If you’ve gone to all the trouble and expense of having a swimming pool installed then you’re going to want to maintain it in tiptop condition. Below are the tips that will help you do this without taking up hours and hours of your precious swimming time.
Use the correct chemicals
There are several chemicals that are vital for effective swimming pool maintenance. The first and most important is chlorine. Chlorine kills any algae and bacteria that may be on the tiles, or indeed in the water itself. You can also use a special chemical known as an algae preventer to stop further growth. This chemical is however very strong and can damage your tiles if used incorrectly so it’s advisable to hire a professional pool cleaner to do this bit.
Check your pH on a regular basis
The pH of your water is not only important for you as a swimmer, it’s also important for the efficiency of your chlorine and any mechanical part of the pool, such as the filters. Ideally you should have a slightly alkaline pH because this is the environment in which chlorine works best. It is also the pH of your body, meaning you shouldn’t have any adverse effects from frequent swimming i.e. red eyes, dry skin etc. An alkaline environment will also prolong the life of your pool filters, in turn saving you money over the long run.
Skim regularly and empty your skimmer basket
Good swimming pool maintenance starts with skimming. Not only do you skim off the obvious bits of detritus, such as leaves, flower heads and bird feathers, you also skim smaller yet more potentially harmful things like bird excrement and pet fur. It’s also important that you empty your skimmer basket or net after each use because leaving detritus in it between skims will allow all manner of bacteria, viruses and even fungal growths to form.
Use a cover when not in use
A pool cover is excellent for keeping foreign objects out of your pool but be aware that in warm weather they can create the perfect environment for water-borne bacteria and algae. Some cheaper pool covers act much like a greenhouse, providing a humid atmosphere that microbes love and thrive in. Pool covers are best used during the winter months when the pool isn’t in use and the temperature is too low to create a sufficiently humid environment. If you can, have a cover specifically made for your pool so that it is the perfect fit.
Clean your pool filters regularly
Cleaning your filters should be high on your list of priorities with regards to your swimming pool maintenance. It isn’t unusual for small items to become wedged in pool filters and this will severely decrease their life span. Bugs, small leaves and other light items will also build up in the filters during the summer months and if not cleaned regularly it will quickly reduce their effectiveness. You might want to hire a professional pool cleaner to clean your filters if you’re unsure what to do. After all, the last thing you want is to break a filter just to save yourself a few pounds.
Things you should know before hiring swimming pool builder
There is no argument over the fact that building a swimming pool inside one of your properties looks like a great idea. However, there are a number of things, which are to be taken into consideration before hiring a contractor. Such things that you must know before you go out on this venture may include and are not confined to the following.
Zoning Laws
Before you decide on making a swimming pool in your property, it is of prime importance that you check in with the zoning laws of the area that you are in and make sure that it is legal for you to do it in the first place. You wouldn’t want yourself to be caught up into legal issues for such a minor project right?
Contractor
Hiring the correct contractor is probably one of the most important aspects to look for while hiring a swimming pool builder. You have to make sure that the one you are hiring holds a license with specialty in swimming pool building. It is further to be ensured that you are not being asked to spend a fortune on the project that will probably push you off the limits of your budgets. Last but not the least, doing your homework and background checking is quite crucial in order to make sure that you don’t end up losing your money to something of bad quality.
Installation Cost
Before you go out on this venture and hire a swimming pool builder, it is of prime importance to make sure that you have got an estimate for the cost of installation and have made sure that you are willing to spend that kind of money on installation of a swimming pool within your property.
Tax And Insurance
Unfortunately, the cost of installation isn’t really everything that you have to look for while planning to build a swimming pool in your property. The tax as well as the insurance cost is to be taken into consideration and it has to be ensured that it doesn’t push you off the limits of your budget.
Maintenance
Last but not the least, the cost that you are going to have to spend on maintenance of the swimming pool is not to be condoned. Remember that maintenance of a swimming pool isn’t a walk in a park. It does take some serious amount of money in order to maintain the swimming pool in an appropriate fashion. Therefore, this cost has to be considered beforehand.
Investment
It is of prime importance to mention here that cheaper services is not exactly what you should be looking for when it comes to installing a swimming pool in your property. Protection of your investment has to be your top most priority. Therefore, even if you have to spend a little extra in order to hire a contractor that you feel comfortable with, that is certainly your way to go and it’s the price that is absolutely worth paying for the project.
Conclusion
When it comes to swimming pool contractors, Singapore Pools always stands as one of the most sought companies to handle swimming pools of any complexity level.