With summer approaching, so many online posts and articles focus on how to get your body ready for your bikini or baggies. And yet there’s very little mention about the swimming pool you’re going to be throwing those cozzie-clad body into! That’s why this article is all about how to get your pool ready for its summer close-up.

• The first and golden rule is to NEVER empty your pool – even if it’s gone green after a winter of neglect. An empty pool can actually lift out of the ground – especially if you live in an area with a high water table.
• Empty all the baskets in the weir and in the filter and skim off all the leaves and other debris from the surface. Scoop up and leaves that have settled at the bottom of the pool.
• Check the chemical levels. This is one of the most important tasks to make sure your water is of the highest quality.
  • pH – The idea pH of your pool should be between 7.2 and 7.4. An incorrect pH will affect how much chlorine turns into hypochlorous acid.
  • Alkalinity – this buffers the pH, and should be between 80 and 120.
  • Calcium – if your water is too “hard” i.e. it contains too much calcium, it can actually damage the finish of your pool. It can also negatively affect the vinyl in above-ground pools.
  • Chlorine – levels should be between 1 and 3 parts per million (ppm). Many home-owners prefer the round, disc-shaped chlorine tablets that dissolve slowly, dispensing an even amount of chemicals into the water. These tablets contain cyanuric acid, which limits the sun’s ability to burn off chlorine.
• It may take up to a week for your pool to regain its former summer glory, but the wait will be worth it. Happy swimming!!

At Pool, Spa and Filtration Supplies, we stock a huge variety of swimming pool products to help you get the most out of your pool. We also offer economical heat pump solutions that can significantly extend the number of months you’ll be able to swim. Visit www.poolspa.co.za for more information, or call us on +27 11 793 1381/2/3 for expert advice.