How Often Should Your Pool Be Cleaned in Perth? A Local Guide

If you own a pool in Perth, you already know how quickly things can change. One week the water is sparkling, and the next you are dealing with cloudy water, leaf build-up, or the beginnings of an algae bloom. The question most Perth pool owners ask us is simple: how often should my pool actually be cleaned?

The short answer is that most residential pools in Perth benefit from a professional clean every one to two weeks. But the right frequency for your pool depends on several factors specific to your property and how you use it.

Why Perth Pools Need Regular Attention

Perth enjoys more sunshine hours than almost any other Australian capital city. While that is wonderful for swimming, it also means your pool is exposed to intense UV radiation for extended periods. UV breaks down chlorine faster, which leaves your water vulnerable to algae growth and bacterial contamination.

Our warm climate also extends the swimming season well beyond what other parts of Australia experience. Many Perth families swim from October through to April, and some pools in suburbs like Dalkeith, Nedlands, and City Beach see year-round use. More use means more debris, more sunscreen residue, and faster chemical consumption.

Add to that Perth’s notorious easterly winds that blow dust, sand, and leaf litter into pools, and you can see why a set-and-forget approach simply does not work here.

Weekly vs Fortnightly Cleaning: What Is Right for You?

Weekly Servicing

Weekly pool cleaning is the gold standard and is ideal if any of the following apply to you:

• Your pool is surrounded by trees, especially paperbarks, eucalyptus, or deciduous species common in suburbs like Mount Claremont and Subiaco
• You have a large pool or one with complex features like a spa, water feature, or infinity edge
• Your pool sees heavy use from children, pets, or regular entertaining
• You want the peace of mind that comes with consistently balanced water chemistry

With weekly servicing, your pool technician will skim the surface, vacuum the floor, clean the skimmer and pump baskets, test and adjust water chemistry, and inspect equipment for early signs of wear.

Fortnightly Servicing

Fortnightly cleaning works well for pools that have lower usage, minimal tree coverage, and a reliable automatic cleaner. If your pool is in a newer estate in areas like Scarborough, Joondalup, or South Perth with minimal vegetation nearby, fortnightly visits may be sufficient during the cooler months.

However, we generally recommend switching to weekly servicing during Perth’s peak summer months (December to March) when heat and UV put extra pressure on your water chemistry.

What Happens When You Skip Cleaning

It is tempting to stretch out the time between cleans, especially during winter. But in Perth, even a few weeks of neglect can lead to expensive problems:

• Algae growth: Green algae can take hold in as little as 48 hours when chlorine levels drop. A full green pool recovery is far more costly than regular maintenance.
• Filter damage: A dirty filter works harder, uses more energy, and wears out faster. Sand filters in particular can develop channelling when not regularly backwashed.
• Chemical imbalance: When pH, alkalinity, and stabiliser levels drift out of range, you end up using far more chemicals to correct the problem than you would have spent on prevention.
• Staining: Leaves, especially from native trees, release tannins that stain pool surfaces. The longer they sit, the harder they are to remove.

A Recommended Schedule for Perth Pool Owners

Here is a practical maintenance schedule that works well for the Perth climate:

Every Visit (Weekly or Fortnightly)

• Skim surface and vacuum pool floor
• Empty skimmer and pump baskets
• Test and adjust chlorine, pH, and alkalinity
• Check salt chlorinator output (if applicable)
• Inspect pump and filter pressure

Monthly

• Clean or backwash the filter
• Check stabiliser (cyanuric acid) levels
• Inspect pool cleaner hoses and fittings
• Test calcium hardness and total dissolved solids

Quarterly

• Full equipment inspection
• Check for leaks around pump and plumbing
• Inspect pool surface for early signs of wear
• Review chemical usage and adjust dosing

Annually

• Professional filter service (sand change or cartridge replacement)
• Salt chlorinator cell inspection and cleaning
• Pool surface and tile clean
• Safety compliance check (fencing, gate, CPR signage)

How Professional Servicing Saves You Money

Many pool owners try to handle maintenance themselves, and while basic tasks like skimming leaves are straightforward, consistent water chemistry management requires experience and proper testing equipment. A professional service catches small issues before they become big problems.

For example, a slightly blocked impeller might reduce your pump’s efficiency by 30 per cent. You might not notice the difference visually, but your energy bill will reflect it, and your filter will age faster. A trained technician picks up on these things during a routine visit.

Our regular servicing clients typically spend significantly less on chemicals, equipment repairs, and emergency call-outs compared to those who manage their pools independently or use ad-hoc services.

Getting Started with Regular Pool Servicing

If your pool has not been professionally serviced recently, we recommend starting with a one-off comprehensive clean and chemical balance. This gives us a baseline to work from and ensures your equipment is functioning correctly before we set up a regular schedule.

From there, we will tailor a servicing plan to your pool’s specific needs, taking into account its size, surroundings, usage patterns, and equipment.

Pool Cleaning Perth provides reliable weekly and fortnightly pool servicing across the Perth metropolitan area, from Joondalup down to Rockingham and everywhere in between. If you are unsure how often your pool needs attention, get in touch with our team for a free assessment. Call us on 08 7943 6637 or request a quote online to keep your pool clean, safe, and swim-ready all year round.