THE swimming season may be over, but if you don't want to find yourself diving into a manky mess next spring, now is the time to put in a bit of work.
Swimart Australasian manager Chris Fitzmaurice said it was important to make sure everything was looking good and operating well before your pool went into hibernation.
He said the first step was to balance the water to ensure its pH level was 7.2-7.6.
"If the level is not correct, add the appropriate treatment to bring the pool to the correct level," Mr Fitzmaurice said.
The next step is to clean the pool.
"It's important to brush the walls and floor of the pool and then to vacuum the whole pool thoroughly," he said.
"Algae thrives in unclean water, so don't forget to clean the skimmer baskets and the pump's lint basket of debris.
"Use a pool cover or blanket to prevent water loss and stop debris from entering the pool.
"Ensure that the pool's filter is sparkling clean, as any grease or oil deposits will harden over winter and make the filter harder to clean in the warmer months, not to mention reducing its overall efficiency.
"It's recommended to use a regular shock treatment throughout winter."
Mr Fitzmaurice said it was important to use an algicide and to check the levels of chlorine in the pool throughout the winter.
"The pool's filter should [also] operate for four to six hours each day," he said.
"Once you've completed your preparation for winter, it's imperative that you stick to a maintenance schedule, even though it's cold and the pool may not be used."
■ More information: swimart.com.au.
