Follow our easy checklist to reduce pool operating costs without sacrificing water cleanliness, maintenance or safety. Swimming pool operating costs can be excessive if you don’t avoid the most common pool maintenance mistakes. Pools and spas are like a motor vehicle. They require a basic maintenance routine to keep them looking good and safe for swimming. When you don’t perform the routine maintenance is when the problems occur.
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Check the Pool Chemistry Weekly
The first common pool maintenance mistake is not regularly testing your pool water.
I recommend the use of pool test strips as they provide a highly accurate result and are easy to use. Test for pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, total dissolved solids, copper, iron and salinity (salt water pools).
As soon as you detect an imbalance you need to act fast to rebalance the water chemistry. If not corrected your pool can rapidly deteriorate allowing algae and bacteria to flourish.
The cost of preventing an issue is always less than fixing an issue. Following a good pool care plan will reduce your swimming pool operating costs.
Add Pool Chemicals at Night
Pool chemicals, particularly chlorine, are damaged by the sun’s heat and UV light. Smart pool owners only add chemicals to the pool in the evening after the sun has set. The chemicals have all night to do their work without being burned off by the sun. Run the pump for at least a few hours to mix in and circulate the chemicals around the pool.
Clean the Filter Regularly
Swimming pool filters become dirty quickly especially in the summer season when the pool is in use. A dirty filter will reduce the water flow through the filtration system requiring the pump to work harder than normal.
The filter will have a pressure gauge indicating the water pressure inside the filter when the pump is operating. When the pressure increases above a threshold (usually indicated on the gauge) the filter has become dirty and needs cleaning.
Clean your filter more frequently to improve filtration, keep your pool water clean, reduce the need for extra chemicals and reduce pool operating costs.
Brush Your Pool Surfaces
Pool surfaces accumulate calcium scale, dirt and algae.
Automatic pool cleaners do not always remove the dirt effectively. There is no substitute for manually brushing the walls with a pool brush on a telescoping pole.
Brush the pool surfaces as part of your pool maintenance routine. Remember to clean around steps, ladders and in corners. A little bit of effort will reward you with a cleaner pool that is not likely to be invaded by algae or other contaminants.
Install a Pool Cover to Reduce Pool Operating Costs
A pool cover will reduce your swimming pool operating costs by saving water, chemicals and electricity.
Pool covers are not just for keeping leaves and other debris out of the pool. A cover will reduce water evaporation, preserve your pool chemicals and keep the water warmer by preventing heat loss.
Run the Filter in Off Peak Periods
All swimming pool pumps should be connected to a separate electricity meter to use off-peak electricity. Generally, off-peak power is outside the peak hours of 6am to 9am and 4pm to 9pm. The use of off-peak electricity will reduce pool operating costs and save you hundreds of dollars every year.
More information: How to Improve Filtration
Install LED Lighting
LED lights consume 80% less power than old conventional incandescent light bulbs reducing your electricity bill. LEDs have many other benefits such as emitting a better quality light that is easier on the eyes and producing less heat. Typically, the bulbs are smaller and easier to fit and the bulbs have a very long lifespan. LED lights will reduce pool operating costs and can last for over 15 years before requiring replacement.
Install a Variable Speed Pool Pump
Swimming pool pump technology has improved with the development of variable speed pumps. These pumps automatically vary their operating speed to match the workload required to run the filter. When the filter is clean the water flow is high and the pressure is low. The pump requires less power to push water through the filtration system. When the workload increases the pump increases speed and power output to match the workload. A variable speed pump will reduce your swimming pool operating costs by saving considerable electricity.
More information: Variable Speed Pool Pump Law
Shower Before Swimming in Your Pool
Our bodies are contaminated with dead skin, sweat, hair, dirt and pharmaceutical products. If you don’t shower before you swim in a pool all the dirt and contaminants on your body will wash off in the pool water. The free chlorine in the pool will be consumed in dealing with the extra dirt from your body.
Ask everybody using your pool to take a quick shower with soap to remove sweat and pharmaceutical products from their bodies. It’s important for girls to remove cosmetics and skin creams as these rapidly dissolve into the water. This will keep your pool cleaner for longer and reduce the need for extra chemicals and filtering
Install a Glass Pool Fence
Glass swimming pool fences help screen the pool from wind that can cool the surface water. These types of fences also stop leaves and other debris blowing into the pool reducing the need for extra filtration.
Most people who have installed glass pool fences love the stylish and modern look of glass. These fences can really make a backyard landscape more attractive and add value to the property.
Install a Swimming Pool Enclosure
Swimming pool enclosures are becoming more popular as pool owners recognize the benefits. As pool fences have become compulsory for most backyard pools some home owners have decided to go the extra mile and install a fully enclosed pool structure. These structures keep out insects, birds, other wildlife, children and adults. Pool enclosures also keep the pool cleaner by protecting it from the weather. There is no need for a pool fence and pool cover. Filtration times can be reduced to reduce pool operating costs.
