DIY Tips

With winter well and truly set in, it's safe to say a lot of swimming pools around Australia are looking a little neglected. Prolonged periods of rain in some parts of the country have turned pool water from blue to grey, while mould and mildew is starting to invade pools which haven't been vacuumed since they were last used.

You regularly maintain your swimming pool to make sure the water is crystal clear and healthy to swim in. But without rhythm or reason, you wake up one morning to find it has suddenly turned dull and cloudy. Sound familiar? Well, you're not alone. It's a surprisingly common occurrence that is caused by a number of factors, which sometimes makes it tricky to detect and treat.

Your swimming pool pump, filter and chlorinator work hard to keep your water looking fresh and clean – usually out of sight down the back of the property in the pump house. For water that sparkles, they need to be in optimum working condition but with most things in life, wear and tear reduces their efficiency and what can't be repaired needs to be replaced.

With heavy rain predicted to drench much of Australia's east coast over the next few days, many pool owners will welcome the sight of watching water levels rising without the need to drain their tank or draw from mains water supply systems. However, there is a downside, and that is heavily diluted pool chemicals, especially salt and chlorine, and potential damage to filtration and sanitation equipment.

If you’ve ever thought of switching off pool equipment over winter to save money on electricity and chemical costs, think again. Not only will you run the risk of damaging expensive filtration and sanitation systems but can also damage your pool’s interior.

While many Aussies were lucky to grow up with a pool in their backyard, there are plenty more who did not. So, for people who have moved into a new home with an existing pool, or have just installed one on their property, the thought of maintaining a pool for the first time can seem daunting.

If you own a spa and live in an area that's still experiencing unseasonably warm weather, then you're likely rejoicing at the news that this long, humid spell might finally be coming to end. Cooler conditions mean dusting off the spa cover and enjoying all the benefits that come from immersing yourself in soothing, bubbling warm water.

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.