POOLSIDE BLOG
Tips for upgrading your pool equipment
There are a number of reasons to upgrade your old equipment, from better water quality & power-saving alternatives to reduced maintenance and peace of mind. So what should you be looking for when upgrading your equipment?
Winter is the perfect time to upgrade old equipment while the pool is not in use. There are a number of reasons to upgrade your old equipment, from better water quality & power-saving alternatives to reduced maintenance and peace of mind.
So what should you be looking for when upgrading your equipment? We've listed a few of the most common upgrades for your pool below and have provided links to the products we suggest and supply to help you with your research.
POOL PUMPS
Upgrading your old pool pump to a Variable Speed pump will not only save you money on your power bills, but its reduced flow rate also takes the pressure off the pool plumbing increasing the life of your other equipment. You'll also get peace of mind with quality construction and warranty support.
POOL FILTERS
Upgrading to a media filter will require much less maintenance than the other filter types. These filters only require backwashing to clean and take at the very most just five minutes with the turn of a valve. It is usually only done every two to three months in Winter and once a month in Summer so you'll save lots of time on maintenance.
FILTER MEDIA
Glass filter media such as AFM is non-porous, self-sterilising, and can trap 30% more bacteria and organic material than a traditional Sand Filter, giving Bacteria nowhere to grow within the filter. Backwashing will be required less often and when you do it will be more efficient, using less water.
ROBOTIC POOL CLEANERS
No more clicking noise from your suction cleaner interrupting a relaxing time by the pool. A robotic cleaner is easy-to-use, runs independently from your pool system.
It runs silently and intelligently, adapting to your pool. Simply plug it into power, drop it into your pool & turn it on.
One will cover the entire pool and filter the water as it goes to leave your pool clean and clear, much faster than other cleaners.
MINERAL SWIM SYSTEM
Using 100% natural minerals to produce low levels of chlorine combined with an Ozone water purification system that almost instantly neutralises bacteria, algae, and other organic material.
This system provides the safest, clearest, and healthiest, low chlorine swimming water available. The minerals soothe and hydrate the skin, relax muscles and clear the water, while Ozone provides one of the most effective sanitising agents available.
POOL COVERS & ROLLERS
Pool covers are the best way to reduce dirt and debris getting into the pool, minimising your cleaning time.
They will save you hundreds of dollars in excess water bills by preventing evaporation.
They're also great at retaining heat to extend the swimming season.
Benefits of Pool Covers in Melbourne
Pool covers are the best way to reduce dirt and debris getting into the pool as well as saving you hundreds of dollars in excess water bills by preventing evaporation. They're also great at retaining heat to extend the swimming season.
Pool covers are becoming more and more popular as they're the best way to reduce dirt and debris getting into the pool as well as saving you hundreds of dollars in excess water bills by preventing evaporation. They're also great at retaining heat to extend the swimming season.
Evaporation reduction is the main benefit of installing a pool cover as an average 8 x 4m uncovered Melbourne pool will lose almost 45,000 litres of water each year and up to 80,000 litres of water each year if it’s heated all year round.
The 4 main factors that affect evaporation rates from domestic outdoor pools are:
Pool surface area
The bigger the pool, the more surface area, therefore, a greater evaporation volume.
The temperature of the water and air
The highest evaporation rates occur when the differences between water and air temperatures are the greatest. Surprisingly this may not be in the middle of a hot day when the pool is in use as at this point in time, the water and air temperatures may be quite close. Whereas, later at night, the pool water may remain warm, but the air temperature has fallen substantially which means a greater temperature difference between the air and water and therefore greater evaporation.
Humidity
As is typical in most parts of Victoria we have relatively low humidity. The drier the air is, the greater the evaporation rate. In very humid conditions less evaporation occurs.
Wind
The other significant factor for home pool evaporation is wind. A gentle breeze of just 11 kilometres per hour can more than double the evaporation rate by removing the insulating layer of warm, moist air directly above the pool surface.
Here are 4 reasons why you need a pool cover:
Saves water
While evaporation rates vary greatly depending on a range of factors including volume of water and location, an average 8 x 4m uncovered Victorian pool will lose almost 45,000 litres of water each year and up to 80,000 litres of water each year if it’s heated all year round. A pool cover will save you money by reducing your water bill by approx. 45,000 litres / year from having to top up from the tap.
Keeps pool water clean
Pulling the cover over your pool after each use will save you a lot of time cleaning out leaves, dirt and other debris that would be blown into the water if it wasn’t covered. This ensures it’s clean and clear when you’re ready to use it.
Reduces chemical loss
Chemically balancing the water is one of the most costly and time-consuming parts of owning a pool. By installing a pool cover, the need for the chemicals such as chlorine and salt can be reduced by up to 50% by preventing the chemicals from evaporating into the atmosphere and keeping them in the water for longer.
Keeps the heat in = Reduces heating costs
The pool cover acts as a barrier between the cold air and the warmer pool water. A pool cover will increase heat retention by up to 75 per cent, reducing CO² emissions and saving on power normally used to run a heat pump, solar or gas system, as the heat they generate won’t be instantly lost. It also means the system won’t have to work as hard, so you can reduce running times and costs.
So how much water am I losing?
According to the official Bureau of Meteorology long term, historical evaporation rates in Melbourne, measured at the airport over our hottest 6 months October - March is an average of 6.4mm / square meter.
This means the Mean Melbourne Daily Evaporation on a 40,000 litre uncovered pool is approx. 205 litres/day!
The cost of topping up
Depending on your water pressure the average backyard hose (according to the NSW Govt.) is approx. 17 litres per minute. So with this in mind, as an example, an average pool in Summer may take topping up for 10 minutes a day, every second day. This would use: 17 litres x 10 minutes x 15 days = 2,550 litres each month!
Ok... how much will a pool cover save me?
If a pool cover is used diligently it will save up to 95% of your water evaporation saving a 40sq/m pool from losing 53,200 litres each year. That's a lot of money saved on water bills! Also, when it does rain, all that water will still go into the pool, effectively topping it up.
You’ll also notice the reduction in your chemical costs, with lower levels of chlorine and no stabilizer needed (if the cover is always on when not swimming), you can potentially save hundreds of dollars each year on your pool chemical spending as well.