Keeping Your Pool in Top Shape

Owning a pool in New Zealand is awesome—until it turns green, cloudy, or smells weird. Luckily, a bit of regular maintenance sorts most problems before they even start. Here’s what you need to know.

Check Your Water Regularly

You can’t just chuck in chlorine and hope for the best. The water chemistry actually matters. Grab yourself a basic test kit or test strips (places like Para Rubber or Bunnings have plenty). You’re looking for:

• pH levels – Should be between 7.2 and 7.6. Too high? The water gets cloudy. Too low? It’ll eat away at your pool surfaces.
• Chlorine levels – Around 1-3 ppm (parts per million) keeps algae away and the water safe.
• Alkalinity – Should sit between 80-120 ppm to stop sudden pH swings.
• Calcium hardness – Between 200-400 ppm helps prevent scale buildup and corrosion.

Test at least once a week, and more in summer when the pool gets the most use. If things are off, add the right chemical and retest after a few hours.

Keep Up with Chlorine Levels

Without chlorine, your pool turns into a swamp. You’ve got three main options:

1. Traditional chlorine – Cheap and works well, but needs to be added regularly.
2. Saltwater chlorinators – Less effort since they generate chlorine automatically, though they cost more upfront.
3. Chlorine alternatives (like UV or ozone) – Good for reducing chemical use, but still need chlorine backup.

If your chlorine drops too low, bacteria and algae take over. If it gets too high, swimmers can get itchy skin and red eyes. Stick to the 1-3 ppm range, and you’ll avoid both.

Watch Out for Algae

Algae is that gross green stuff that can take over in days if you let it. The trick? Don’t give it a chance to start.

• Keep the pool properly chlorinated.
• Brush the walls and floor to stop buildup.
• Use an algaecide (grab one from Swimart, Mitre 10, or your local pool shop) if you’re struggling.

If you’ve already got an algae problem, shock the pool (basically dumping in a high dose of chlorine), run the pump continuously for 24 hours, and scrub like your pool depends on it—because it does.

Clean Your Pool – and Not Just When It Looks Dirty

Leaves, dirt, sunscreen—it all lands in your pool. If you ignore it, the filter has to work overtime, and algae starts to thrive. Here’s what you should do:

• Skim the surface daily – Takes two minutes but saves hours of hassle later.
• Vacuum the pool weekly – Either manually or with a robotic cleaner (check out Pools & Spas NZ for good options).
• Brush the pool walls and steps – Algae loves to hang out there. Once a week is enough.

Keep the Filter Running

Your pool’s pump and filter keep the water moving and clean. The general rule? Run them for about 8 hours a day in summer and 4-6 hours in winter. If the water looks cloudy, increase the runtime.

• Sand filters – Backwash them every few weeks to clear out trapped dirt.
• Cartridge filters – Rinse them with a hose every week or so, and deep clean them every few months.
• Diatomaceous earth (DE) filters – Less common but great for fine debris, just make sure to top up the DE powder after backwashing.

A clogged-up filter can’t do its job, so don’t forget about maintenance.

Keep Water at the Right Level

Your pool loses water from evaporation, splashing, and backwashing the filter. Too low? The pump sucks in air instead of water, which can damage it. Too high? The skimmer won’t work properly.

• After big splashes or storms, check the level – It should sit around halfway up the skimmer opening.
• If it’s too low, top it up with a garden hose.
• If it’s too high, drain some using the waste setting on your filter.

Shock the Pool When Needed

If the water smells bad, looks murky, or there have been a lot of swimmers, it’s probably time to shock it—basically dumping in a high dose of chlorine to reset things.

• Do this every few weeks in summer or after heavy pool use.
• Use a calcium hypochlorite or non-chlorine shock (check out Poppits or your local pool store).
• Run the pump for at least 24 hours after shocking.

If your pool is constantly needing shock treatments, look at your chlorine levels—you might not be keeping them consistently high enough.

Cover the Pool When It’s Not in Use

A pool cover saves hassle. It:

• Stops debris from falling in (less cleaning for you).
• Reduces evaporation (lower water and chemical costs).
• Helps keep heat in (good for heated pools).

Basic covers work fine, but solar covers help warm water naturally, and automatic covers make life easier. Check out The Cover Company NZ for solid options.

Stay on Top of It

Here’s the simple truth: small, regular maintenance beats fixing a disaster later. A couple of minutes of skimming, brushing, and checking the chemicals each week saves hours of frustration.

If things ever get really out of hand, don’t panic—local pool stores like Swimart or Pool & Spa Warehouse can test your water and recommend fixes.

Stick to these basics, and your pool will stay clean, clear, and ready to enjoy all summer long.