Having a swimming pool typically turns your home’s backyard into the hottest destination in the neighborhood. The Austin team wants to help you keep the good times rolling all season by sharing some simple ways you can make sure your pool area is clean and safe.
If your summer plans include spending time with friends and family lounging around your pool, floating on inflatables, and judging your kids’ cannonball splashes, we are thrilled for you. But before you dive into this year’s pool season, Austin wants to share six tips that are sure to help you (and all your guests) maximize the fun times in the sun!
- Prepare the pool.
You and your family may be ready for summer, but can you say the same about your swimming pool? It’s been under cover for many months, so it’s time to find out what’s lurking in there. Doing this before temps get too high may help ward off algae accumulation, but if you do find some murky water and sludge, it’s typically fairly easy to get rid of it. Pool techs recommend opening the main drains, pointing jets down, and running the pump as high as possible until your water is clear. If needed, you can use chemicals to speed up the process of clearing out the gunk. - Stock up on pool supplies.
By this, we don’t mean poolside snacks and refreshments. (Although, we recommend those too!) Instead, we’re talking about all the things you’ll need this summer to maintain a healthy and sparkling pool. Your local swimming pool supply or hardware store should have everything you need, like a water testing kit, chlorine tablets, a skimmer with a pole extender, a stiff bristled brush, and more. Once you have your pool supplies together, go ahead and give your pool a pre–opening day deep cleaning. - Give your pool a thorough once-over.
When you’re cleaning your pool, keep your eyes open for cracks in the tile or tears in the vinyl layer. It’s also important to test all equipment, like heaters and pumps, letting them run for a while to ensure they are in good working condition. Word to the wise, don’t wait until you have the whole gang over for a swim party to learn that your pool is out of commission. Find out now if something needs your attention or requires service from a pool professional. - Ensure the security of your pool area.
Assess your pool fence and its locks to make sure they are in tip-top shape and functioning properly and, most importantly, that no one can enter your pool area without your knowledge. You may also want to consider investing in other protective measures, like a visible security camera or a pool gate that requires an access code for entry. There are also devices that attach to your pool wall or floor and emit a loud warning sound if they detect movement in the water. In addition, keeping pool safety equipment, like first aid kits, personal flotation devices, and rescue tubes and hooks, at arm’s length is essential, as is establishing a set of pool safety rules that you share with all family and guests. - Stay alert for common pool hazards.
Kids (and some adults!) have a way of moving from one pool activity to the next without cleaning up. Make sure the pool deck stays free of toys, pool accessories, and other objects that could cause someone to trip and fall. It’s also a good idea to remove left-behind toys from the pool so little ones who aren’t yet swimmers don’t get curious and reach for them. - Schedule time for weekly pool upkeep.
A pool is a lot of fun—and a lot of work! But sticking to a regular weekly cleaning schedule, which may include clearing out the strainer baskets, vacuuming, and checking chemical levels, should make it easier to maintain your pool’s water quality and keep it free from bacteria, algae, and dirt that can make swimmers ill. If everyone in the family chips in, this chore shouldn’t take long at all.
With all the time, care and attention, and, yes, investment you’re going to put toward your backyard pool, Austin wants to make sure that it is appropriately protected against events that could damage it and that you’re properly safeguarded from the liability of a potential pool accident.
We encourage you to contact us so we can review your homeowners policy for critical insurance coverages that may help you pay for repairs to a damaged pool or its parts or for medical and legal bills associated with a bodily injury claim. Based on what we uncover, we may recommend that you add an extra layer of liability coverage with a personal umbrella policy or that you secure a Home Systems Protection endorsement, which may help you cover the cost to repair or replace expensive pool parts that fail due to a sudden and accidental mechanical or electrical breakdown.
Once you are confident you have the right insurance coverages and limits in place, you can really relax and enjoy all that your pool has to offer. The whole Austin team wishes you an amazing summer!
