What You Need To Know Before Buying a Swimming Pool
May 22, 2023
We all want our swimming pool to stay in the best condition. With the proper care and attention, a high-quality fiberglass swimming pool will last for decades. Taking care of your swimming pool isn’t very difficult to do, but it does involve some work. Knowing the differences between what care is required throughout the year is crucial in keeping your pool clean, sparkling, and ready for use whenever you want.
In this article, we’ll help you provide the best care for your swimming pool each season with our top tricks for keeping your swimming pool sparkling.
Spring and summer are usually when your swimming pool will see the greatest amount of usage. These seasons are all about preparation and preventive maintenance during regular usage to prevent larger problems developing.
If you used a pool cover and plugs over the colder months, the first step is to remove the cover, clean it and store it safely for use next year. Once the cover has been removed, start removing the winter plugs and fitting and reinstall the regular connectors, connecting everything up ready for the pool to be used.
Even with a pool cover, some debris and dirt can accumulate in the pool. Clean and skim the pool to clean out anything that makes it past the cover. It can be tempting to leave it up to the filter, but starting with a clean pool is always the best way to keep it clean and sparkling.
Over the winter the chemical balance of the pool will have likely changed. Test the water quality (pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness) and make any adjustments as required. Once the water has been balanced, add the necessary amount of cleaning and sanitation products (e.g. chlorine). Remember to check your water chemistry weekly.
After you have prepared, cleaned, balanced, and refilled your swimming pool you should let the water settle for at least 12 hours, but ideally 24 hours, before using it for the first time. This gives the system and chemicals time to do their job and get your pool to optimal condition.
Autumn and winter can be a tough time for your swimming pool. Harsh and cold weather means a little extra care and attention may be required to best protect and care for your pool to ensure it’s ready to go the moment the weather warms up.
Before closing up the pool for the winter give it a thorough clean; you don’t want to leave dirt and debris to fester over the winter. Additionally, now is a good time to check the pool and equipment for wear and damage. Any issues should be fixed before closing up the pool. Finally, safely store any equipment and accessories to prevent damage.
A pool cover will help to keep your pool clean and protected when not in use over the late autumn and winter. Check the cover is free from damage, clean, and fits well before installing it for the best protection.
Some people recommended using anti-freeze products to stop the pipes and filtration system from freezing in the winter, but that can lead to issues when re-opening the pool in the summer. A better solution is to use a strong vacuum or shop-vac to remove all water from the pipes—no water, no freezing. You don’t want to drain the pool itself, but it is a good idea to lower the water level slightly.
Leaving the water unattended for months can allow algae and other bacteria to grow. Adding anti-algae, chlorine, and enzyme cleaning chemicals will save you a lot of headaches later.
Speak to the team at Narellan Pools today to see how we can help you with pool cleaning and protective equipment over the summer and winter months.
