Like most things in life, prevention is the best remedy when it comes to pools. There are a few simple ways to ensure your pool stays in great condition through the summer months.

Keep the strainer clean:
By cleaning the strainer basket a few times a week, you can ensure your filter is working at peak efficiency, and in turn decreasing the quantity of chlorine you will need to add to your pool. You will need to use your Pool Barn less often if you are looking after your pool properly. You just need to lift the strainer basket out and give it a shake, but for any stubborn grime, cleaning with a hose should do the trick. This only takes a few minutes and your pool will be so much happier for it.

Skim the pool of any excess debris:
Debris build up is one of the main causes of pool discolouration and algae formation. By skimming your pool daily for large leaf litter, dirt and insects, you could save yourself both time and money down the track. It will also protect your swimming pool pump, making your kreepy Pool Barn’s work easier later down the track. If you do not have a skimmer, it is recommended you get one. It will keep your pool sparkling for many years.

Invest in a kreepy  pool Barn vacuum:
Much like Pool Barn vacuuming your home, you will need to vacuum your pool at least once a week. Like skimming your pool, this will help prevent any discolouration or algae build up. Obviously a ‘kreepy Pool Barn will do all of the work for you, an excellent way to save time and energy. Alternatively you could put robotic cleaners in use which crawl the pool cleaning it when it needs to be.

Be aware of the water level:
Due to the activities in and around the pool and the nature of evaporation during the summer months, you will need to keep an eye on the level of water in your pool. It mustn’t drop below the filter level at any stage. If you notice the water dropping too low, pop your garden hose in until it is back up where it belongs.

Invest in a Pool Cover:
The majority of the above maintenance can be avoided by simply fitting a pool cover. A pool cover will minimise evaporation and keep debris from entering the pool. A great way to keep your pool sparkling through summer.

Clean the pool filter:
This will only need to be done a few times a month, as directed by your pool filter manual. A little bit of dirt helps to keep the filter efficient, but too much and the filter will become sluggish.

Check the pH:
It is best to test the pH on a weekly basis, in doing so you can make sure you attack any problems before they get out of hand. For a happy pool, the pH should be between 7.2 and 7.8. If it is outside of these boundaries, you will need to add the necessary chemicals to balance it.

Chlorinate:
Irrespective of your careful maintenance, it is likely that there will be a build up of organic contaminants like nitrogen or ammonia. Such chemicals can interfere with the chlorine and result in that overpowering chlorine smell. Strangely enough, this smell actually means that your pool is in fact too low in chlorine! Chlorine shocking your pool will neutralise the smell and keep chlorine levels where they should be. Check with your local pool shop about how best to superchlorinate or chlorine shock your pool. During the summer months, this may need to become a weekly project whether you have a salt water chlorinator or any other swimming pool chemical. It depends on your situation – no two swimming pools are the same.