Tips

Organic contaminants like ammonia or nitrogen build up in a pool over time. Massive amounts of such contaminants can interact with a pool's chlorine to form chloramines, which give off that potent chlorine smell. To get rid of this harsh odor, it's necessary to superchlorinate -- or shock -- pool water back to normal chlorine levels.

Pool water should be tested regularly to make sure it's clean and healthy. The pH scale is a measurement of the environment of your pool water. At one end you have acidity and at the other, alkalinity. Pool water needs to be balanced between 7.2 and 7.8 on the scale; this range is safe for swimmers and helps sanitizers work at top efficiency.

Having your water level halfway up the skimmer box at a minimum is imperative to allow your system to circulate, filter and chlorinate your pool. Without this, your pool will go off from the environmental stresses it faces.

Pools do lose water to evaporation, but leaks may cause your water level to drop more rapidly, which will require investigation. Leaks can occur in underground and above ground piping, in the pool shell or through the waste line. Monitor your water level in the pool especially if you have an automated water leveller device, its possible to be losing water without even knowing it. Keep an eye on your chemical/salt usage, turning off your water leveller for a short period could give you a clear picture if this.

O-rings should be lubricated on pumps, filters etc.
Chlorinators should be cleaned, checked for production output.
Filters should be cleaned, sand changed every 5 years, cartridges examined for damage.
Valves should be serviced.

The longevity of your pool system and quality of your water heavily depend on the efficiency of your circulation, filtration and water balancing. All of which are controlled by the ability of your pool system.