How Often Should You Clean Your Pool?

Perth’s hot and dry summer days make a swimming pool an ideal addition to any home. In fact, recent studies reveal almost 1 in every 5 Perth households has a pool. Enjoyed by family members of all ages, pools can provide entertainment for children, relaxation for adults, and can even be used for fitness purposes. However, just like many other things in your home, they require some level of maintenance and cleaning to keep them safe for use and looking pristine. 

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Factor’s Affecting Your Pool’s Health

Installing a pool is all fun and games until you’re left with a pond of green, algae-filled water in your own backyard. Maintenance of your pool is vital- but to understand how to look after it, you first need to assess the unique needs of your specific pool.

Everyone’s pool is different - the location, orientation (how often it's exposed to the sun), the type of cover you have, how often it is getting used and much more. These are all important physical factors that play a part in how often your pool should be cleaned, and how to clean it. 

Location

Having a pool that is outdoors will require more attention when cleaning, as it has greater exposure to garden waste and animals. Animals such as insects, frogs, and birds can bring dirt and bacteria into your pool, and falling leaves can quickly clog your filter. To prevent animals and leaf litter, a pool cover can be an effective measure to reduce your pool cleaning needs. Pool leaf rakes can also come in handy when cleaning leaves off the surface of your pool, and to reach sunken leaves you may want to consider a leaf eater. 

On the other hand, indoor pools don’t require as much physical labour when keeping them healthy, however, they do require more ventilation to ensure the chlorine gas levels don’t build up dangerously. This can be achieved by installing a ventilation unit.

Sun Exposure

As much as the location of your pool matters, how much sunlight it is getting is also a big factor when caring for your pool. If your pool is exposed to a lot of sunlight, you may experience the chlorine concentration being cut down by up to 90%, leaving your pool at risk of becoming a bacteria breeding ground. This is where appropriate chlorine levels need to be added to the pool to balance out.

Pool Covers

Utilising a cover on your pool can help to keep your pool cleaner for longer by reducing debris, preventing unwanted guests in your pool, and minimising water evaporation and excess chemical consumption. Pool covers come in a range of options including mesh, solid, and automatic styles depending on your preference and budget. They can also improve the heat retention of your pool and time spent refilling the water.

Level of Pool Use

Do you have a pool in your backyard, but don’t seem to use it too often? Maybe the kids moved out, you went on holidays during the summer - whatever it is, pool maintenance is still a must! Maintenance for unused pools doesn’t require as much effort compared to the maintenance of a pool in frequent use, however it will save you time, money, and effort in the future for when you do want to use it again.  As the pool water is at a standstill, creating movement is key to reducing maintenance needs. Stagnant pool water is more prone to growing algae and other bugs that won’t be wanted when you get back to using the pool. Investing in a pool pump can be very helpful to create this movement and keep your water filtered.

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How Often to Clean Your Pool

So now that we have covered the physical factors that impact the health of your pool, and the measures that can be put in place to prevent this -  how often should these measures be performed? 

It is recommended that you clean your pool at least once a week so that it remains uncontaminated from debris and other pollutants. This can involve simply taking a few minutes to spot clean the leaves with the leaf rake. A leaf eater or a pool vacuum should be used 2-3 times a week (especially during periods of heavy use) to minimise grime and algae build-up, as well as help maintain the pH levels. You should also test the pH levels of your pool between 2-3 times a week, especially during pool season. Frequent pH testing is necessary so you can make necessary adjustments as soon as possible. A healthy pH level is between 7 and 7.6. Pool chemicals should also be adjusted as needed. Overall these tasks should be considered on a consistent basis (at least once a week) so that your pool is healthy at all times of the year.

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Professional Cleaning Services 

Pool maintenance can be completed by the owner themselves or through a professional pool cleaning service. Pool cleaning professionals provide similar services to those above, but with all the necessary equipment and pool chemicals provided by them. As they are trained on every detail of pool health, they have the knowledge to ensure chemicals and pH levels are balanced correctly, so you can be sure your pool is always safe to swim in. Sometimes the hardest part about pool maintenance is knowing where to start, so a professional pool cleaner can also be a great resource to teach you the basics for your specific pool. If you’re interested in learning more about how a professional pool cleaning service can help you, get in touch today. 

Pools are an essential part of an Australian summer, therefore cleaning them should be a part of any pool owners lifestyle. Having a clean pool is not only good for looks, but it is a key part of keeping your pool safe to swim in. If you are looking for any more advice on pool cleaning, or are interested in professional assistance, contact Complete Pool Service today!

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