Summer has a habit of arriving quickly in South Africa. One week you're still reaching for a jacket in the morning, and the next everyone wants to know: “Can we swim yet?”
The best time to prepare your swimming pool isn't when the first heatwave arrives. Late winter into early spring, particularly August and September - is the ideal time to start getting your pool summer-ready.
Starting early gives you time to clean the pool, correct the water balance, deal with algae and make sure the filtration system is working properly before warmer temperatures and increased pool use put additional pressure on the water.
And with the right pool-care products, getting from winter pool to sparkling summer pool doesn't need to become a major project.
Start with the basics: clean, circulate and test
Before reaching for the chemicals, give your pool a proper physical clean. Remove leaves and debris, empty the pump and weir baskets, brush the walls and floor, vacuum where necessary and check that the pump and filtration system are operating correctly.
Africhem recommends regular skimming, brushing, filter maintenance and water testing as part of routine pool maintenance. Its summer guidance recommends running filtration for around 12 hours per day, although your particular pool and equipment may require different operating times.
Next, test the water. A pool can look reasonably clear while its chemistry is out of balance.
Make Africhem part of your summer pool routine
Once the water has been tested, you can select the appropriate Africhem products for what your pool actually needs rather than simply adding chemicals and hoping for the best.
Africhem Big 5 Multi Performer Floater
For ongoing sanitising, the Africhem Big 5 Multi Performer Floater provides a convenient option for maintaining your pool. Africhem lists the Big 5 Multi Performer Floater within its chlorine sanitiser range.
A floater can make ongoing summer maintenance much easier, particularly when combined with regular testing, cleaning and proper filtration.
Africhem Granular Chlorine
Sometimes your pool needs more than routine maintenance. Africhem Granular Chlorine is a quick-release sanitiser designed to kill bacteria and algae and assist with water clarity. Africhem offers Granular Chlorine in several pack sizes, making it suitable for different pool sizes and requirements.
Africhem Algaecide
That familiar green colour is one summer visitor nobody wants.
If algae have taken hold during winter, deal with the problem before temperatures climb. Africhem's own pool-care guidance recommends correcting pH and total alkalinity and using products such as Africhem Algaecide/Extra Strength for algae problems, with shock treatment where appropriate.
Africhem Wonder Cube
If the problem is cloudy or milky-looking water rather than a green pool, first check the water balance. Africhem recommends correcting pH and total alkalinity and identifies products including Africhem Wonder Cube or Africhem Clear & Blue as options within its treatment guidance for cloudy water.
Africhem's current range also includes the Wonder Cube Nano, which uses lanthanum chloride crystals intended to help address phosphates that algae feed on.
Your simple “Ready for Summer” pool checklist
Getting the pool ready doesn't have to be complicated:
- Clean — remove leaves and debris, brush the walls and floor and vacuum the pool.
- Check — inspect the pump, filter, weir and pool-cleaning equipment.
- Test — check pH, total alkalinity and chlorine before adding treatment products.
- Balance — correct the water chemistry using the appropriate products.
- Treat — tackle algae, cloudy water or other specific problems rather than simply adding more chlorine.
- Sanitise — establish your regular chlorine programme and use an appropriate floater where suitable.
- Maintain — continue weekly testing, cleaning, filtration and chemical maintenance throughout summer.
Always follow the instructions and dosage on the specific Africhem product you're using, as treatment will depend on pool size, water condition and the product involved.
Why August and September are the smart months to start
Waiting until December to think about your pool means trying to correct problems when temperatures are already high, the pool is being used frequently and everyone wants instant results.
Starting in August or September gives you the opportunity to sort out green or cloudy water, identify equipment problems and establish a good maintenance routine before peak swimming season.
Once the pool is clean and balanced, keeping it that way is considerably easier than rescuing a neglected pool in the middle of summer.
Ready for summer? Shopping4Africa has you covered
Whether you're bringing a pool back to life after winter or simply stocking up for the season, Shopping4Africa offers Africhem pool-care solutions to help keep your pool clean, clear and swim-ready.
From Africhem floaters and granular chlorine to algaecides, balancing chemicals, clarifiers and speciality pool-care products, getting ready for summer starts before the first hot day arrives. Africhem's range spans chlorine sanitisers, pool floaters and pills, algaecides, balancers, clarifiers, speciality chemicals and spa products.
Don't wait for the first heatwave. Get your pool ready now - when summer arrives, all that's left to do is jump in.
