Beta Beta — hiring neighbors on Papalocal is new; what you see here is real, and it's still growing.
Pool skimming and checks Beta
A neighbor skims leaves, empties baskets, brushes the walls and watches the water level of your backyard pool. Simple upkeep, not repairs or chemicals.
- How often
- Weekly in season
- Where the work happens
- Outdoors
- Who it suits
- Best done by an adult
- Before you start
- Check local rules
These open your Papalocal account. You'll be asked to log in or sign up first.
Pool skimming and checks are the simple weekly chores that keep a backyard pool from getting away from you: netting leaves and bugs off the surface, emptying the skimmer and pump baskets, brushing the walls and steps, and checking that the water level and the pump look right. Anything beyond that goes back to the owner.
Pool owners heading out of town, people who would rather swim than skim, and homes with heavy tree cover around the pool ask for it in season.
A neighbor is close enough to come by after a windy night that filled the pool with leaves. Balancing chemicals, repairing pumps, heaters or filters, and opening or closing a pool for the season belong to a licensed pool service business.
Also called: pool skimming service, pool cleaning help, skim my pool, pool check while on vacation, weekly pool upkeep, pool basket cleaning.
What's usually included
- Skimming leaves and debris off the surface
- Emptying the skimmer and pump baskets
- Brushing the walls, steps and waterline
- Checking the water level and topping it off with a hose, if you ask
- Dipping a test strip and texting you the reading, if you want one
- Letting you know if the pump sounds or looks different than usual
What to ask before you hire
- What exactly may the neighbor touch: baskets, the hose, the pump switch, nothing else?
- Who adds chemicals, if anyone, and who does the neighbor call when the water looks off?
- How do they get into the pool area, and how do they lock the gate behind them?
- How many visits a week, and what happens after a storm drops a lot of debris?
- Will anyone else be in the backyard or the pool while they are there?
Staying safe
- Latch and lock the pool gate behind you on every visit, even if you will only be gone a minute.
- Never swim or let anyone else swim during a visit, and do not bring young children along.
- Do not open, mix or add pool chemicals unless the owner asked you to and showed you exactly how.
- If equipment sparks, smells hot or makes a new noise, step back and call the owner right away rather than trying to fix it.
Local rules
Some cities, counties and states have rules for pool service work and pool safety, such as licensing for anyone handling pool chemicals or requirements for gates and fences, so check what applies where you live before you hire or offer it.
Pool skimming and checks by town
Questions people ask
Can a neighbor balance my pool chemicals?
It is safest to keep chemicals with the owner or a licensed pool service. A neighbor can dip a test strip and send you the reading so you can decide what to add.
How often should a pool be skimmed?
Weekly is common, and pools under trees or after storms may need more. During a heavy leaf drop, skimming every day keeps the baskets from clogging.
Can a teen skim our pool?
Not on their own. Pools carry real risks from water, chemicals and equipment, so this one is listed for adults.
What if the water turns green while I am away?
Ask the neighbor to message you right away with a photo. That is the moment to call a pool service, not to start adding chemicals.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- A leaf net, a wall brush, a telescoping pole and test strips cover the basics, and most owners keep these by the pool.
- Before your first visit, walk through the equipment with the owner and write down which valves and switches you may touch and which you may not.
- Stick to skimming, baskets, brushing and checks, and leave chemicals, repairs, openings and closings to the owner or a pool business.
- Price per visit based on pool size, tree cover and drive time, and find out what simple pool help costs where you live before you decide.
- Season-long customers want the same day each week and a quick photo of clear water.
