POOL MAINTENANCE

Across South Africa, swimming pools are central to summer living.

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They are where families cool off, children play and friends gather on hot afternoons. But what many homeowners do not realise is that small maintenance mistakes can quietly turn that backyard luxury into a costly problem.

Pool specialists say most issues are not caused by expensive equipment failures or poor installation, but by a handful of everyday habits that are often overlooked. According to Rowen Armstrong, Builders Buyer - Pool, Pesticides and Garden Hardware, the biggest problems usually start with something simple; inconsistent water testing.

“What we see again and again is that pool problems usually come down to everyday habits, or the lack of them,” he says.

The mistake almost everyone makes

Many homeowners only test their pool water once the water turns cloudy or green. In reality, pool water should ideally be tested at least once a week to ensure chlorine, pH and stabiliser levels remain balanced. “When water chemistry drifts out of balance, small issues can quickly escalate into algae outbreaks, swimmer discomfort and expensive chemical corrections,” Armstrong explains.

Bigger pumps don’t mean better pools

Another common misconception is that bigger equipment automatically means better performance particularly when it comes to pool pumps. In South Africa, the average residential pool holds roughly 50,000 litres of water. Pump size should therefore be matched carefully to the pool’s volume.