How to keep your pool looking mint between valet visits
Summer in Aotearoa is when your pool truly earns its keep. Hot days, BBQs, manu competitions for hours, slip, slop, slapping, wet towels hanging up over the fence, the works.
It’s also the time your water chemistry works the hardest, and tiny problems can turn into big headaches pretty quickly.
Good news? With a few simple habits between valet visits, you can keep your pool looking magic – and know exactly when it’s time to call in the pros.
Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to staying ahead of the summer rush.
Skim, Scoop & Empty the Baskets (Easy Wins!)
These two-minute tasks make a massive difference:
✔ Skim the surface
Leaves, bugs, grass clippings, and the odd pair of googles or a jandal… they’ll all end up in the water. A quick skim every day or two keeps the pool looking clear and stops organic muck from breaking down into the water and causing unsightly stains.
✔ Empty skimmer & pump baskets
If they clog, your pump can lose flow and everything downstream struggles. The rule of thumb is to empty them at least once a week – more often if you’ve got trees surrounding the pool, kids have reported missing objects, or after wild and windy weather.
✔ Allow the Pump to Do Its Job
Your pump is the heartbeat of the pool. In summer, 8–12 hours of circulation is normal. Busy pools or during heat waves may need longer run times.
✔ Don’t touch what you don’t understand!
If you don’t know what a valve does – don’t touch it! Incorrect settings can stop water circulating or could also mean losing water very quickly, resulting in damaged equipment, or cause the pool to ‘turn’ quickly.
✔ Keep an Eye on Water Level
The water level should sit halfway up the skimmer box.
Too low = the pump sucks air.
Too high = the skimmer can’t skim.
Check every few days and after backwashing, a period of heavy use, or during hot, windy weather.
Top it up with the garden hose if you don’t have an auto filler installed.
Sunscreen… Great on Skin, Not So Great for Pools
Sunscreen is absolutely essential, so don’t ever go without it, but it does have a habit of leaving your pool a bit cloudy or creating that slight oily sheen on the surface when lots of people are swimming.
The good news is that cloudy, sunscreen-heavy water is easily fixed by correcting the water balance and letting your valet technician work their magic.
Sun damage to your skin is permanent. So prioritise sunscreen use every time, we can fix the pool, you we can’t reverse the damage to your epidermis!
Your Weekly “DIY Check” (5 Minutes, Max)
Even with a valet technician visiting on a regular basis, these little checks help keep things humming:
- Is the water still clear? (You should be able to see the main drain in the floor clearly)
- Does the pool smell funny? (Strong chlorine smell usually means low chlorine, not high.)
- Any unusual noises from the pump?
- Any wet patches around the plant room?
- Any low-pressure or “no flow” warnings on your chlorinator pump or heat pump?
If anything feels off or if you have an error message appear on some equipment, take a photo and let your valet tech know.
Heatwaves & Storms – What to Expect
Extreme weather throws water balance around a lot, and often quite quick too.
Heatwaves
- Chlorine burns off quicker.
- pH tends to rise.
- Salt cells work much harder.
A valet visit may recommend extra chlorine boost or adjustments.
Storms / heavy rain
- Rain dilutes chemicals.
- Debris adds phosphates and organics.
- Water can go cloudy within 24–48 hours.
If you know a storm is coming, popping your pool cleaner in, or using your pool vacuum after the rain will help collect debris and prevent items from settling on the pool floor to stain, or create an ideal environment for algae to begin feeding.
When It’s a Water Balance Problem (Easy Fix)
If you see:
- cloudy water
- greenish tint
- white “scale” marks appearing
- slippery walls
- strong chlorine smell
- irritated eyes
… it’s almost always water chemistry, not a structural fault.
Your valet technician can sort this quickly with testing, correcting the water balance, or resetting filtration run times, filter media change out or topping up pool salts (if on salt chlorination)
You don’t need to panic – while not convenient, it is often an easy fix.
When to Call in the Specialists (Not as Easy Fix)
Some issues aren’t caused by water chemistry and need attention from a pool builder or a service specialist and may take a little more time to diagnose and repair.
Some examples of when to make that phone call for help:
✔ Sudden water loss
10–12 mm water loss in a day is quite normal, but anything over and above may need checking.
✔ Cracks that look structural
Hairline plaster cracks = normal. Cracks that grow, widen, or appear damp underneath or noticeable drips = call your builder.
✔ Persistent air bubbles returning to the pool
This can be a sign of a suction leak.
✔ No flow – even when baskets are empty
It may be a blocked line, faulty valve, or pump issue.
✔ Pump won’t prime or keeps cutting out
Could be electrical, hydraulic, or mechanical.
If you’re unsure which category your issue falls into, just ring your valet tech. They deal with both water chemistry and early-stage equipment issues every day and can direct you to the right person if it is out of their jurisdiction, or perhaps could also facilitate organising the right team to assist.
So, what is the big secret to trouble-free summer swimming?
CONSISTENCY!
A little bit of simple maintenance at your end + regular valet visits = a pool that stays clear, healthy, and ready to jump into at any moment.
Your pool doesn’t need you to be an expert. Just keep an eye on the basics, and call it in early if something feels a bit off.
Want to know more about The Pool Smith Valet Services?
Summer is for fun with family and friends, not worrying about what your pool is doing! Contact the Pool Smith now for your pool valet services.
