Keeping the pool looking good in winter

Is your pool as safe as it could be? Anyone who has a swimming pool in their garden should take measures to ensure that it remains fully secure when it is not in use, just in case a much-loved pet wanders into it accidentally. Likewise, people with children coming to stay or who are just starting out on family life ought to ensure their pool is kept up to date with the latest child safety products.

Place a Barrier Around the Pool You Can See Past

One of the simplest ways of keeping access to your outdoor pool controlled is to fence it off in some way. Outdoor fencing can be something of an eyesore, however, because it so often creates a visual barrier as well as a physical one. Timber fencing, for example, frequently boxes off a pool from the rest of the garden. Instead, opt for a system like aluminium fencing which allows you to see through it without casting shade over planting and lawned areas. Metal fence barriers won't preventing you from keeping an eye on children when they are using the pool to swim in, even if you are far away.

Install an Audio Pool Alarm

Battery-powered swimming pool alarms are more commonplace now and becoming relatively inexpensive, too. To install one, all you need to do is fit it to one side of the pool where it will monitor motion over the water's surface. In the past, many audio pool alarms tended to go off far too regularly due to things as small as leaves falling onto the water. This led to annoying false alarms, but modern alarm systems can be set to detect just the right amount of movement in front of them and will only sound if a child or animal falls into the pool. Some devices won't simply sound but can alert you within the home via a wireless link. This feature can be very helpful if you have a large garden.

Fit an Escape Ramp

Primarily designed for dogs and cats, escape ramps are perfect for other sorts of animals, too. These devices can be easily left in place when the pool is not in use and removed when you want to swim in it. They sit over the edge of the pool and are slightly submerged at one end, allowing little paws to gain purchase in order for animals to haul their way out of a pool they might otherwise get trapped in. If you have a problem with frogs in your pool, fitting an escape ramp can be a good way of getting them out.