Every Pool Owner Needs Certain Accessories

Swimming pools are one of the best investments you can make. It has many purposes, such as giving you a chance to cool off on hot summer days and allowing you to engage in efficient low-impact exercises. However, while pools are a fun investment, they require a lot of work. You have to be consistent with your upkeep, or your pool may experience serious complications.

Caring for and maintaining your pool is not hard, but it does take some work. There are many things you must stay on top of to ensure that your pool functions well. After all, they are not cheap, so it makes sense to invest time and effort into keeping it in top shape.

In order to do that, there are certain pool accessories that you should keep on standby for whenever you need them. Regardless of if you are a new pool owner or have had one for years, these pool accessories will allow you to fix, clean, or care for your pool whenever you need to.

Nothing is worse than running into an issue, then realizing you do not have the equipment when you need it. As expert pool builders, Mid City Custom Pools understands the importance of having the necessary equipment on hand. Today, we are going to be discussing the essential pool accessories all pool owners should have on standby.

1. ) Skimmer

Even if you do own a pool cover, unwanted debris can still easily find its way into your pool. Water runoff and weather can carry dirt, grime, and other substances into your pool that can cause real damage. A skimmer is one of the best pool accessories to help clear this debris.

A skimmer has a flat net attached to a long pole that helps you reach across your pool without having to get into it. Some poles give you the option to connect interchangeable heads, such as a net or a brush.  A skimmer is one of the first things you should buy for your swimming pool.

2.) Test Strips

Your pool’s chemistry is vital to not only ensuring it functions properly but also to keep all swimmers safe. These chemicals exist to fight off dangerous substances, such as bacteria, that pose a threat to both your pool and swimmers. As more swimmers and substances enter your swimming pool, the more chemicals need to work.

By having testing strips on hand, you can quickly and easily test your pool’s chemistry levels. These strips will let you know what chemicals you need to replace. Just put the strip into your water and compare the colors on the strip with the colors on the chart to figure out what chemicals you need to replace.

These strips test:

• pH
• Alkalinity
• Chlorine
• Calcium hardness
• Bromine
• And more

Test your water at least once a week or after a storm. Also, if you have a pool party with swimmers coming in and out of your pool, test the waters.

3.) Water Balancing Chemicals

While having testing strips is essential, so too is having the necessary chemicals on hand. After all, what good are testing strips if you can’t balance the chemical levels? Once you have your results from a test kit, you are going to need to level out the chemicals to ensure the water is safe for swimmers.

Keep some increasers or decreasers (for pH, alkalinity, calcium, etc.) so that you are ready to balance your swimming pools levels. To go a step further, you can even have some algaecide on hand to help prevent the growth of algae.

Additionally, keeping some pool shock nearby for whenever you need it is always a good idea. While the chlorine in your pool will kill most of the bacteria, pool shock will supercharge this chlorine, killing any remaining bacteria. Shock your pool regularly, roughly once a month.

4.) Pool Brush

Depending on the kind of skimmer you own, you might have to buy a separate pool brush. There are several extendable poles that allow you to change the attachments on the head. If you cannot switch the skimmer net for a brush, you will need to find a separate one.

While a skimmer and the chemistry will clean much of your pool, there are often stains and algae that you will need to scrub. Different pools require different brushes. If you have a concrete, gunite, vinyl, or plaster pool, make sure you have an appropriate brush to ensure you do not cause more harm than good.

5.) Pool Cover

While a pool cover is not essential, it is an excellent investment for every pool owner. After all, pool covers protect a pool from debris carrying in due to water runoff or weather. Plus, they also keep your pool safe during the winter months by preventing the water from freezing.

Not only that, but pool covers also reduce algae growth, prevent water loss, and prevent accidents, such as drowning. They are always a good investment for all pool owners.

6.) Safety Essentials

Swimmer safety should be a priority at every pool, regardless of if it is private or public. Drowning accidents occur at an alarming rate across the country. The American Red Cross states that drowning is the number one cause of death of young children in the United States. Make safety a priority at your pool.

While every child should have proper supervision, there are other ways to keep them safe. Keep multiple lifejackets nearby for all young children and for poor swimmers to use. You can also keep a rope and float line or a ring buoy to help those who are drowning.

Accidents can happen outside of the pool, as well. After all, water splashes out of the pool and onto the deck, which can lead to slips. Keep a first aid kit close to your pool for emergencies. If possible, build a fence around your pool to prevent any accidental falls.

7.) Vacuum

While not necessary, pool vacuums can help you keep your pool as clean as possible. Whether manual or automatic, pool vacuums help you clean corners you typically couldn’t. For those that do not like to vacuum their pool manually, a robotic or automatic vacuum will clean your pool while you are sleeping, at work, or doing other chores.

8.) Pool Floats and Noodles

Pools provide homeowners with an excellent chance to relax and have fun. Invest in some pool floats and noodles to give children something to play with to give you something to relax on while you swim. While these are not essential, what fun would having a pool be without some pool toys?

Being a pool owner is exciting, but it is also a lot of work. After all, a lot of things must be maintained to ensure it is safe for everyone to enjoy. Regardless of if you are a new pool owner or have had one for years, there are several pool accessories you should have.

If you are not a pool owner but want to be one, give Mid City Custom Pools a call today and let our expert pool builders get started on your dream pool.