Building a swimming pool is a one-time activity. But maintaining a swimming pool is a lifelong recurring activity that involves enormous time and expense. The effort and expenditure involved can vary according to the material used, but pool maintenance is a necessity. Concrete pools are difficult to maintain when compared to fibreglass pools. When building pools, people often fail to take into account the cost of maintaining the pool. You cannot avoid pool maintenance costs but there are methods to lower your pool maintenance costs.
1. Preserve the chemical balance of the pool.
Proper chemical balance discourages the growth of algae and prevents the water from turning cloudy. Chlorine destroys any bacteria present in the water. Maintaining the proper chemical balance can increase the lifespan of the pool. Low calcium levels in water can cause the eroding of tile grouting and delaminating of plaster surfaces. Damage caused due to soft water will need extensive repairs in the future involving the replacement of the damaged parts.
Excess amounts of calcium in water can make your pool water cloudy and clog your pool equipment. Low pH level can make the pool waters acidic and result in corrosion of pool ladders, liners and pumps. You will have to incur considerable expenditure to replace the liners and ladders.
2. Invest in a pool cover.
Water evaporation is a natural process. When water is evaporated from the pool you lose water as well as the chemicals added to water. A pool cover reduces water evaporation and saves both water and chemicals. The sunlight reacts with chlorine to destroy it. A pool cover prevents this destruction.
A pool cover also keeps your pool warm in colder months and prevents heat loss. It also prevents debris and leaves from falling into the pool. This means you have to spend less time and energy to clean the pool. Cover your pool at night and also when you are not using it.
3. Purchase an energy-efficient pump.
A single-speed pump may not be suitable for your pool. Single-speed pumps are known to consume more energy. Bring home a variable speed pump. A variable speed pump can be adjusted to run at lower speeds when the pool is in regular use. You need to run the pump at full speed only while cleaning the pool. If you live in a region that receives sufficient sunlight, then you can purchase solar pumps. They are maintenance-free and recover their investment over the years by reducing your energy costs.
4. Design a windbreaker around your pool.
The wind is the greatest cause of water evaporation. Even a gentle breeze can accelerate the rate of water evaporation. You can enclose your pool through fences, screens, plants or landscaping to reduce the effect of winds. These fences can also keep out pests and prevent children from accessing the pool.
5. Replace your gas pool heater with a solar heater or pool heat pump.
Using gas to heat your pool can be extremely costly. The costs become double in the absence of a pool cover. A solar pool heating system can reduce your heating expense considerably. If you are not comfortable depending on the sun then a pool heating pump can reduce your energy expenses.
6. Install the latest sanitization systems.
Saltwater chlorinators, Ozone purification, Ultraviolet sanitization are some of the latest methods of sanitization available in the market. These methods reduce your expenses on chemicals. They do not leave behind any residue on the pool surface. The use of fewer chemicals also means fewer energy costs for running the filtration system.
Saltwater chlorinators work well with fibreglass pools. Saltwater chlorinators cannot be used in concrete pools.
7. Run the filtration system during the night.
Energy costs are less at night. Running the filtration system at night is an efficient way to save on energy costs. Chemicals should be added to the pool at night. You will need to add less chlorine at night as there will be no sunlight to destroy chlorine. The chemicals can do their job throughout the night.
8. Regularly clean and maintain your pool equipment.
Maintaining your pool equipment properly will make them last longer and prevent the need to replace them. Don’t leave your cleaning equipment like vacuum cleaners, cleaner heads and brushes out in the sun. Rinse them after use and store them in a proper place. Store vacuum cleaner heads and brushes with the business end pointing upwards.
Clean your filter and skimmer basket regularly. A clogged filter uses more energy to do its job. Dirt rots in your pool filter and gets back to your pool.
9. Keep tree branches and plants away from pool.
Don’t place plants too close to the pool. Trim any branches growing towards the pool. Leaves entering the pool can upset the chlorine levels. They can also clog your filter. They will also invite pests near your pool.
10. Clean your pool regularly.
Brush your pool regularly. Don’t wait for your pool to become visibly dirty. Skim your pool. Use a telescopic pole with a net to remove any floating leaves or debris. The leaves will rot in your pool and invite insects. It is very easy to brush a fibreglass pool. Brushing your pool regularly will prevent dirt from sticking to the surface of your pool and damaging the surface.
If you find it difficult to manually clean the pool then invest in a robotic pool cleaner. Robotic pool cleaners are energy efficient and self-contained. They are equipped with a brush, and they do not depend on your filtration system.
11. Install LED lights.
Replace your halogen or incandescent lights with LED lights. LED lights are long-lasting and reduce energy costs. You don’t have to worry about replacing them now and then.
12. Maintain the temperature of your pool.
Heat the pool only when you want to use it. Keep the water comfortably cool. A reduction in a degree or two of heating can make a considerable difference to your energy expense.
