A swimming pool is a luxury many homeowners enjoy, especially in warmer climates. A detailed care plan ensures a pool is always ready to enjoy, and having the right pool supplies on hand makes the job easier. The following guide covers a few essentials that every pool owner should have to cover basic maintenance and extend their pool’s lifespan.

What Items Should Every Pool Owner Have On Hand?

1. Poles, Scrubbers & Brushes

An arsenal of brushes and scrubbers ensures you tackle stains fast and keep debris out of the water. Start with a telescoping pole skimmer to pick up leaves and sticks from the surface manually or run an auto-skimmer during the day to clean the liner. Purchasing an algae brush lets you scrub unsightly green buildup from the liner and easily clean stains from the waterline with an all-purpose cleaner. Choosing a pool-specific product from a pool supplies store ensures it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals that damage the liner.

2. Water Test Strips & Treatment Products

A careful balance of pool chemicals helps you monitor the pool’s chlorine levels. Generally, total chlorine should read between one and four ppm, and free chlorine, which measures the quantity of chlorine sanitizing your pool, should be between one and four ppm. Measuring the pH levels, which should be between 7.2–7.6, and the alkalinity, which should be between 80–150 ppm, ensures the water is safe for swimming.

Test your levels at least twice a week, and have plenty of shocking agent on hand as well. These chemicals eliminate waste and bacteria, so the water remains crystal clear and safe to swim in.

3. Safety Supplies

There are a variety of supplies to keep your pool safe for yourself and your family members. Have plenty of life jackets available, and make sure the sizes are appropriate for children and adults, so they're effective. Life hooks and buoy life rings help get family members out of the pool if they need assistance.

You can also stretch a safety net across the pool when you aren't using it to keep children and pets from accidentally falling in. Consider an infrared water sensor as well. These detect when an object, such as a child or family pet, of 15 pounds or greater falls in and will sound an alarm. There's no replacement for having an adult watching swimmers, but they will alert you if someone falls in while you're inside the house.

It's simple to keep your swimming pool clean when your supplies are at the ready, and Jasper’s Pool Supply, in Gilbert, AZ, stocks everything you need. Their knowledgeable staff will guide you through various pool care products and maintenance strategies. This family-owned and -operated store also offers residential pool cleaning and parts repair. Call (480) 363-3824 to speak with a sales associate, or visit the website to browse pool supplies.