Summer is in full swing, and one of the best ways to cool off is to splash around in your own pool. However, as many pool owners know, maintaining a pool can burn through quite a few resources, especially electricity and filling costs.
Enjoying your pool at your Okotoks real estate home doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet, nor does it have to wantonly harm the environment. Following these pool maintenance tips can keep water and energy usage down and help you avoid paying more than necessary to enjoy some aquatic fun.
Cover Your Pool
A pool cover can prevent evaporation, saving untold gallons of water from the sun’s thieving rays. A cover can also keep debris and microbes at bay. By covering your pool when it is not in use, you are saving yourself effort from cleaning, chemicals for restoring pH, and also filling costs from evaporation.
A special heating cover can also be applied during non-use days to get some extra energy from Mother Nature herself.
Turn the Heat Down When Pool is Not in Use
If you have a heated pool, turn down the temperature setting by 8 to 10 degrees if you know you’re only going to be using your pool during the weekends or select times. There’s no need to waste energy on maintaining a certain temperature when no one’s around to enjoy it, but shutting off the heat altogether will only sap more energy and take quite a while to restore the proper temperature when it comes time to enjoy your pool.
Solar energy panels are also a worthwhile investment if you have an angled roof that catches enough sun during the day. With the right kind of equipment, solar energy can virtually replace all heating costs.
Run the Filter Less
Depending on your backyard, you can run a filter for as little as four hours a day during the summer, and two to three hours during the winter. If you notice that the chemical balance or clarity is suffering, add an hour to your filtering time to see if that is enough to restore it, in addition to the necessary chemical additives.
Invest in an Energy-Efficient Pump
A new variable-speed pump can reduce energy costs up to 50% according to some pool experts. They may cost more up-front, but the savings for just one year can often recoup some of the investment.
Water features that require a pump should also be shut off when no one is around to enjoy them, likewise with an ostentatious lighting scheme.
Keeping equipment maintained, such as regularly backwashing your filter can also prevent excess costs from declining equipment.
These are just some of the ways to reduce your pool costs this summer. If you’re thinking of selling or finding a home with a refreshing pool of its own, feel free to browse our listings or give us a call.