How to Set Up and Maintain your Outdoor Pool: Tips for a Smooth Summer
Summer scorchers are here, and the days are getting hotter and hotter! A great way to have some fun while keeping cool is going for a swim! If you’re not looking to plan a trip down to the local swimming pool you can get your own pool and throw a pool party right in your back yard!
You will want to make sure your pool is clean and properly maintained before, during, and after you’re swimming around. Which is why we’ve put together a guide for how to set up and maintain your outdoor pool, so you don’t end up going for a dip in nasty water. In this guide we’ll talk about general pool management and cover different pool sizes for set up and any specific maintenance needed.
General Pool Maintenance
Keeping your pool clean is easy with regular maintenance and some handy pool cleaning products that we stock at the Warehouse! Be sure to check the manufacturers labels on your pool to ensure you aren’t using the wrong pool cleaning chemicals in your pool. After all, you want to clean it, not break it.
Use clean and fresh water
It goes without saying, but no one wants to swim around in dirty water filled with muck and grime. That’s not even mentioning the bugs, insects, and other nasties that could be swimming around with you!
Make sure that your water that you’re filling your pool with is fresh and clean and make sure that the pool itself is scrubbed clean before filling.
You can use a pool test strip kit to test your pool’s water to make sure it’s safe and sparkling. This test strip kit also comes with a handy booklet that covers what you need to know about your pool water.
Keep your pool water clean with a Skimmer
Even a clean pool will eventually catch a few specs and bits if left outside. While a pool underneath the shade of a tall tree can make for a cool and relaxing afternoon in the summer, the leaves that fall into the pool won’t go away on their own. If left alone, they’ll break down and mix into the pool water.
That’s why you should use a pool skimmer to clean away anything that’s settled on top of your pool water. A good pool skimmer will make it simple to scoop up any debris on your pool water for easy disposal.
Keep your pool water clean and sparkling with Chlorine pills
Chlorine helps keep water clean and safe to swim in. Chlorine pills are designed as an easy to use way to make sure you’re swimming in crystal clear and clean water. One chlorine pill can keep your pool clean and sparkling for days!
You will want to pick up a floating pool tablet dispenser for a safe and easy way of applying chlorine to your pool.
Cover your pool when not in use
Keeping your pool covered when you’re not using it can extend the lifespan of the water in your pool considerably. You can pick up a protective pool cover to ensure that your water stays clean when you’re not swimming.
Keep your pool stored in a clean space
When you don’t have your pool out, you should make sure it’s stored in a clean space. This minimises the chances of the pool getting dirty while not in use. Keeping your pool stored above floor level will also minimise the risk of any creepy crawlies from the garden getting into your pool.
Small Outdoor Pools
These are the small and easy to set up pools for the little ones to splash around in. While they’re pretty easy to set up and put away, because of how small and portable they are, you still want to make sure they’re properly maintained
Browse the range of pools at the Warehouse to find the perfect fit for your little tykes.
Setting up a Small Outdoor Pool
Most small outdoor pools feature an inflate and forget design where the only two steps before swimming are to inflate the pool and fill it with water. But there are a few things to consider before letting your kids have fun.
You will want to look at picking up a pool that boasts puncture-resistant material. A deflating pool is no one’s idea of a good time, especially kids’, so reducing the chances of punctures or tears is a good idea.
Maintaining a Small Outdoor Pool
Because these pools are small, maintenance consists of the usual steps that you would follow to ensure that your pool is clean before, during, and after use. Rinse out regularly and scrub clean between uses to prevent build up of algae and grime.
Medium Sized Outdoor Pools
Medium sized pools will be able to fit 1-3 grown adults comfortably and are typically what most look for in a backyard pool. Typically, this is where the transition from inflatable pools to joint supported pools starts to begin.
Depending on the pool the set up can range from a quick roll out to a bit of DIY and elbow grease to get them up and running.
Setting up a Medium Sized Outdoor Pool
There are two common types of medium sized pools: inflatable and joint system.
Inflatable pools are pretty self-explanatory and require minimal effort to set up, only needing to be inflated and filled with water.
For joint system pools, it’s important to read any instructions that come with your pool for set up. Typically, the process involves locking the joints together to create a sturdy frame for your pool’s fabric to hold your pool water.
Maintaining a Medium Sized Outdoor Pool
Aside from the general tips that we’ve highlighted at the beginning of the article, you may be using a pump for your pool water. In that case, you will want to ensure that you regularly replace the filter cartridge of your pump to make sure that water is adequately filtered for your pool
Large Outdoor Pools
Large outdoor pools are for the big pool parties! Large outdoor pools can fit above 3 people comfortably and make for a great purchase for big families who love a dip!
These pools are great fun for the whole family but also require regular maintenance and careful storage to avoid wear and tear.
Setting up a Large Outdoor Pool
You won’t find inflatable pools here; almost all large outdoor pools are supported by joints due to their size.
As we mentioned for medium sized pools, it’s important to read all set up instructions provided by the manufacturer of your pool before you go about setting up. Make sure that all joints are securely fastened to each other and the fabric has no holes or damage to avoid any leaks.
Maintaining a Large Outdoor Pool
With a bigger sized pool comes more maintenance if you want to keep your pool set up for multiple days. Along with the recommendations we’ve highlighted at the beginning of the article, we recommend more vigorous and more frequent cleaning than compared to smaller pools.
WARNING
To prevent drowning, this pool must have a barrier such as a 1.2m high fence surrounding the pool. The barrier must comply with the Building Code and restrict unsupervised access by children under 5 years of age. For more information visit http://www.building.govt.nz/poolsafety