Essential Pool Maintenance Tips For First-Time Owners

Keeping Your Pool in Top Shape

Having a pool at home is great—until you realise it isn’t just about relaxing in crystal-clear water. If you don’t stay on top of maintenance, things get murky pretty fast. Algae, dirty filters, or unbalanced chemicals can turn your backyard paradise into a hassle. The good news? It’s not that hard to keep your pool in check once you know the basics.

Get Your Water Chemistry Right

Let’s cut to the chase—if your pool water isn’t balanced, you’re going to run into problems. Cloudy water, irritation to your skin and eyes, and even pool equipment corrosion all come back to one thing: chemistry.

Here’s what you need to stay on top of:

pH Levels: Aim for 7.2–7.6. If it’s too low, the water becomes acidic and eats away at your pool surfaces. Too high, and you’ll have scale buildup and ineffective chlorine.
Chlorine: This is your main defence against bacteria and algae. Keep it between 1–3 ppm (parts per million).
Alkalinity: Think of this as the water’s ability to resist pH changes—it should be between 80–120 ppm.
Calcium Hardness: If it’s too low, your pool surface can start degrading. Too high? You’ll see scale forming. Keep it between 200–400 ppm.

You don’t have to be a chemist to get this right. Pick up a testing kit from Bunnings NZ or Swimart New Zealand and test your water at least once a week.

Clean Your Pool (Even If It Looks Clean)

Just because the water looks fine doesn’t mean your pool is clean. Dirt, oils, and debris build up fast, and if you ignore it, you’ll regret it.

Skim the Surface Daily: Leaves, bugs, and other junk collect fast—use a net to scoop them out every day.
Vacuum Weekly: Even with regular skimming, dirt settles on the floor. A pool vacuum (manual or automatic) keeps it clean.
Brush the Walls & Tiles: Algae and grime love to cling to surfaces. Brushing your pool once a week prevents buildup.

If you want to make this easier, look at getting a robotic pool cleaner from a place like Para Rubber.

Keep Your Pool Filter Happy

Your pool filter is like your pool’s kidneys—it keeps everything clean. But if you ignore it, dirt and gunk will clog it up, and the whole system will struggle.

Cartridge Filters: Give them a rinse every couple of weeks and a deep clean every few months.
Sand Filters: Backwash them when the pressure builds up (usually every couple of weeks).
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filters: More high-maintenance—clean and replace the DE powder as needed.

Check your filter pressure gauge—if the reading’s about 8-10 psi higher than usual, it’s time to clean it.

Watch Out for Algae Before It Takes Over

Algae is your worst enemy. Once it’s in, it spreads fast and turns your water green, yellow, or even black (and trust me, black algae is a nightmare to get rid of).

Here’s how to prevent it:

Keep chlorine levels steady—algae thrives in under-sanitised water.
Use an algaecide every now and then (especially if it’s been raining or super hot).
Brush your pool regularly—algae loves to stick to rough surfaces.

If algae does creep in, shock your pool (basically, dump in a high dose of chlorine) and run the pump continuously until the water clears up. You can find pool shock treatments at Mitre 10.

Run Your Pump—Don’t Skimp on This

Your pool pump is what keeps the water circulating and clean. If you don’t run it enough, debris and bacteria build up.

In summer, run your pump for 8-12 hours a day (yes, really).
In winter, you can get away with 4-6 hours a day if you’re not using the pool as much.

Circulation is key to preventing algae and keeping your chemicals balanced. No, running the pump isn’t cheap, but neither is dealing with a green swamp of a pool.

Cover It Up When You’re Not Using It

A pool cover is a game-changer—it keeps out debris, reduces water evaporation, and keeps the heat in. If you don’t have one already, check out options at The Cover Company or Plastics for Pools.

A good cover will:

Cut down your heating costs,
Reduce the amount of water you lose to evaporation,
Stop leaves, dirt, and bugs from getting in,
Help keep your chemicals balanced.

If you have kids, consider a hardcover or safety cover to prevent accidents.

Stay on Top of It—Don’t Wait for a Problem

Letting things slide with pool maintenance is like ignoring a weird noise in your car. It might seem fine for a while, but suddenly, you’ve got a big, expensive problem.

Stick to a routine:
✅ Test & adjust water chemistry weekly
✅ Skim & vacuum regularly
✅ Clean the filter as needed
✅ Keep the pump running daily
✅ Shock your pool monthly (or after heavy rain)

The more consistent you are, the easier it is to maintain. If you’re ever unsure what’s going on with your pool, most pool retailers, like Pool & Spa Warehouse, offer free water testing.

Final Thought

Owning a pool is pretty sweet, but only if you keep it in good shape. A little effort goes a long way, and once you get into a routine, it doesn’t take much time at all. Test your water, keep it clean, and run your pump—do that, and you’ll avoid most of the common headaches.

Now, grab a cold drink and enjoy your clean, sparkling pool!

Pool Owners New Zealand