If you speak to long time swimming pool owners, you’ll often hear that the biggest downside of having a swimming pool is the amount of work it takes to keep it clean and the water chemistry balanced. Why else would there be a job market for pool boys? But there may be a remedy for the work required to maintain a full-sized swimming pool. Is a small pool easier to maintain? Absolutely! Read on to find out how opting for a swim spa rather than a full-sized swimming pool can give you more time to enjoy the water.
Easier Cleaning
Full-sized swimming pools have a huge amount of surface area that regularly needs to be scrubbed down and vacuumed to keep it clean. They also have a much bigger water surface area that needs to be regularly skimmed to remove bugs, leaves and other debris. You’ll still need to perform the same chores with a swim spa, but it’s smaller size means the job will take you a fraction of the time and effort compared to a full-sized swimming pool.
The Water Balancing Act
If you want your water to remain clear, clean and safe you’ll need to ensure your water chemistry is properly balanced – no matter the size of your pool. However, with the smaller volume of water in your swim spa, you’ll use far fewer chemicals and have an easier time keeping the various levels in balance.
Automate Your Chores
Many of the swim spas available on the market these days come complete with self-cleaning technologies. Because of the powerful pumps needed to create a swimming current, the water is passed through the cleaning filters more frequently than in a full-sized pool. Swim spa skimmers are also able to handle higher volumes of water while the pre-filter units increase the efficiency of the filters themselves. To make things even easier you might want to consider a swim spa model with an automated floor vacuum.
Regular Maintenance Is Key
If you want to keep your swim spa clean and safe, having a regular maintenance schedule will go a long way to preventing the need for a time and energy-consuming complete cleaning overhaul. You should always keep an eye on the water levels to make sure it’s being properly fed through the skimmer intake and filter system. On a weekly basis, you should test and balance the water pH and total alkalinity, add chemicals to the floating dispensers, clean out the skimmer unit and clean the control panel. The filters should be flushed and cleaned once a month and a full draining, cleaning, and refilling should be performed every three months.
To learn more about the benefits of becoming a swim spa owner, download a swim spa buyer’s guide here.