous Earth) | 1-5 | Highest | Superior clarity, but more fuss to manage. |
For most plunge pools by a dock, a cartridge filter often hits a good balance. They filter finer particles than sand, which is great for catching pollen and smaller organic bits. While they need more frequent cleaning, the hack of having a spare cartridge makes this manageable.
If your area has tons of larger debris like leaves and twigs constantly, a sand filter might be more forgiving, as backwashing is quick. DE offers the best clarity but might be overkill and too much maintenance for a small, frequently challenged plunge pool. Consider how much time you really want to spend on maintenance when pickin your filter.