Today’s hi-tech self-cleaning pools are revolutionising the swimming pool industry, making owning a pool a lot less time-consuming, with the added bonus of your pool being swim-ready any day any time! So, what exactly is a self-cleaning pool and why are they so popular? Let’s delve into some swimming pool basics and learn everything you need about self-cleaning pool technology.
Why Pool Cleaning Is Important
Ensuring the water in your pool is safe to swim in is perhaps the most important task when owning a pool. If your pool water is unhealthy (contains bacteria, viruses and other pathogens) it can make anyone who swims in it very sick and could also cause serious skin irritation.
Regular pool cleaning is crucial to maintaining a hygienic and healthy pool environment, both for the benefit of your pool and the people who use it. All outdoor pools are exposed to a build-up of debris, such as hair, leaves, twigs and soil which cannot pass through the filters or be eliminated by chemicals. In fact, keeping this larger debris out of the filtration system is conducive to extending the life of your filters.
However, spending hours ridding your pool of larger debris by vacuuming and skimming can be tedious, especially on a hot day when you really just want to jump in and cool down. So, finding the best way to keep your pool clean is essential if you want to get the most out of your pool with maximum enjoyment and minimum effort!
What Is A Self Cleaning Pool?
As the name suggests, a self-cleaning pool is an in-built pool cleaning system that works to automatically to clean your pool so you don’t have to! This self-cleaning technology automatically removes leaves, dirt and other debris from your swimming pool using strategically placed nozzles.
Pop-up nozzles situated around the bottom of the pool are used to circulate the water (and debris) in the desired direction to facilitate the cleaning process while also providing more natural water circulation. The nozzles usually sit flush with the bottom of the pool, only popping up when in use so they don’t intrude on your swimming experience.
How Does A Self Cleaning Pool System Work?
A self-cleaning pool system typically has four main components – the cleaning nozzles/heads, the collection point/debris drain, a water filtering system and the final debris collection canister (which requires emptying/cleaning out regularly).
Similar to the jet-style nozzles in a spa pool, your pool has a series of nozzles installed on its floor. When the self-cleaning system is activated these nozzles spray pressurised water in certain directions to aid natural circulation and move the dirt and debris towards a primary drainage location.
The system uses specific nozzle positioning and timing to direct the debris to the desired collection point. This targeted circulation effectively pushes the water (and debris) towards the collection point where it is suctioned away through a filtering system to remove the debris. After the debris has been filtered off, the water is then recirculated through the pool.
If you think about how natural water sources such as rivers and streams rely on constantly moving water which aids in keeping their water clean and fresh, self-cleaning pool systems work along the same principle – constantly moving the water, reducing stagnation, and in turn hindering bacteria and algae growth, while also reducing the need for excessive chemical sterilisation.
When compared to other pool cleaning systems, a self-cleaning pool offers a superior approach to hygiene as they are able to fully circulate the water in the pool (from bottom to top), meaning all of the water in the pool is able to be refreshed regularly reducing the conditions bacteria and algae thrive in.
How Long Does A Self-Cleaning System Take To Clean Your Pool?
The length of time self-cleaning takes will directly relate to the size of your pool, the number of nozzles, depth of the pool, water capacity, debris levels and location of your pool.
The great thing about self-cleaning systems is that they are able to be set to run automatically meaning your pool will be swim-ready whenever you are! Whether it takes an hour or 5 hours you are able to have the pool clean itself at any time of the day that suits you – for most people this might be early morning or late at night in order to set the pool up for the day’s use.
Are Self-Cleaning Pools Expensive?
How much does a self-cleaning pool cost? Understandably, self-cleaning pools do come at a slightly higher price point. However they can save you time and money on maintenance and running costs over time so weighing up all of your options is important.
For most people, the convenience, time and cost saving benefits of a self-cleaning pool system (especially when installed at the time of building your swimming pool) are well worth it over the longer term.
How Effective Is A Self Cleaning Pool System?
Do self-cleaning pools really work? You might be sceptical, but even common sense tells us the increased water circulation of a self-cleaning pool system naturally ensures a much more thorough clean than with other pool cleaning methods. This improved circulation also results in fewer chemicals needed and better heat distribution, allowing you to save on pool heating costs.
Top 10 Benefits Of A Self-Cleaning Pool
Automating the pool cleaning process is going to save a lot of time and effort, but what are the other advantages of a self-cleaning pool – let’s take a look below.
- Less Chemicals. A self-cleaning pool system aids in naturally sanitising your pool by encouraging the flow of water throughout the entire pool. The additional water circulation in a self-cleaning pool means the chemical is distributed more evenly and is able to be maintained at more consistent levels. This results in as much as a thirty percent reduction in the amount of chemicals needed to sanitise the water.
- Better Resale Value. When looking to buy a house a pool can be discouraging to some people when thinking about the time, cost and energy involved in its upkeep – however self-cleaning pools can minimise these fears allowing the pool to become an asset and add value to the property.
- Cleaner Fresher Water. The more natural water flow created by self-cleaning systems reduces stagnation, meaning all of the water in the pool is refreshed and circulated, much like the natural water flow of streams and rivers.
- Less Maintenance. As your pool cleans itself on a regular basis with very little intervention from you, the water is more consistently kept at optimal levels, meaning less ongoing maintenance is required.
- More Even Temperature Control. Instead of just the top layer benefiting from the sun’s heat or certain areas being warmer from water heating systems, the increased water circulation means more consistent water temperature reducing the likelihood of encountering a cold spot.
- Cost Effective. Due to the more natural circulation of water and benefits of better temperature control, less time commitment, and reduced chemical usage self-cleaning pools are considered a more cost-effective solution over the longer term.
- A Clutter Free Pool Environment. Eliminating the need for additional storage facilities for cumbersome cleaning equipment means less pool storage is required.
- Time Saving! No more time wasted spending hours setting up cleaning equipment and vacuuming the pool – just jump straight in! Stain Prevention
- Stain Reduction. Swimming pool staining is a common problem that results from the build-up of chemical residue, dirt and debris that sits around for too long. The increased circulation in a self-cleaning pool system helps prevent excessive staining, keeping it looking at its best for longer.
- Swim Ready Any Time. As your backyard’s main feature, your pool will be swim-ready whenever you are and will always look great!
Are you ready to get your dream swimming pool installed in your backyard? Is a self-cleaning pool right for you? Get in touch with the swimming pool professionals at Compass Pools Christchurch to discuss the Vantage self-cleaning pool system today!
