Summer is here, the sun is out, and the best way to beat the heat is with a dip in a nice and refreshing pool! What we don’t usually think about is that our pools are also suffering from the summer heat and are losing water every minute from evaporation. Summer also brings with it water restrictions which may limit our ability to keep pools topped up.

Remember the saying “There’s more than one way to skin a cat”? Well, there’s more than one way to fill your pool this summer!

This is the most common, and slowest way to fill a pool. This method should only be used to top up pools that already have water in them. As a matter of fact, depending on the state you’re in, you may need a permit for filling up pools with more than 10,000L of water! Not sure restrictions are in place for your state? The best way is to check the SPASA Australia site here.

This is far by the most efficient way of filling your pool. You won’t need to bother with permits (the delivery service will handle all of that for you) and you can even opt to have pre-treated pool water as not to mess up your pool water balance too much! They can also fill your water in a couple of hours (as opposed to the whole day) as these water delivery trucks are equipped with high flow hoses. The downside? Water delivery services can cost a pretty penny since not only are you paying for the water itself, but for the equipment, the permit cost, and of course the service itself!

Now this is one of the fastest ways to fill your pool and it can possibly be one of the cheapest methods ass well. Unless you want a stiff fine or some jail time, it’s best to coordinate this with your local fire department. They will usually install a metered standpipe and you’ll basically pay for the water used. If you’re lucky and it’s timed for when they do their hydrant flushing, you can possibly get your pool water refilled for free! But in many cases, you’ll just be paying for the water used in accordance with your council’s fees and charges.

Water is water, right? Well, not quite. There are actually wrong ways to fill your pool and here are some tips and tricks on how to fill your pool correctly without wasting time, water, and money!

Pretty self-explanatory. Only fill your pool with water that comes from a good source. Filling your pool with cheap, contaminated water can lead to more problems like heavy-metal staining, abnormally high or low pH levels, and other things that can wreak havoc not only on your pool balance but can potentially damage your pool and equipment as well.

Make sure that the pool water level reaches about halfway above the opening of your skimmer opening. This ensures that there’s enough water in the pool for the pump to circulate properly. Don’t worry about overfilling it a little bit as it will go down naturally over time but underfilling will require you to add more water.

SEE ALSO: Does my pool have a leak, or is it just evaporation?

Patience is a virtue! Don’t add any chemical until after you’ve completed filling it. In fact, before adding any chemical, allow your pool to water to circulate for at least 24 hours and then test it to see the exact state of your pool chemical balance before adding any chemicals. This way, you’ll know exactly how much you need to add and you won’t be wasting any pool chemical.

After filling in your pool and balancing the chemicals, shock it to get rid of any contaminant that may have come with the new water. The best way to do this is with the Water TechniX Oxi shock. It oxidises any organic contaminant in the pool, making it safe to use, and as an added bonus, you can swim 15 minutes after application! I mean, who wouldn’t want to jump into a freshly refilled pool right?

Now that the hard part is done, don’t forget to check your pool water regularly! Twice a week with the Water TechniX 7in1 test strips should do the trick. These test strips are extremely easy to use, so easy that they can be used by kids to check your pool’s chemical levels.

The best way to avoid going through the hassle of refilling your pool water is to keep it automatically topped up through the use of a water leveling device! It doesn’t require any permits, doesn’t require any input from your part aside from the initial installation and it keeps your water levels in check to prevent loss of water and chemicals!

Filling up your pool water is pretty straightforward. Simply choose the best way that fits your time and budget and that should be it! For more information on how to keep your pool water topped up during summer, we have a very informational article on how to keep your water levels during Australian Water Restrictions here.

Related articles:

• How to get your swimming pool ready for summer
• Family Pool Games for Summer + Bonus: Cool Drinks for Kids
• Recondition your spa just in time for winter
• Cooler Times are Coming! Time to warm up your Spa!