Pre-Summer Backyard Blitz: Week 3 – Preparing the Pool
Follow this 12-point guide on pool maintenance to keep your outdoor oasis clean, healthy and ready for summer
Kerryn Ramsey
3 October 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Freelance lifestyle journalist and serial renovator, reporting for print and digital articles on architecture, design, travel and business.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Freelance lifestyle journalist and serial renovator,... More
Who can resist a quick morning dip, an after-work water workout, or a boisterous weekend splash with the kids? The backyard swimming pool is the ideal place to while away the hot summer months, and the investment undoubtedly improves your health, wellbeing and happiness. But as with most things, proper maintenance is essential to keep your pool pristine.
1. Create a maintenance checklist
To keep your pool healthy, regular maintenance is a necessity. Filters need to be cleaned, water chemistry balanced, skimmer boxes emptied, leaves removed and pH checked. If any of these tasks are forgotten or ignored, it’s easy for the water to turn green or cloudy, and for black mould to grow on pool walls.
Make up a checklist of all the tasks that need to be performed regularly to maintain your pool, so that none of the essentials are forgotten.
Swimming pools with dream views
To keep your pool healthy, regular maintenance is a necessity. Filters need to be cleaned, water chemistry balanced, skimmer boxes emptied, leaves removed and pH checked. If any of these tasks are forgotten or ignored, it’s easy for the water to turn green or cloudy, and for black mould to grow on pool walls.
Make up a checklist of all the tasks that need to be performed regularly to maintain your pool, so that none of the essentials are forgotten.
Swimming pools with dream views
2. Check the filter system
Modern filter systems can measure and self-administer chlorine and acid to keep water balanced and healthy. Otherwise, for peace of mind, it’s worth hiring a pool company to regularly service your filtration system and maintain the quality of the water.
Modern filter systems can measure and self-administer chlorine and acid to keep water balanced and healthy. Otherwise, for peace of mind, it’s worth hiring a pool company to regularly service your filtration system and maintain the quality of the water.
3. Replace bulbs, add new lights
For after-dark ambience, energy-efficient LED lighting can be fixed above and below the waterline. Make sure all or your bulbs are working for the perfect night-time illumination.
For a touch of whimsy, underwater lights that change colour are now on the market.
For after-dark ambience, energy-efficient LED lighting can be fixed above and below the waterline. Make sure all or your bulbs are working for the perfect night-time illumination.
For a touch of whimsy, underwater lights that change colour are now on the market.
4. Clean the waterline tiles
During summer, the waterline tiles often become a little grey and greasy. Use a clean sponge and some baking powder or vinegar to make the tiles look like new again. A toothbrush will help remove any tougher stains.
How to clean tile grout
During summer, the waterline tiles often become a little grey and greasy. Use a clean sponge and some baking powder or vinegar to make the tiles look like new again. A toothbrush will help remove any tougher stains.
How to clean tile grout
5. Make sure your fencing is adequate
Do you have the proper pool fencing? Safety fences need to be at least 1.2m high and should include a childproof, self-closing gate. Pool fencing regulation varies from state to state, so check with the appropriate authorities to ensure your fence meets the legal requirements.
Other ideas for backyard fencing
Do you have the proper pool fencing? Safety fences need to be at least 1.2m high and should include a childproof, self-closing gate. Pool fencing regulation varies from state to state, so check with the appropriate authorities to ensure your fence meets the legal requirements.
Other ideas for backyard fencing
6. Clean the glass
A sleek glass fence adds visual impact to your pool area, so make sure it’s spotless. Simply use warm water, liquid soap and a sponge to wash it down, then rinse the glass off with a quick hose-down. And to minimise mess, remind everyone to keep their sunscreen-smeared hands off the glass.
A sleek glass fence adds visual impact to your pool area, so make sure it’s spotless. Simply use warm water, liquid soap and a sponge to wash it down, then rinse the glass off with a quick hose-down. And to minimise mess, remind everyone to keep their sunscreen-smeared hands off the glass.
7. Pump it up
Pumps and filters need to be run for six to eight hours a day in summer, and filters need to be manually cleaned by backwashing (there’s a setting on your filter that does this for you) every week.
During the swimming season, the cleanliness of the water should be checked regularly – as often as once a day, but at least weekly.
Pumps and filters need to be run for six to eight hours a day in summer, and filters need to be manually cleaned by backwashing (there’s a setting on your filter that does this for you) every week.
During the swimming season, the cleanliness of the water should be checked regularly – as often as once a day, but at least weekly.
8. Keep everyone safe
All chemicals should be kept locked away and out of reach of children. Also, it’s a good idea to take a course in CPR, so you’re well prepared in an emergency situation. A resuscitation poster should be openly displayed near the pool too. For pool safety rules and regulations, visit your local council’s website.
All chemicals should be kept locked away and out of reach of children. Also, it’s a good idea to take a course in CPR, so you’re well prepared in an emergency situation. A resuscitation poster should be openly displayed near the pool too. For pool safety rules and regulations, visit your local council’s website.
9. Install a rainwater tank
In most states, requirements on new pools include the provision of a rainwater tank for top-up purposes, so check the sustainability regulations in your state.
In most states, requirements on new pools include the provision of a rainwater tank for top-up purposes, so check the sustainability regulations in your state.
10. Update your cleaning system
A suction cleaner, such as a Kreepy Krauly, will make life so much easier as it roams the bottom of the pool, sucking up any debris. After it’s done its job, the cleaner is easy to remove, so you can appreciate your pool’s stunning design unimpeded.
A suction cleaner, such as a Kreepy Krauly, will make life so much easier as it roams the bottom of the pool, sucking up any debris. After it’s done its job, the cleaner is easy to remove, so you can appreciate your pool’s stunning design unimpeded.
11. Consider undercover options
You’ll need a place to get out of the sun once summer sets in, whether that’s a single umbrella or a purpose-built patio. A covered area beside the pool provides the perfect sun protection, gives you a bit of a break from the heat, and can also double as an outdoor entertaining area.
You’ll need a place to get out of the sun once summer sets in, whether that’s a single umbrella or a purpose-built patio. A covered area beside the pool provides the perfect sun protection, gives you a bit of a break from the heat, and can also double as an outdoor entertaining area.
12. Extend the swimming season
To extend the swimming season by up to four months, it’s worth installing solar heating in your pool. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it’s also the cheapest option to keep the chill off the water.
To extend the swimming season by up to four months, it’s worth installing solar heating in your pool. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it’s also the cheapest option to keep the chill off the water.
TELL US
What are your top tips for getting your pool ready for summer? Let us know in the Comments.
PREVIOUS ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES…
Pre-Summer Backyard Blitz: Week 1 – The Big Clean-Up
Pre-Summer Backyard Blitz: Week 2 – Outdoor Furniture Update
What are your top tips for getting your pool ready for summer? Let us know in the Comments.
PREVIOUS ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES…
Pre-Summer Backyard Blitz: Week 1 – The Big Clean-Up
Pre-Summer Backyard Blitz: Week 2 – Outdoor Furniture Update
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Don't know about tips for getting a pool ready but I would be happy to quality test any and all of these for their owners.
Thanks for the great article. I think in those pre-summer months is the best time for pool leak detection so it doesn't interrupt those warm summer months.
good tips but it's easier to hire pool cleaners