Preparing Your Pool for Summer: Start-of-Season Checklist for Perth Homeowners

Perth summers are hot, dry and UV-intense which are great for long afternoons by the pool, but tough on pool equipment, water chemistry, and running costs. A short pre-summer tune-up now can save you weeks of algae battles, unexpected repairs and sky-high water and power bills when the heat sets in. Use this start-of-season pool maintenance checklist to get your pool sparkling and summer-ready.

1) Confirm your safety barriers are compliant (and working)

Before you test a drop of water, check the pool fence and self-closing, self-latching gate. In WA, all private pools and spas capable of holding >300 mm (30 cm) of water must have a compliant safety barrier. Review the latest guidance from WA Building and Energy and your local council’s requirements. Issues may arise as springs weaken and posts shift over winter.

For a practical walk-around, use a home pool safety checklist (e.g., Royal Life Saving’s) and ensure toys aren’t left in sight, tempting kids to climb. It’s also a smart time to refresh family CPR skills. 

Summer-ready tip: Add “gate self-closes from any position” and “no climbable objects near the fence (within 900 mm)” to your quick checks. 

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2) Balance your water chemistry for high-UV Perth days

Perth’s UV index regularly reaches high to extreme levels in summer, which can burn through unstabilised chlorine and leave you vulnerable to algae and cloudy water. Test and balance pH (7.2–7.6), total alkalinity, calcium hardness and sanitiser (chlorine/salt) before your first swim and then weekly through summer. CHOICE’s maintenance guide covers the basics if you’re DIY-inclined. 

Summer-ready tip: If chlorine is vanishing fast, ask us about a stabiliser and consider optimising pump run-time during daylight to improve circulation and sanitiser distribution.

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3) Inspect the pump, seals and electrics

The pool pump is the heart of your system. Check for leaks at unions and mechanical seals, and confirm the timer schedule. If your pump is older, consider possible upgrades to cut power consumption significantly during long summer runtimes. 

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4) Clean and inspect your salt chlorinator or dosing system

For saltwater pools, remove and descale the cell, inspect cable connections and confirm salt levels meet the manufacturer’s band. Low salt reduces production; scale on plates stresses the power supply. Run liquid or tablet chlorination, service feeders, injectors and tubes now to avoid mid-season failures. (A properly maintained sanitiser system is cheaper than remedial “shock and floc” cycles later.) 

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5) Brush, vacuum, and consider a robotic cleaner

Start clean, stay clean: brush walls and steps, vacuum the floor, and tidy corners/dead spots where algae often start. If you use a robotic cleaner, check the tracks/filters and empty the canister. 

Summer-ready tip: A robot run 3–4 times a week during peak use can dramatically reduce manual brushing and improve circulation at the floor level.

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6) Fit (or fix) a pool cover to slash evaporation and chemical loss

Without a cover, an uncovered Perth pool can lose tens of thousands of litres a year through evaporation—plus extra heat and sanitiser. Water Corporation WA estimates a cover can save up to ~250 L of water per day in summer, cut heating costs and keep debris out. That’s good for your wallet and our water supply.

They also recommend topping up thoughtfully (set a phone timer so you don’t overflow) and, wherever possible, keeping the cover on when not swimming to lock in those savings. 

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7) Check heating and solar performance

If you run gas, heat-pump or solar heating, clear roof manifolds of debris, check valves and controller set-points, and confirm flow rates. Dirty filters and air leaks starve heaters of flow (triggering faults), while scale in heat-exchangers costs you efficiency. A preseason service catches these silent money-wasters before your first pool party. 

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8) Stock up on the right consumables and store them safely

Pick up fresh test kits/strips, balanced chemicals, and o-rings/lubricant. Keep acids and chlorines separate, upright and away from children and pets. A tidy chemical area reduces mistakes when you’re in a hurry before guests arrive. 

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9) Plan for people: sunscreen, shade and swimmer load

Beyond water balance, plan for people: high bather loads during holidays chew through sanitiser. Test before and after parties and be ready to dose. For skin and eye safety, consult BOM’s daily UV and Cancer Council guidance on when sun protection is required (UV ≥ 3). Consider adding shade near shallow play areas.

10) Create your weekly summer routine (and stick to it)

A simple weekly schedule keeps your water crystal clear:

• Test & balance water (pH, alkalinity, sanitiser).
  
  
• Empty baskets, skim leaves, brush trouble spots.
  
  
• Vacuum or run your robot.
  
  
• Glance at filter pressure, clean/backwash at the usual threshold.
  
  
• Quick gate/fence check (self-closing, latching, no climbables).
  

If you like lists, adapt a summer maintenance checklist (daily/weekly/monthly tasks) and pin it near your equipment enclosure. 

Prefer to outsource the hard bits?

Not everyone loves testing, brushing and troubleshooting. If you’d rather spend time in the pool than working on it, hand your preseason and weekly care to a professional who can optimise circulation, filtration and chemical balance, service your pump/chlorinator/heater, and spot tiny issues before they become expensive mid-summer breakdowns. 

Your summer-ready next step

Don’t wait for the first heatwave to discover your pump’s struggling or your sanitiser is flat. Book a service with Complete Pool Service WA and glide into summer with balanced water, efficient equipment and lower ongoing costs. We can:

• Perform a full start-of-season health check (pump, filter, chlorinator, heater, valves, baskets).
• Deep-clean filters, descale salt cells and optimise run-times to save on energy.
• Advise on and install water-saving covers, variable-speed pumps and smart equipment.
• Set you up with a simple weekly plan or take it off your hands with a professional maintenance package.
  
  

👉 Make this your clearest, easiest summer yet. Visit the Complete Pool Service WA website to book your preseason service and explore equipment upgrades and Waterwise solutions.

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