To maintain the pool quality and to keep it free from algae and bacteria, the water will need to be treated with chemicals (ask your National Leisure member for a copy of the offical pool care guide.
Chemicals can be added to the swimming pool water either manually or by the addition of an automatic chemical dosing system, your National Leisure member canadvise on the most suitable system for your pool. In addition a UV system added into your pool equipment will really improve the water quality, while cutting down on the amount of chemical that needs to be added to keep your pool water safe.
Your National Leisure memeber will be able to advise you on the most suitable pool cleaning equipment for your specific requirements and will even be able to supply you with an electronic, robotic pool cleaner that will make light work of cleaning your pool for you. Several different types of cover are available, but maintenance will certainly be whole lot easier if you keep dirt and debris out of the pool in the first place. Automatic covers will take the hassle away from covering and uncovering the pool and with some models, will seal the top of your pool, excluding light and debris, preventing evaporation of the pool water, keeping in vital heat and chemicals. Safety type covers will also take the weight of animals and children to offer you peace of mind while they are in your garden.
Your National Leisure member can advise on the best choice of cover for your particular pool.
For maximum pool use for as much of the year as possible, heating it in some way is a must.
Swimming pool boilers can be fuelled by oil, gas, electricity or even LPG with some of the latest models being more efficient condensing boilers. Your choice is likely to be dictated by such factors such as pool size, existing supply of fuel to your property and of course the current cost of different fuel types.
The more obvious pool-heating solution however, is the sun. Air to water heap pumps that utilise the heat from the surrounding air are very widely used, especially on outdoor swimming pools. Solar heating technology has made rapid strides in recent years and solar panels are used, either to heat the pool water, or to generate the electricity (solar PV) to run other equipment.
A pool enclosure is a glazed or traditionally built structure over your pool that enables you to extend the outdoor swimming season dramatically, perhaps starting in early March and ending in early November – and that’s without any pool heating. Installing an enclosure can raise the water temperature by as much as 8-10°C on its own. Cheaper, inflatable airdome models are available.
But a pool enclosure has other benefits too. You’ll save hundreds of pounds on pool chemicals – evaporation from the surface is dramatically reduced, ensuring your precious pool chemicals stay in the pool rather than evaporating away. And it keeps the pool a lot cleaner as well, keeping out leaves and debris, and protecting the pool from rain which can carry grit and other dirt.
Then there’s the safety aspect… a pool enclosure keeps children away from the pool when you’re not around, and under control when you are. Meanwhile, pets and wild animals are also prevented from straying near the pool edge.
Add pool heating, and your outdoor pool becomes a year-round pleasure.