Pool FAQ

The perception that water is clear so it must be okay is all too common. Clean water does not mean safe water. Regular water testing is key. Some tips:

- Take a sample from approx. 300mm (elbow depth) down;

- Take your sample directly to a pool shop, leaving it in the car whilst running other errands will change the water balance and may not show accurate results.

There's no exact explanation for this question. It will depend on the size litres of the pool, how long you are willing to wait, your budget and your preferred energy source, among other factors.

Whether it's a gas heater, an electric heat pump or a solar system, each one has its own pros and cons.

Yes! Even if you have your pool covered, some debris may still get in it during the winter. You can reduce the running time to 4-6 hrs/ day to reduce the power consumption but also provide sufficient circulation to keep your pool water free of algae.

It is easier to keep the pool clean than it is to remediate a pool that has been neglected.

We always recommend a pool cover as it saves energy consumption by half + saves water from evaporation. The longest period of a heat pump operation is the initial heat-up. Heat pumps sometimes need to operate for 50 hrs straight to be able to get the temp from 15 C to 28 C but this depends on the size of the heat pump, if a pool cover fitted, if the sun is out and shining and lastly the volume of the pool.

Overall, a heat pump usually requires between 24-72 hrs to heat a swimming pool by 11 C. With a solar blanket, a correctly sized heat pump and an average pool water volume (42,000L), you should see an average increase of 0.5 C per hour. Keep in mind that the ambient temperature and conditions surrounding each swimming pool are unique so heating times can vary greatly. 

Depending on the models, e.g. the AstralPool heat pumps display the incoming water temperature and the outgoing water temperature. Check the temp difference and if it's a 2 C difference then your heat pump is working at its best. Stand in front of your heat pump fan discharge, the temperature of air from the fan should feel like approx 8 C colder than the ambient temp. Put your hand on the pool return lines and you should feel a difference of around 0.5 C compared to the pool water.

A clarifier is a maintenance product used to restore shine to slightly cloudy water.

Flocculants are an industrial-strength product used to clear very cloudy water often with a milky consistency caused by dust, dirt or dead algae.

The particles created by clarifiers can be removed by the filtration system whereas flocculants need to be vacuumed off the pool floor.

Adjusting total alkalinity helps keep pH in check, so it's best to fix alkalinity levels first. Buffer when added to the water also affects pH, so best to retest after several hours of fixing Alkalinity levels (with the pump running) to see if pH levels need to be readjusted.