With the advent of fibreglass pools, owning a pool today has become so much simpler. You can easily choose a pool of the desired shape and size, no matter how small or big a backyard you have. Fibreglass pools are some of the best types when it comes to pool maintenance. Maintaining it in a good condition, and cleaning it would also be easy. But coming summers, there is one other problem to worry about – bugs in your pool.
Bugs and crawling insects as well as dead ones floating on the water would be an unsightly experience. They would also make swimming in your pool feel unsafe and uncomfortable. To maintain pool hygiene and to ensure that you and your family can enjoy some relaxing time in the pool, here are some effective pool maintenance tips for summers. These tips are easy and useful for keeping bugs away from your pool, irrespective of its size and positioning.
Insect traps and repellent systems
Several types of insect-repellant systems are available for installation near pools. Many of them come with the ability to attract insects through the light in them and then instantly kill the insects. There are others that come with scents that insects find attractive. Any bug that comes around the pool would be attracted to this scent and it would be trapped and killed in the insect trap.
Chemical treatment as the long-term solution
If you are looking for the most dependable solution for keeping insects away, chemical treatment would be your best choice. This will ensure that your pool water does not allow the blooming of algae. Any existing algae spores in the water would also be eliminated. Besides the garden insects, there are water insects that might turn out to be a problem. Algae growth in the pool could be one of the main causes of water insect infestation in pools. Chlorine and other chemicals are often used in order to keep the pool free from algae and insects.
Identify and eliminate stagnant water
Water stagnant in the surrounding areas might also draw insects to your pool. If there is a garden tap nearby, check for leakages. Even minor drip resulting in small puddles around the tap could be a problem. Ensure that the water sources around the pool and anywhere in your garden area are kept clean without water stagnation.
Proper lighting arrangements
Avoid bright UV lights around the pool. Though they might add to the aesthetics of the pool, they easily attract insects large and small. LED lights do not attract too many bugs and they can also be energy efficient. Minimize the lights around the pool as much as possible, in order to prevent the swarming of insects at night.
Choose the right plants
The plants around your pool area have a major role to play in the kind of insects that crawl around the pool. If you choose to maintain a damp landscape close to the pool, it would be a bad idea. There are some plants that can add to the curb appeal while also keeping the insect population in the area minimum. In fact, some plants like rosemary and mint are known to be effective in warding insects off. These can be grown close to the pool in order to prevent flies and mosquitoes. Also, in the area close to the pool, avoid trees and plants that shed too much. Dead foliage in a warm damp condition can become breeding grounds for insects.
Birdhouse
A birdhouse in your garden would go a long way in providing an ecological insect control solution around your pool. With birds around, you get to relax in your pool with the sweet sound of the birds chirping around knowing that there would be fewer insects polluting the pool water. If there are trees covering the pool you should also choose a good pool cover in combination with the birdhouse installation.
Brushing the pool
Brushing of the pool is to maintain the surfaces clean and free from algae. This is critical even for preventing water insects from infesting the pool. Algal blooms should be avoided at an early stage. Algae can drastically affect the cleanliness of the water and also lead to a cloudy appearance in many cases. All this can also catalyze the growth of insects. You might also start noticing mosquitoes around the pool. The best way to prevent all this would be to effectively brush the pool regularly.
Other things to do
Professional help
If nothing else seems to work you can seek professional pool cleaning and treatment services. They would be able to inspect your pool and come up with the most practical solution to keep insects and pests away from the pool water throughout the year. Professionals would also help in installing pool cleaning solutions that will save your time and effort. They help in addressing the current insect issues and also prevent them from recurring.
Regular cleaning
Cleaning the pool regularly would solve most of the issues. Dirty pools draw bugs and so does algal growth. Make it a point to skim the pool, and regularly remove any debris and floating insects from the pool. In summers when you start using the pool often, make sure that you skim the pool several times a day. There are automatic cleaners, pool skimmers, and other such tools that can simplify pool cleaning for you. Find out how To make your fibreglass pool cleaning easy!
A final word
If you live in an area where the surrounding vegetation brings a lot of insects, then you should work on incorporating a combination of the above methods. Begin with a good chemical treatment for your pool. Install insect traps around the pool. Be wary about the kind of plants you grow around the pool. Clean the pool regularly and use a good pool cover whenever it is not in use. With these simple steps, you can keep insects of all kinds away from your pool all through summer. If you have a large pool, automatic pool cleaners are worthy investments.
