There’s nothing much better than spending a hot summer’s day in your own backyard pool.

But there’s nothing worse than going outside on a hot summer’s day to find your pool neglected, the dirty water uninviting and the pool itself deteriorating from lack of care.

Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take much to maintain your swimming pool.

A regular cleaning routine can be the difference between having a healthier, longer-lasting pool or one that’s damaged from neglect and requires hefty Pool Maintenance Costs to get it back up to scratch.

Step 1. Install the proper equipment at the outset.

You may find it appealing to cut costs when you’re just installing your pool.

It can be a big financial commitment (although the benefits are endless!).

But before you decide to skimp on the extras, beware!

Skipping out on some important essentials can lead to future costly blowouts.

Really, the choice is yours to add extras to your basic pool model.

But the benefits of better quality will make all the difference if you want your pool to last, hassle-free.

Another extra you may want to have for your pool is a pool cover.

Simple as it sounds and looks, a pool cover can dramatically cut down on both maintenance costs and the time you spend just cleaning your pool.

Pool covers save water and electricity, because you don’t have to heat up the pool every time you want to go in it.

They also reduce the amount of dirt and debris that gets into the water, easing up undue stress on the filter system (and again, saving you time manually removing debris).

Step 2. Maintain the correct water chemical balance

Most recurring problems with pools come from not maintaining the correct balance of water chemicals.

We know, it sounds and looks like complex science, which is the last thing you want to be involved in when all you actually want to do is enjoy a splash in the summer sun!

But keeping your chemical balance right is possibly the most important thing you can do with your pool – and doing it consistently means fewer problems later.

For example, you need the right amount of chlorine in your pool to kill off any lingering bacteria, algae, viruses and microorganisms.

It also eliminates grease and oil, which can damage your pool system.

The right chemical balance – including pH levels and chlorine – means your water stays cleaner.

And cleaner water means less time and expense scrubbing off dirt and algae accrued on the sides and bottom and in the pool’s filter.

Keeping on top of your chemical balance will reduce your overall cost for pool chemicals.

Today maintaining chemical balance is easy; you just need chemical composition test strips from your local pool supply store.

The instructions spell out in detail how you can correct any imbalance based on the colour codes on your strip.

Less work for you and at less expense – sounds like a win-win!

Step 3. Keep your pool at the right temperature

We’ve already mentioned above the benefit of having a pool cover.

It keeps the heat in so that you don’t have to blow out electricity bills just to heat your pool up.

It’s amazing the costs you can save if you can keep your pool at the right temperature all the time.

That includes turning it down in winter when it won’t be used (unless you’re one of the lucky ones living in the Aussie tropics!).

Even if you decrease your pool temperature by just a few degrees, that translates as substantial savings on the electricity bill.

Step 4. Clean, clean, clean!

Cleaning your pool regularly is perhaps the best thing you can do to keep your Pool Maintenance Costs down.

If you skim debris out of your pool daily, you’re keeping it out of the filter.

And keeping the filter clean can prevent a host of costly problems from happening.

You can backwash or remove and hose off your filter system about every two weeks or so to remove anything that could otherwise clog the system and need costly repairs.

Most pool jobs are relatively simple.

Use a hand-held pool skimmer or leaf net to remove leaves and bugs floating on top of the water.

Invest in a pool cleaner or vacuum to catch the grime you can’t reach and sweep around the pool area so leaves and twigs don’t blow back into the water.

It’s even worth considering your surroundings.

If you find you have trees or bushes nearby that continually shed pollen, blossoms, petals and leaves in the water, consider trimming them regularly.

Better yet, you may want to replace them with tidier species or perhaps even landscape around the pool with a deck or tiles to minimize the amount of work you need to do.

Step 5. Be consistent with Pool Maintenance Costs

It doesn’t mean much if you practice any of these steps whenever you fancy.

Most costly pool problems come from poor maintenance practices, of which neglect is pretty high up on the list.

Your pool is an investment as well as a luxury in your home.

Just as your need to attend to your car with oil refills and a regular wash, so too do you need to care for your pool on a regular basis.

If you don’t fill your car with petrol, it stalls.

If you don’t balance the chemicals in your pool and consistently remove excess debris, your pool will likely suffer.

But the good news is it doesn’t take much to appease your pool – and in the long run a little bit of care goes a long, long way.

Look after your pool today and you’ll save money later.

And that knowledge will give you the peace of mind to relax and recline in the Aussie summer sun!