Keeping Your Pool Clean and Clear

Having a pool at home is great—until it turns green, smells weird, or starts looking more like a pond than a pool. Regular maintenance isn’t as complicated as it might seem, but you do need to stay on top of things. Here’s what matters and how to keep your pool in top shape.

1. Check and Balance Your Chemicals

You wouldn’t drink water that smelled funky, right? Your pool is the same. If the chemical balance is off, you’ll end up with cloudy water, algae, or irritated skin after swimming.

Here’s what you should test regularly (a couple of times a week in summer, less in winter):

• pH levels (Ideally 7.2 – 7.6) – Too high, and your chlorine doesn’t work well. Too low, and the water becomes corrosive.
• Chlorine (1 – 3 ppm) – Kills bacteria and algae. If it’s too low, you’ll start noticing green spots.
• Alkalinity (80 – 120 ppm) – Helps keep the pH stable.
• Calcium Hardness (150 – 250 ppm) – Too low, and the water starts pulling calcium from your pool walls; too high, and you get scaling.

You can get a basic test kit from places like Mitre 10 or Bunnings NZ. Just dip the strip in, match the colours, and adjust as needed.

2. Skim, Scrub, and Vacuum

Leaves, bugs, and other debris will end up in your pool, no matter what. The key is removing them before they sink and cause bigger problems.

• Skim daily – A couple of minutes each day with a skimmer net makes a huge difference.
• Scrub weekly – Brush the pool walls and floor to stop algae buildup. (Especially in spots where water doesn’t circulate well, like corners and steps.)
• Vacuum regularly – A pool vacuum (manual or automatic) sucks up dirt and prevents staining. Giggle New Zealand has a good selection of automatic pool cleaners available.

3. Run Your Pump (Enough)

Think of your pool pump like your heart—it circulates water to keep it clean. If you don’t run it long enough, chemicals won’t mix properly, and bacteria can take over.

• In summer, aim for 8-12 hours a day (depending on pool size).
• In winter, you can cut back to 4-6 hours a day.

Make sure the pump and filter are clean too. If the filter is clogged, water won’t flow properly, and your pool won’t stay clear. Check your manual on how to backwash your sand filter or clean your cartridge filter.

Local pool stores like Para Rubber stock filter cleaning products if yours needs a deep clean.

4. Shock Your Pool

Every so often, your pool needs a heavy dose of chlorine to kill bacteria, algae, and other nasties. This is called shocking.

• Shocking is essential after heavy rain, lots of swimmers, or if the water looks murky.
• Always shock at night—otherwise, the sun burns off the chlorine too fast.
• Follow the instructions on the shock treatment you choose (again, places like Mitre 10 or Bunnings stock these).

5. Keep an Eye on Water Levels

Pools lose water from evaporation, splashing, and backwashing. Too low, and your pump can get damaged. Too high, and your skimmer won’t work properly.

• Keep the water level halfway up your skimmer.
• If it’s too low, top it up with a garden hose.
• If it’s too high after heavy rain, drain some out using your waste setting on the filter.

6. Deal with Algae Before It Takes Over

Algae can go from “just a bit of green” to a full takeover fast. If you start noticing slippery walls or a greenish tinge, act quickly.

• Brush the walls and floor.
• Shock the pool.
• Run the pump for 24 hours straight to circulate the treatment.
• Use an algaecide if needed (NZ pool stores like Swimart NZ have good options).

7. Prepare for Seasons

• Summer – Test chemicals often, run the pump longer, and keep a close eye on algae. Swimmer load and heat make pools dirty faster.
• Winter – Use a pool cover, reduce pump run time, and add winterising chemicals to stop algae growth.

8. Invest in the Right Tools

A few good tools make pool maintenance easier:
✔ A skimmer net for surface debris
✔ Pool brush to scrub algae before it becomes a problem
✔ A vacuum (manual or automatic) to keep it looking spotless
✔ A good test kit to check water balance

You can pick up most of these from places like Trade Depot or Pool & Spa Warehouse NZ.

9. Know When to Call in the Pros

If your pool keeps turning green, your pump isn’t working properly, or you’re just sick of DIY cleaning, it might be best to get a professional check-up. Companies like Poolwerx NZ offer cleaning and maintenance services across the country.

Stay on Top of It and Avoid Costly Repairs

Pool maintenance isn’t complicated, but you can’t ignore it either. A little regular effort saves you from expensive fixes later. Stay consistent with testing, cleaning, and running your pump, and you’ll have a crystal-clear pool all year round.

Now, go enjoy that swim! ☀️💦