How to save money on the running of your pool
With the cost of living rising so dramatically, we’re all looking at ways we can save money. As a pool owner, there are many ways you can save money on the running of your pool.
1. Keep your chemicals balanced
Maintaining proper chemical balance in your pool can mean that you avoid major algae problems, which in the long run can be a very expensive situation to fix.
You should regularly check your pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, total dissolved solids, and residual chlorine levels in your pool water, to ensure that your pool is properly balanced.
You’ll find the recommended chemical levels in the table to the right:
2. Buy Pool Chemicals in Bulk
As with many things, pool chemicals can work out much cheaper when bought in bulk. Even if the upfront cost is fairly high, the cost per kilo of these chemicals will be a significantly lower. And bear in mind – what you don’t use this year can always be used next year.
| Salt | 2500 – 4000 |
| Stabiliser | depends on chlorine demand |
| Free Chlorine | 2.0-4.0ppm |
| Combined Chlorine | <0.2ppm |
| Total Chlorine | TC=FC+CC |
| Total Bromine | 4.0-6.0 |
| Ph | 7.2 – 7.8 ph |
| Total Alkalinity | 80-120ppm |
| Calcium Hardness | 150-400ppm |
| Total dissolved solids | <2000ppm |
| Phosphate | as little as possible |
| Heavy metals | as little as possible |
Pro tip: Pool stores often run spring start-up specials, so if you can buy early, you may end up saving even more.
3. Turn off water features when you’re not using the pool
Features like fountains and waterfalls use a LOT of energy and can have a cooling effect on the water. As pretty as they are, and as nice a sound they may make, turning them off when the pool is not in use will help save energy and reduce water consumption.
4. Cover your pool!
I think we all knew this point was coming, but we can’t overstate the impact of covering your pool on energy and money saving!
Saving energy
Pool heaters are a costly, albeit efficient method of heating your pool. Solar pool covers can reduce the need for heaters by utilising solar energy to heat your pool.
Pool covers also help to control heat transfer, managing the pool temperature and keeping the pool at the desired temperature.
The process of evaporation also uses a significant amount of energy. For example, it would take 583 kCal to evaporate 1kg of water at 26°C equating to 12.7 million kCals for your average swimming pool over the season. This is a staggering 14750 kWhs, enough energy to power your TV 475 hours or 5 hours a day for 95 days.
Preserving water resource
During a pool season in the UK the average uncovered pool will lose approximately 21,780 litres* of water to evaporation – equivalent to 270 baths, or over 87 thousand cups of tea. (* Based on an 8x4m pool in the pool season in the UK.) Pool covers provide a barrier over the pool eliminating up to 98% of evaporation and preserving this vital resource.
Reducing chemical usage
Covering your pool will significantly reduce the rate at which the chlorine is depleted from your pool, thus reducing your chemical dependency and costs. It is therefore important to adjust your automatic dosing system accordingly when installing a pool cover, as your water can quickly become over-chlorinated and can cause damage to your cover if left unchecked.
Why GeoBubble™?
GeoBubble™ technology is an innovative, patented swimming pool bubble cover material.
Using a bubble profile scientifically designed to increase the expected lifespan of the swimming pool bubble cover by 25%, a GeoBubble™ pool cover can help you save water, energy and chemicals when running your pool.
What makes GeoBubble™ materials unique?
- Unique patented design of two bubbles joined together by a structural waistline centre section
- No sharp corners that could result in thin or weak points in the design
- No stress points due to the bubble’s smooth interconnected curves
- 50% thicker than a traditional swimming pool bubble cover material at its thinnest point
- Increased resilience against UV rays and chemical attack
For further savings for your particular needs, take a look at our high-performance Guard materials.
High Performance product range
Our high performance 500 microns Guard materials are scientifically designed to yield maximum savings in respect of heating or cooling and chemical consumption when covering a swimming pool.
Top tips to remember:
Always remove your cover when shock dosing the pool.
Use a heat reflective storage sheet when the cover is off the pool.
A well-balanced pool saves time and money.
Select the cover that meet your needs.
Most importantly – when it’s covered, you’re making savings! Remember to keep the pool covered when not in use.
Our Guard materials have a 8 year+ expected lifespan on a correctly balanced pool*, with a 8 years pro rata manufacturer’s warranty. The Guard products are formulated with a unique additive package to ensure this lifespan is met. Based on in-field research in collaboration with two British universities, a Guard pool cover will have paid for itself in only one year, given the savings achieved on the pool’s maintenance costs / overheads.
