A pool in Dubai works harder than the same pool almost anywhere else. Water evaporates faster, so the chemistry concentrates. Dust settles on the surface after most windy days. And in the months either side of summer, the pool is in use nearly every day.
Weekly, in practice
For most villa pools, a weekly visit is the sensible baseline. In one visit a technician should:
- test and correct the chlorine and pH
- brush the walls and waterline, where algae starts before you can see it
- net the surface and vacuum the floor
- empty the skimmer and pump baskets
- check that the pump and filter pressure look normal
Skip two or three weeks in July and you are usually not looking at a clean-up any more — you are looking at a green pool and a shock treatment.
What changes the frequency
Twice a week is worth considering if any of these apply:
- Heavy use. A pool used by a family every day carries far more sunscreen, hair and skin oils than one used at weekends.
- Trees or planting close by. Leaves and pollen go straight into the skimmer.
- Building work nearby. Fine dust from a site next door will find the water.
- Summer. Warm water grows algae faster, and chlorine burns off quicker in strong sun.
Filtration is not the same as cleaning
Running the pump for longer does not replace a visit. The filter handles what is suspended in the water; it does nothing about what has settled on the floor or grown on the walls. In summer, though, longer run times do help — the water turning over more often is what keeps the chemistry even.
The signs you have left it too long
Cloudy water, a slippery feel on the walls, a strong smell of chlorine — that last one catches people out. A sharp chlorine smell usually means the chlorine is used up, not that there is too much of it.
If your pool is already past that point, it is worth having someone look at it rather than adding more chemicals and hoping. Getting the water back is straightforward; guessing at it rarely is.