If you are the lucky owner of a pool, here are 10 maintenance tips to keep your pool clean, inviting, refreshing and ready to use every day.

The solution is to devote a little time and attention. This will prevent you from making mistakes that can cost you much larger amounts of money. Regular maintenance of the pool can also prevent frustration and minimize the need to make emergency trips to the DIY store or Pool Stockist for chemicals and other additives for your pool.

1. Check the chemical balance of the pool two to three times per week during the summer and in the winter time per once per week.

2. Clean the skimmer baskets at least weekly.

3. Clean hair and lint collected in the pump strainer basket every two weeks or as needed. Remember to turn off the pump to do this.

4. Check the water level at least once a month, making the necessary adjustments, in the summer a pool with no cover can lose as much as 2.5cm (about 1 tile) every week, and more if it is windy.

5. Clean the filter. This may be necessary after heavy storms or monthly, depending on the condition of your pool. When you are dealing with your pool indicators of a dirty filter are;

• if the injectors (jets) are pushing out less water than usual
• if the vacuum does not pick up dirt well
• water is less crystalline.

These are signs that you need to clean the filter

6. Clean water line weekly. This will reduce the accumulation of debris and avoid the use of more abrasive product. Leaves and pollen can make a scum line round the water level and the longer it stays, the harder it will be to remove. You can use a simple kitchen pan scrubber for this but no checmicals or cleaners.

7. If you have a salt water electrode for your chlorine production, check and clean the anodes in the unit every 30 days and according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and make sure the level of salt in the water is correct.

8. Keep chemicals stored away from direct sunlight and keep in a cool, dry place. Make sure all containers are well sealed.

9. Keep vegetation, animals and chemicals (such as fertilizer) at a considerable distance from the pool. The residue nitrate in birds, animals and people will encourage the growth of algae.

10. The temperature has a very dramatic effect on your swimming pool. The extreme summer temperatures may mean that you have to pay more attention to the chemical composition of the pool water, and increase the chlorine dosing to ensure your pool stays clear.