By: Mitch | Last updated January 4, 2023 
Having a pool in your backyard can be an amazing addition to your Sydney home. It provides a great spot for spending time with family and friends, cooling off on hot summer days, and even exercising.
But keeping your pool clean and well-maintained is essential if you want to ensure it remains safe, healthy, and enjoyable.
To help you keep your swimming pool in excellent condition all year round, here are six tips that will make the job easier.
Pools need to be regularly serviced and maintained. This involves vacuuming, brushing the walls and floors, skimming the surface of the water for debris, backwashing your filter, testing pH levels, and adding chlorine or other sanitizing agents as needed.
Having a professional pool service come out at least once a month to clean your pool and check its chemical balance is ideal. According to these pool cleaning experts, it is also important to check other pool equipment such as the pump, filter, and heater for signs of wear and tear or damage. This helps ensure not only that the water remains crystal clear and free of bacteria or other contaminants, but also that the equipment is in good working order.
On the other hand, if you prefer to do the maintenance yourself, make sure you have a basic understanding of pool chemistry and equipment operation.
To help keep your entire pool area looking neat and tidy, it's important to clean and maintain the surrounding areas as well. Regularly removing leaves and other debris from the surrounding deck or patio and ensuring that plants, trees, and bushes are trimmed back so they don't overhang the pool can help keep your pool and its surroundings in great condition.
Additionally, make sure to keep your pool area free of clutter and hazardous materials as these can be dangerous for children, pets, and even adults. For instance, store cleaning chemicals, toys, and other items away from the pool area, while keeping grills, furniture, and other objects at least 10 feet away from the edge of the pool.
This will not only help make the area more attractive but also reduce the chance of injury or other accidents, not to mention keeping your pool clean and free of debris.
It is important to make sure that your pool has the correct water level. Too much water in the swimming pool can put undue pressure on your pump and filter system as well as cause a strain on your pool liner. On the other hand, not enough water can make it difficult to clean the pool properly and put your equipment at risk.
The water should be a few inches below the skimmer, but not too low as this can cause strain on the filter pump motor. If you need to adjust the water levels, use a submersible pump to add or remove water as necessary.
However, if you notice that the water level drops significantly in a short time, you may leak somewhere in the pool which needs to be inspected and repaired as soon as possible.
You can inspect visually by looking around the pool for wet spots or other signs of water leakage. If this does not reveal any issues, then it may be necessary to call in a professional leak detection service.
Installing a pool cover is one of the best ways to keep your pool clean and reduce the amount of time and effort you need to spend on maintenance. A pool cover will help keep debris out while also reducing evaporation and chemical loss.
Pool covers can also help reduce the amount of energy required to heat your pool since they act as an insulator, trapping the warmth in and preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere. This can not only lower your heating bill but also help you conserve energy.
Additionally, pool covers can help keep children, pets, and other animals out of the water when you're not around. This provides an extra layer of safety for you and your family.
Chemicals are one of the most important aspects of maintaining a healthy and safe pool environment. All pools need to be tested regularly for chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and other chemical levels to ensure that they remain balanced.
If you have a saltwater chlorinator system then there is minimal maintenance required since this type of system is self-regulating. However, it is still important to test and adjust the levels now and again to ensure they remain balanced.
If you have a traditional chlorine pool then you will need to add chemicals periodically to keep your water safe and clean. The number of chemicals required will depend on the size of your pool, the number of people using it, and the amount of sunlight it receives.
It is also important to note that a chemical imbalance can be hazardous as some chemicals such as chlorine can cause skin and eye irritation if they are too high.
Finally, make sure to clean your filter regularly as this is essential for keeping your pool water clean. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the type and size of filter you have, but in general, it should be done every month or two.
Clean filters are essential not only for reducing the amount of dirt and debris that enters your pool but also for helping to keep your pool running smoothly. A dirty filter can lead to a buildup of contaminants and cause the pump to work harder than necessary, which can in turn reduce its efficiency and lifespan.
Maintaining a pool is essential for keeping it clean and safe, but it doesn't have to be too difficult or time-consuming. By ensuring that the water level is correct, installing a cover for added protection, monitoring your chemical levels regularly, and cleaning your filter regularly you can keep your pool in excellent condition with minimal effort.
Whether you take care of your pool on your own or call professionals for help, make sure that you take these steps to ensure the safety and cleanliness of your pool.
