DIY Tips

10-POINT AUTUMN POOL CARE CHECKLIST

5 March 2017

Autumn is here and that usually means putting a blanket on the bed, bringing warm clothes out of storage, and making some adjustments to our pool care regime. While it still might be warm enough to swim in your part of the world, now is the time to think about ‘winterising’ your pool.

Pools require more chemicals and attention in summer, so it makes sense to scale back things back in the cooler months. Less bather load and evaporation means less chlorine to kill contaminants, and less time required to run the filter.

Autumn, however, does bring its own challenges such an increased leaf litter, which can stain the bottom of your pool if left too long. So even though you might not be using the pool much over the coming months, particularly if you don’t have a pool heater, you still need to get out there and regularly empty skimmer baskets, skim the surface of your pool, and inspect your pool filter system.

Using your pool less means reducing the amount of time your filter needs to be operated, which means your next energy bill will be cheaper. Instead of the typical eight hours, your filter may only need to operate between 3-4 hours a day. (Read the manufacturer’s instructions or talk to your local Swimart pool professional to find out exactly how much).

Your autumn pool care plan will depend on the type of pool you own; however, these 10 tips will help keep your pool clean and healthy this autumn:

  1. Decrease pool filter running hours from 8 to 3-4 hours a day
  2. Check your filter and change the running mode from summer to winter
  3. Regularly check sanitiser levels, ideally on a weekly basis
  4. Check the pH every fortnight, and maintain between 7.2 and 7.8. Use Aqua-Health pH increaser or pH decreaser to adjust pH if necessary
  5. Check Total Alkalinity fortnightly
  6. Thoroughly skim the pool surface of leaves, and regularly clean the pool and vacuum the walls and floor every few weeks
  7. Regularly check pool equipment is working properly
  8. Use a shock treatment throughout winter. Once appropriate levels have been added, run both the pump and filter for several hours to ensure it has been well distributed
  9. Use an algaecide that’s appropriate for your pool
  10. Use a pool cover when the pool is not in use to prevent water loss and stop debris from contaminating water. Just remember to take it off regularly to visually check the clarity of your pool water

Does your pool still need a little extra TLC after an unseasonably long, hot summer? Then pop into your local Swimart store to ask about our professional home care services, or enquire at  here.

 

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