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Pool Supplies

Taking care of your pool is vital, not just to keep it looking good, but also to make sure it's safe to swim in. To do that, you'll need a variety of pool supplies. You can choose from sticking with the absolute bare minimum for pool maintenance, right through a high-level maintenance system. Either way, there are a wide variety of products to suit. You can even add in some extras such as a pool cover, ladder or slide.

The main priority is to keep the pool clean. The first step is to focus on the pool water. Generally, something like chlorine, which acts as an oxidizer and sanitizer, is more than sufficient. It keeps the water clean by burning up any organic material that's present, and this also helps to reduce the load for the pool filters. You also need to keep an eye on the pH balance of the water, as well as a level of alkalinity. A basic water testing kits can do this for you. It's also worth looking for calcium hardness and stability. If you find a problem using a testing kit, you can fix it immediately.

Swimming pools have interior walls and floors, and over time these will get dirty and slimy if you don't keep them clean. It's possible to buy a manual swimming pool vacuum system, which will do a perfectly good job as long as you're willing to put in the time to clean the pool. Nowadays, however, it makes sense to invest in an automatic pool cleaner, as they've become a great deal more affordable. Plus it means you can spend your leisure hours enjoying the pool, rather than vacuuming it!

Choosing the right pump for your pool is important, because if it's the wrong size, you'll either waste a lot of energy or it won't work properly. Generally, you should choose a pump capable of pumping the entire capacity of your swimming pool in about eight hours. You also need to choose a filtration system. The three main types are sand, cartridge and D.E. Talk to a swimming pool expert to find out more about the pros and cons of each one, or else get online and do your research there so that you can decide which one is right for you.

Most people want to heat their pool, so some extra pool supplies will be needed for that to happen. Pool heaters have become a lot more energy efficient, dependable and durable over the years. They've even become more high-tech, with some including advanced features like a freeze protector or an integrated timer.

A pool cover isn't an essential, but it's still a good idea. Even if you only use it in winter, it can be worthwhile. That's particularly the case if small children can gain access to the pool. If that's likely to happen, you should probably choose a pool cover that's quick and easy to put in place at any time.

When you first install a pool, it can feel you're spending a lot of money on pool supplies to get started. The good news is that things get much cheaper once you settle into a pattern of ongoing maintenance. If you choose wisely, however, your pool supplies will last a long time and give you a clean pool to enjoy for many years to come.

Steve Dolan is a pool owner who does all of his own maintenance. Click on Pool Maintenance and Pool Supplies for more details and articles on swimming pools.