Once you've got a pool, and survived the occasionally chaotic construction occurring in your backyard, the main question (other then how many pool parties can we have a week) is how to keep your pool healthy and clean. Here is our checklist for keeping your pool pretty all year round, even if you're not using it, or even taking the pool cover off in winter.
Invest in the basics: Although they're not the most glamorous part of having a pool, a reliable pool pump and other pool cleaning tools will save you time and money by keeping the natural mess that comes with a pool under control, and you'll barely even notice they're doing the hard work while you splash about. One wise investment you'll never regret is a pool cleaner. No, not a staff worker, but a little machine that quietly whirs along the bottom of your pool keeping it clean, some even eat leaves!
Ensure water health: just because it's clear doesn't mean it's healthy. There are three main measures of pool health:
1. Ph level - Ph level is the level of acidity or alkalinity in the water. Why does this matter? Different levels of acidity/alkalinity will allow different bacteria and other nasties to thrive, and an incorrect Ph level will be uncomfortable for swimming in, as the average Ph level is 5.5. Your swimming pool water should be close to the neutral level of 7 - Anything higher or lower then 7.1-7.9 is considered not ideal.
2. Alkalinity - how many alkaline substances are swimming around in your pool? Despite being invisible (till it gets really bad) it's a good idea to check your pool to ensure you're close to the ideal level which is 80-155 parts per million. Alkalinity will prevent wide swings in Ph level and neutralize bicarbonates. Stabilizer or Cyanuric acid keeps your pool health stable, by protecting the chlorine and minerals from the sun.
3. Prevent algae or bacteria build up.
How do you beat these issues? By installing a comprehensive and reliable pool cleaner and pool pump into your pool, and testing and correcting any emerging issues regularly. Checking the readings every few weeks will ensure you don't have to fork out thousands to fix unchecked issues, and treat the water for human waste i.e. skin oil that upsets the pool. Make sure your tools are clean and replaced regularly, especially filters.
Know the symptoms of an unhealthy pool:
Symptoms range for requiring more chlorine for clear water, a sudden increase in the amount of gunk in the pool or a faster build up rate, the sound of your pool cleaner or pool pump working harder then usual. A strange smell or taste of the water is also a clue something has gone wrong
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