Owning a swimming pool is the dream of many people, whether it is for the excellent exercise opportunities or simply for recreational use and cooling off on a hot day. What a lot of people don’t realise, however, is that there is a lot more to maintaining and running a pool than you might think at first glance. You’re not simply filling a hole in the ground with water, so you need to consider a few things.
Here’s our top tips for swimming pool owners.
Equipment
Pumps are necessary to circulate the water through the other equipment and back into the pool.
Filters are essential for removing small particles from the pool water – keeping it clean and swim ready.
Cleaners use chemicals (typically chlorine) to ensure that the water is free from algae, bacteria and other harmful contaminants.
Feeders are used to gradually introduce chemicals into the pool – usually chlorine in the form of tablets, powder or liquid.
Safety
If you have weaker swimmers or children in or around your pool, you should consider a life belt that you can quickly throw to them if they begin to struggle. Marking depths periodically is also a good practice – it reduces the chance of someone diving or jumping into the pool in a shallow spot and injuring themselves.
Just as important as your in-pool safety measures are those you take for the area surrounding the pool. Best practice dictates that you should surround your pool with non-slip matting to ensure that people with wet feet do not fall over and injure themselves. A good quality pool mat will allow water to drain away quickly, and will be easy to clean and maintain. If you don’t want to completely surround your pool, be sure to put this kind of mat at the main entrance and exit points as well as along walkways leading up to, and away from, the area.
If people become ill after using your pool, you will need to check your chemical levels. Most recreational swimming illnesses are a result of poor hygiene – have your swimmers take a thorough rinse shower before they get in.
Maintenance
Your pool will need frequent maintenance. This can include skimming and vacuuming (especially for open-air, outdoor pools) as well as chlorine and pH level checking and ensuring that your equipment is still working at peak performance.
You should refer to your owner’s manuals and instructions regarding your equipment, make sure to clean out your filters regularly and check your bills – if they are particularly high one month, then your equipment might be malfunctioning. The pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6 for a safe, comfortable swim – use pH reducers or increasers as appropriate to get within this range. Ideal chlorine levels are between one and four parts per million. Check these figures a couple of times a week at a minimum.
Author Bio: First Mats started life as safety matting specialists, but have since expanded to become a complete industrial and commercial supplies company. The focus of First Mats is to provide safety-focused products that improve the wellbeing of staff through quality approved products, backed up by extensive knowledge. www.firstmats.co.uk
