BUNNINGS October 2019

34
Plan it
Tip:
You can have your
pool or spa water checked
in store. Go to bunnings.
com.au/pool-watertesting
for more
information
Consider adding a professionally
fitted pool cover, which can
prevent as much as 97 per
cent of evaporation and warm
the water by up to 8°C
Shopping
AquaChek 4 in 1 chlorine
pool test strips, $19/pack
of 50, I/N: 3090393
Baracuda ‘Manta’ automatic
pool cleaner, $365,
I/N: 0013585
Some pools have a cartridge filter, which also
needs to be regularly cleaned by removing the
cartridges and rinsing them thoroughly with a hose.
If you notice a leak under the pool pump, you may
have a melted impeller. “A common issue is people
forget to check their skimmer and pump baskets
for debris,” says Dave Daft, technical manager at
Baracuda. “This starves the pump and the mechanical
seal will get hot, eventually melting the impeller.”
Salt of the earth
If you have a saltwater chlorinator you will need
to check your salt level, which is a cinch using test
strips such as AquaChek ‘SaltChek’. If the salt level
is too low, you will need to add pool salt so the
chlorinator works correctly. Inspect the salt cell
in your chlorinator, and if there are white calcium
deposits on the electrode, you will need to clean it.
It’s a stick-up
There’s no need to drain a tiled pool if a tile has come
loose. Clean the tile carefully and apply Selleys Marine
Flex, then push it into place. “The unique formulation
of Marine Flex means it will cure underwater,” says
David Reece, development team leader at Selleys.
On the fence
Pool fencing requirements demand that homeowners
maintain the integrity – and safety – of their pool
fence and gate. Ensure fasteners are in good order
Baracuda ‘Captura Plus’
robotic pool cleaner, $1,199,
I/N: 0132084
and tighten any
loose screws. Check
that all gates
self-close and latch
securely; lubricate
hinges and latches
if necessary.
Damaged fence
panels need to be
fixed as a priority;
the best way to
repair damage to
an aluminium fence
is to replace the
whole panel. “It’s a good idea to also replace the
panel brackets, then check that the gap under the
new panel does not exceed 100mm,” says Stefan
Ossenberg, product compliance manager at
Protector Aluminium. Regularly check that your pool
barriers are still compliant with local regulations.
Hands free
Falling leaves are the bane of pool owners, but an
automatic pool cleaner can help keep the pool pristine.
A robotic model takes this tech to the next level; the
Baracuda ‘Captura Plus’ is self-contained and doesn’t
need to be connected to the vacuum hose. “The best
thing about the ‘Captura Plus’ is its versatility,” says
Dave. “It’s a great little cleaner that can pick up debris
of many shapes and sizes in just about any pool.” ◆
Hy-Clor ‘Super Shock’ granular
pool chlorine, $63/10kg,
I/N: 3090195
Hy-Clor pool leaf scoop,
$22, I/N: 3090176
Selleys ‘Marine Flex’
adhesive sealant in White,
$19.48/410g, I/N: 1230183
Protector Aluminium Ulti-M8
‘Flat Top’ 2450mm x 1200mm
fence panel in Black,
$94.50, I/N: 1142568
Some products are not
available at all Bunnings
stores, but may be ordered.
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