How to Keep Pool Cleaning Simple

In association with Space Industries

Many rural dwellers have backyard pools, but with their busy lives it can be a hassle maintaining them. We spoke to a pool cleaning expert about how to make looking after your pool easy.

There’s nothing better than jumping into your pool after a hot day working on the farm, or relaxing in the spa on a chilly winter’s night. But too many people don’t think about what they need to do to keep their pools in swimmable condition, says Space Industries Sales and Marketing Manager Peter Kruse. “That’s the biggest mistake people make when they buy a pool or buy a house with a pool; they think it’s going to look after itself!” Space Industries is New Zealand's industry leader in the supply of pool and spa chemicals and equipment, and has been helping Kiwis with their pool cleaning needs since 1979. It offers everything from tablets to vacuums and pool robots, and some of its liquid cleaning products are manufactured here in New Zealand. 

Peter says some pool owners are a bit squeamish about adding chemicals to their pool, but they need to, to keep it pristine and safe. “And make sure that you buy the test strips so that you can test it to work out how much of each chemical is in there. Don't guess!” There’s also more than just one chemical that goes into keeping pools clean, he adds. “If you asked somebody what chemicals they put in their pool, 99 percent of people would say chlorine. But there's also the chemicals that you use to balance the pH, which are just as important.”

There’s an app for that

Apps are all the rage these days (see: FarmlandsPRO), and Space Industries is getting in on the action with an app designed to make the pool cleaning process simpler Crystal Water pool testing app (www.poolwatertest.co.nz/cw). Peter says for people that struggle with the chemistry and mathematics involved with pool cleaning, using the app will make the process a lot easier. “All they've got to do is just dip the test strip, then use the app to decipher what there is in the pool. And if they plug in how big their pool is, it'll tell them how much of a product they've got put in there. If they're not so good at maths, or if they're scared of chemistry, it's really helpful.” For summer pool maintenance, Peter says a rule of thumb is to run the filter for around 10 hours a day. “That stirs the pool up and it helps filter it, take all the impurities out and maintain your pH.” The pH is a big thing to keep an eye on, as it also determines how well the chlorine works, Peter explains. “If your pH is out and you're throwing a whole lot of chlorine, this might not work. And if you're putting the sanitiser in, that's going to control your algae growth and your pathogens and that sort of stuff.”

Tablets popular

Peter says one product category that has grown a lot for Space Industries over the past few years is tablets, which offer a pre-measured dose of chemicals. “People don't need to worry about measuring it or having it dripping all over their hands, they can just grab one out and drop it into the dispenser and walk away.” Another benefit of the tablets is that they dissolve slowly, so the pool doesn't need as much active maintenance from the user. “In the long term, they're going to get a better result because there's a continuous flow of sanitiser, and sanitiser is one of the most important things in the maintenance of a pool because it cleans your pool water while killing bacteria, algae, and other contaminants.” One of Peter’s favourite parts of his job is manning Space Industries’ dedicated pool help hotline (09 262 3903), which he likens to a roadside rescue service for pool owners. 

“People can ring just to say, ‘I've got a problem’, and I get quite a kick out of that. You get somebody ring up, and particularly people that are new to it, you can take them through a few steps and you can hear the confidence grow in their voice,” he says. “We've actually designed a number of products based on that feedback about what people are having problems with.” Although Peter is passionate about pool cleaning, he knows it’s not exactly a fun pastime for most pool owners. “There are very few people who have ever said to me, ‘I really enjoy maintaining my pool’ ” he admits. “There are some people that hate pools and will never have one again, and that's usually because of the amount of time they've had to spend, because they didn't know what to do, so they didn't do it properly. It just was one problem after the next.”

Tackling the green monster

It’s a common scenario for pool owners: it’s summer and you want to have guests around, but your pool is the same colour as your lawn. Peter Kruse, of pool cleaning supplies company Space Industries, says there are a few things you should do in this situation. “If it's gone ‘camouflage green’ and you can't see the bottom, the first thing you’ve got to do is vacuum,” he says. “Get the dead hedgehogs out, all that sort of stuff. Then you should probably bomb it with chlorine.” 

The next step is usually to use a ‘flocculent’ or a clarifier to break up congealed matter, Peter says. “What that does is it takes suspended particles, drops them down, and then they can vacuum those back up again. From there you need to sort your pH out.” However, Peter warns this process will take a few days. “If you have a pool party on Saturday, don’t leave this until Friday. Over the years we have built up FAQs and guides to help our customers that anyone can download.” Check out a handy list of pool-cleaning FAQs at www.spaceindustries.co.nz/resources/faqs