Operating Hours: Mon-Fri: 07:30am - 04:30pm Sat: 07:30am - 04:00pm Sun: 09:00am - 02:00pm (Hurstbridge only)
Public holidays - Please call the yard to confirm if we are open
Public holidays - Please call the yard to confirm if we are open
Summer arrives quickly, and nothing gets more use than the backyard pool. Between family swims, hot days, and Christmas holidays, pool water can turn cloudy or unbalanced faster than most people expect. The good news is that with the right routine and the right chemicals on hand, you can keep everything clear, safe, and ready for daily use.
At Hurstbridge Garden Supplies, the Hurstbridge depot stocks a full range of pool chemicals and offer free pool water testing seven days a week. If you’re unsure what your pool needs, bring in a water sample and our team can guide you through it.
Start the season with a proper water test
The very first step for summer pool care is knowing exactly what is happening in your pool water. After months of cooler weather, heavy rain, and low chlorine use, your pool chemistry will rarely be balanced. A water test checks the key levels, such as chlorine, pH, alkalinity, stabiliser, and calcium hardness.
You can use a home test kit for a quick check, but a professional test gives you a complete snapshot. HGS offers free in store pool water testing, which means you get accurate numbers and a clear shopping list of what to add, in the right order. This saves money, time, and prevents the frustrating cycle of adding the wrong product.
Chlorine is the main barrier against algae, bacteria, and murky water. During summer, sunlight and heat burn through chlorine fast, especially in outdoor pools.
A simple habit is to check chlorine every 2 to 3 days. If your pool is heavily used or you’ve had a hot spell above 30 degrees, test more often. If your chlorine keeps disappearing, ask the HGS team to check your stabiliser levels. Stabiliser helps your chlorine last longer, particularly on bright, hot days.
We stock fast dissolving granules, tablets, liquid chlorine, and shock treatments. If you ever walk out with the wrong one, which happens often at big chains, chlorine adjustments become harder. Our team can match the right type for your setup and usage.
pH is one of the most overlooked parts of pool maintenance, but it affects chlorine strength, swimmer comfort, and equipment lifespan. Ideal pH is usually between 7.2 and 7.6.
In summer, sunscreen, body oils, rainfall, and heavy use can push pH out of range. When pH rises too high, chlorine becomes weaker. When it drops too low, swimmers feel the difference in their eyes and skin.
Keeping a bottle of pH increaser and pH reducer on hand makes mid week adjustments easy. If you’re not sure which way your pool needs to go, bring a water sample to HGS and we’ll test it for you. Once the pH and alkalinity sit within normal range, everything else in your pool stays more stable.
A shock treatment is a stronger dose of chlorine used to reset the water after heavy use. Long weekends, Christmas gatherings, or big storm events often push pools out of balance. When that happens, algae can take hold quickly. Cloudy water, a slight smell, or a green tint are all early signs.
Shocking the pool once every two to four weeks in summer keeps the water clear. If you’ve had storms, lots of kids swimming, or you notice dull water, give it a shock. HGS stocks several types, including rapid shock and stabilised versions, and our staff can guide you to the right one.
Your filter works harder in the warmer months. Fine particles, sunscreen, pollen, dust, and general debris all increase. Whether you have a cartridge filter or a sand filter, summer is the season to clean it more regularly.
Cartridge filters usually need a rinse once a week, and a deeper clean with cartridge cleaner every few weeks. For sand filters, backwash and rinse whenever the pressure gauge rises, usually once or twice a week during high use. A clean filter helps all your chemicals work better and keeps water sparkling.
Still water is the quickest way to grow algae. Running your pump long enough each day ensures circulation and helps disperse chemicals evenly.
Most pools need 6 to 8 hours of pump time in summer. If the weather is hot or the pool is busy, increase the run time. Simple timers help automate this so you don’t have to think about it.
Check that your pool returns are angled to push water around the pool instead of straight toward the surface. Small adjustments like this improve circulation and prevent dead spots where algae can start.
Leaves, insects, grass, and dust all add to the chemical load in your pool. The more debris, the harder your chlorine works. Skim the surface daily if you can, especially on windy days. Vacuuming the floor each week helps keep sediment under control.
This is another spot where filters matter. If the filter is clean, vacuuming becomes much more effective and you use fewer chemicals over time.
Covers reduce chlorine burn off, keep out debris, slow down evaporation, and help warm the water. During Melbourne’s heat waves, a cover can cut your chlorine use significantly. Even using a cover for a few hours a day makes a noticeable difference.
If your cover is damaged or hard to handle, replacing it can be one of the easiest long term improvements to pool care.
Whether you’re starting up the pool for the first hot week or maintaining it through the peak of summer, our team at Hurstbridge can guide you through what your water needs. We offer free testing, friendly advice, and quality pool chemicals all year round.
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