Hit the Books Before the Pool With #AHSPoolSchool From American Home Shield

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - July 14, 2016) - Unbalanced pool chemicals, murky water or a broken filter should not be what makes a splash in the pool this this summer. To keep the fun afloat, American Home Shield, the nation's largest provider of home warranties, is suggesting homeowners study up with some simple #AHSPoolSchool maintenance tips.

American Home Shield, a business unit of ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV), and its network of professional service contractors responded to nearly 100,000 pool and spa requests in 2015 and more than 53,000 so far in 2016. According to its pros, about half of calls are related to mismanaged chemicals that lead to bigger, more costly issues such as broken heaters, pumps and filters. With a little education and a few simple pool care steps, many of these could have been avoided.

"Most service requests happen at the height of the summer pool season -- May through August -- when homeowners want to be in the pool the most," says Shane Barger, owner of Expert Pools, a top-rated American Home Shield contractor. "Most are frustrated to learn that a little education on the proper chemical use and simple pool care could have given them more time in the pool, extended the life of expensive systems and helped save them money."

To spend more time enjoying the swimming season, put these simple, professional D-I-Y tips to the test.

#AHSPoolSchool Tips

Study Up: Whether you're a new home pool owner or need a refresh on your current pool system, make sure to read system manuals or schedule a pool school session with a certified pool and spa professional.

Take the Test: Test water levels weekly with a home pool water test kit to make sure chemicals are balanced and safe. Chemical level needs vary depending on the season and weather conditions.

Learn by Filtering: Keep the water clear; and be mindful of energy by running your pool pump daily one hour for every ten degrees. For example, if it's 80 degrees outside, run your pool pump for eight hours.

Give it a Skim: Suspect your pool pump is broken? First make sure there's enough water in your pool and above the skimmer. Most pool owners are unaware that they lose four to five inches of water per week. Also make sure skimmers are free of debris.

Cover a Lot of Ground: Protect expensive home pool systems and components with an American Home Shield home warranty which can help protect your budget against covered repairs and replacements.

For more information and helpful pool tips from American Home Shield, visit the Home Matters blog or check out their YouTube Channel for Pool Repair & Maintenance videos.

About American Home Shield
American Home Shield founded the home warranty industry in 1971 and remains the industry leader. American Home Shield, together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, services 1.6 million customers in all 50 states. The companies operate four customer service centers, employ approximately 1,800 employees and have a national contractor network made up of over 11,000 independent home service contractors and more than 45,000 service technicians. American Home Shield is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), one of the world's largest residential and commercial service networks. Go to www.ahs.com for more information about American Home Shield or follow the company online at www.facebook.com/team.ahs or www.twitter.com/AHS_Warranty.

About ServiceMaster
ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) solves the homeowner's dilemma. Every day, we visit more than 75,000 homes and businesses through our extensive service network of expert professionals. Technology powers our trusted experts to engage with customers so they can order, buy and receive services when, where and how they want them. Our well-recognized brands includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial and residential floor cleaning), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). Like, follow or visit us at facebook.com/ServiceMaster, linkedin.com/ServiceMaster, twitter.com/ServiceMaster, or servicemaster.com.

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