There is a lot you can buy to improve your swimming pool experience – from essentials like filters and pumps to pool toys, umbrellas, and deck furniture.
Not every piece of pool gear is an absolute necessity, but you don’t want to be without these 5 essentials.
1. Water Test Kit
You need to regularly check the water in your pool to make sure the pH and chlorine levels are correct and adjust if necessary. Without a test kit, you don’t know what you’re swimming in.
A complete test kit will test for pH, alkalinity, and levels of sanitizer. However, you can buy individual pH strips that just test pH. If you’re ready to splurge on a tool that will last you a long time, you can pick up a digital meter that will test all your levels without needing to be replaced.
2. Chemicals
No matter what kind of pool you’ll have, you’ll need some kind of chemical to sanitize it regularly.
If you are using chlorine, your free-chlorine levels should be between 1-4 ppm. If you have a saltwater pool, your salt concentration should be between 2600 and 3300 ppm.
You’ll need to add chemicals to a chlorine pool every couple of weeks, while a saltwater pool only needs additional salt a few times per season.
3. Pool Cover
Whether your pool is above-ground or in-ground, you’ll need a pool cover. Even if your pool is underneath a protective roof, if it is exposed to the outdoors, leaves, and debris will end up in the water.
To save yourself a lot of skimming and protect the pool (and its filters!), buy a pool cover and properly attach it when the pool isn’t in use. It’s great for the summer, spring, and fall, but essential during the winter.
4. Thermometer
You might be able to tell how inviting the water is with a dip of your toe, but if you prefer to be more accurate, you can grab a pool thermometer.
A pool thermometer can do more than help you decide whether or not to go swimming. In the winter, keeping a close eye on the temperature can help you avoid algae blooms and potential freezing damage.
5. Skimmer
No matter how careful you are, things will fall into the pool, which is why you need a skimmer.
Whether you are pulling out leaves, or someone’s wallet, a skimmer will make cleaning the pool and retrieving items much easier. The kind that you choose will depend on how much debris is likely to end up in the pool. When in doubt, choose a deeper, larger skimmer than you think you might need.
Prep Your Pool
Reach out to Scott Payne Custom Pools -as your local pool company in Pennsylvania, we are here for all the help you need. We have expertise in designing and installing custom pools for everyday maintenance and repair. We will help you make your outdoor living in PA more fun, with less hassle.
