Brushing down the sides, bottom and steps of your pool is a critical step in swimming pool maintenance, especially in the Phoenix metro area, when dust storms can dump tons of debris into the pool. Brushing away accumulated dirt particles is one way to help prevent algae from growing. Preventing dirt and algae buildup helps extend the life of your pool walls and floors. For regular maintenance, you should brush down the walls, steps and floor at least once per week, and after every storm. Getting rid of the dirt quickly helps prevent cloudy and green pools.
There are five kinds of brushes on the market:
- The cheapest brush has a plastic frame and plastic bristles are plastic. These degrade quickly under the hot Arizona sun and with the chemicals and may last less than one summer.
- The next step up is the metal frame brush with plastic bristles. While the frame will hold up better than a plastic frame, the bristles still fall apart quickly.
- The middle of the line brush has a metal frame and bristles made of nylon. These brushes tend to hold up for two or three seasons.
- The top of the line brush have a metal frame, combined with nylon and stainless steel bristles mixed together. These types of brushes are fantastic at pulling dirt out of plaster and pebble tech, and will last two to three seasons.
- Last but not least is an all stainless specialty brush, often referred to as black algae brush. These are great for working on stains and getting rid of black algae and tough dirt spots.
Size of the brush
The standard size of brush is 18 inches wide. Then there are 24-inch and 36-inch brushes. Unless you look in your backyard and say “I’ve never seen a bigger pool,” an 18-inch brush in plenty big enough to handle the maintenance on your swimming pool.
If you have questions about which pool brush is best for your use, come into Pool People in Glendale, Arizona, and ask us what will work for your pool. Pool People provides regular pool and spa cleaning, pool and spa maintenance, pool remodeling, pool and spa repairs, as well as tile cleaning for residents of the Northwest Valley in Phoenix. We also have a fully stocked pool store at 5830 W. Thunderbird Rd., Suite B-6, Glendale, AZ.