How to Make a Pool Cost Effective and Energy Efficient
Does your pool cost a fortune to maintain? Wondering how to make your pool more cost effective without reducing weekly maintenance and pump running times? There are many ways to keep your pool sanitised, sparkling blue and working to its full potential without spending your entire salary! Here are a few ways to make your pool more cost effective and energy efficient.
Pump Running Times
When determining how long to run your pool pump, the general rule of thumb is to turn over the entire volume of water once in winter and twice in summer. The pump running time can be reduced in winter due to a number of reasons such as:
- The pool’s bather load is lower in winter which means less contaminants in the pool that would need to be removed through the filter.
- The colder environment in winter is not conducive to algae and bacteria growth as algae grows in warmer weather.
Read this article to learn more on winter pool pump running times.
Pool Covers
Certain chemicals dissolve and wear off quicker when they are exposed to the sun’s UV rays. The Pool Team recommends using a pool cover such as a solid cover or a solar blanket in order to protect the pool water from the sun, keeping the chemicals in the water for longer. Added bonus - solar covers help retain heat if used in conjunction with a heat pump or solar panels. Learn more here about the different types of pool covers.
Solar Heating
If you are looking to install a pool heating solution but are worried about the cost, look no further than solar panels! Solar panels are connected to the pool pump via PVC piping and therefore do not require an external power source, making them far more cost and energy efficient than a heat pump. The cold pool water travels from the pump, through the solar panels where the water gets heated. The warm water then travels through the return line, back into the pool. Learn more here about solar heating.
However, if you would like to install a heat pump, The Pool Team has an energy efficient option for you! Install the Aqua Pro Inverter Plus Heat Pump. the Aqua Pro Inverter Plus Heat Pump contains a rotary compressor which enables the unit to change between modes and adjust the speed as necessary. This is what makes this heat pump more energy efficient. Enjoy a warm pool and save on the running costs! Learn more here about the Aqua Pro Inverter Plus Heat Pump.
Weekly Maintenance
It is always advised to keep up with weekly pool maintenance. Neglecting the pool will lead to an unnecessary expense on chemicals and cleaning equipment in order to get the pool ready to swim in. Being proactive and keeping up with weekly maintenance will keep the pool clean and sanitised without that extra expense.
However, weekly maintenance doesn’t only involve testing the water and adding chemicals. Part of weekly maintenance is also brushing the floor and walls of the pool to remove dirt, debris and organic growth; skimming the surface of the water to remove leaves and most importantly, backwashing and rinsing. When it comes to backwashing and rinsing, ensure to keep an eye on the sight glass. To keep cost and energy in mind, stop the backwash when the water in the sight glass has cleared to avoid wasting water. Watch this video to learn how to backwash and rinse your pool.
Pro Tips
The Pool Team offers value chemical kits such as the Aqua Pro Chlorine 10kg to treat your pool while saving you money!
The use of stabilised chlorine will protect the chlorine from the sun’s rays, keeping the chlorine in the pool for longer, allowing one to use less. However, having said that, it is important to check your stabiliser levels regularly as an overstabilised pool will render the chlorine less effective. The Pool Team recommends alternating between a stabilised and non stabilised chlorine floater in order to keep the stabiliser levels within range.
Chat to a professional at any of The Pool Team stores for further advice on your personal cost saving solution.