The safety of a pool depends on small inspections that should be carried out consistently. A faulty gate latch, a planter leaning on the fence, a spot of murky water, and a damaged cable among others can turn a perfectly safe pool into an unsafe one when no action is taken.

Pool safety inspections include the barrier, the pool area, the water, and the equipment including the robotic pool cleaner. The majority of these inspections can be conducted within minutes and should be done before summer and regularly throughout the year.

Begin with the barrier and the gate

According to Royal Life Saving Australia’s research on child drownings over a period of ten years, there have been 87 drowning cases of children aged 0-4 in swimming pools from July 2015 through June 2025. In all the cases, 91% occurred in private backyard pools. Out of the fenced pools, 71% were fenced but 36% of the pools involved the opening of a gate.

Therefore, fencing can only be effective if it functions every single day. Out of the fenced pools, 21% were not compliant and 16% were not well maintained.

Five-Minute Fence and Gate Safety Check

• Release the gate so that it closes and latches itself automatically each time.
• Don’t ever leave the gate propped up or tied open even for a second.
• Inspect loose hinges, rust, decay, cracks and warped panels.
• Make sure that there are no spaces under or between panels through which a toddler could squeeze.
• Remove any chairs, planters, containers and toys that might help someone to climb the fence.

Take for example a family who have a toddler and who are preparing for summer. When they check their fence, they find that there is a problem with the latch sticking after rain, and a planter has been placed next to the fence. Both issues can be fixed within ten minutes.

Maintain the pool area clean and monitored

Even if barriers reduce the likelihood of incidents, monitoring plays an equally important role. The same research concluded that 78% of the children were not being directly monitored when the incident occurred.

• Keep an arm’s reach away from toddlers in the pool.
• Appoint a particular adult monitor at parties.
• Never leave toddlers in the supervision of older children.
• Take the toys out after swimming to avoid luring toddlers to the pool again.
• Inform visitors right from the start: the gates are locked, there are no glasses around the pool, and no child is ever left alone.
• Clear leaves and moss from the pavers and maintain hoses, leads and all loose objects from pathways.

CPR training is also advisable. One hopes never to put it into practice, but each adult who uses the pool is better off having it.

Animals should be considered too. An animal could wander into the pool through an unlocked gate or fall into the pool without any means of getting out, thus it is important to keep the gate locked and ensure that the pool has steps or ramps for animals.

Don’t forget to check the water as well as the fence

It’s not a good idea to swim if the bottom of the pool isn’t visible through the water. The presence of cloudy or greenish water may obscure someone in danger and usually suggests that there is some problem with the water chemistry and filtration.

Make sure that you always test the water and run the filter as recommended by your professional robotic pool cleaner services in Australia. Make sure that you always store the chemicals safely and use them only when there are no people in the pool.

After storms and heatwaves

Both happen in Australian summers. After a storm, make sure that there is nothing left from the storm in the area and the skimmer or the filter hasn’t been clogged. During heatwaves, the pool is being used much more actively.

The placement of electrical appliances is important.

Water pumps, chlorinators, lights, and power supplies for the cleaner work on mains electricity near the water. The cables should not be placed on moist ground, outlets and plugs should be kept dry and the equipment should be connected to a safety switch (RCD).

According to Dolphin instructions, the power supply for the cleaner should be far away from the pool, usually at 3 to 3.5 meters distance and above the ground. Original power supply, extension cords and sockets without protection by RCD should not be used. You can find more details about your model in the manual.

Electricity work in the pool equipment should be done only by a professional electrician.

The robotic cleaner is a component of the safety inspection process.

The robotic cleaner keeps the surface and water in good condition making the pool easier to control and operate. It has an electric cable and electric supply in the pool thus should be checked.

Review it before each operation

• Scan the cable to check for damage in form of cuts, kinks, exposed wiring, stiff parts.
• Ensure that the plug and all the connections are clean, dry and not corroded.
• Inspect the power source for any signs of cracks, water traces or burns.
• Ensure that the power source is elevated and positioned away from the edge of the swimming pool.
• Ensure that the filter basket, brushes and tracks are properly fitted and not excessively worn out.

Unplug the power source before you conduct any inspection.

Remove it before anyone uses the pool

Always remember to remove the cleaner before letting people get into the water. First turn off the power source and then remove it using the handle and not the cable. Then let the device dry by the pool side.

Next clean and remove the filter and put away the cleaner in a shaded area. Most instructions recommend putting the cleaner away from direct sunlight, rain, and frost.

What happens to an owner who sees that their cleaner cable has developed a tough cracked section? It still functions, but now the cable has become more than just a cosmetic issue. What will the owner do?

Indications it requires professional servicing

• A damaged, cut, or exposed cable.
• Safety switch activation upon cleaning appliance use.
• Hot, buzzing, or water-damaged power source.
• Presence of water in the cleaning appliance.
• Odor of burning.
• Recurring halts or indicator lights.

Opening of the power source or the cleaning machine and repairing a cable through taping are not recommended. The owner’s manual advises that a damaged supply cord should only be serviced by a professional.

Fix it or get a new one?

Robotic pool cleaner repairs that make sense

Parts like cables, brushes, tracks, and filter baskets are normally replaceable. If there are no other problems with the device, repairing it will make sense. Dolphin pool cleaner repair should be considered if the problem is obvious and the cleaner has a lot of time left in it.

If you need only a worn part, you can verify the part you need depending on your best price Dolphin Pool Cleaner. Find the model number on the front of your pool cleaner.

When a newer cleaner should be the choice

A replacement could be a more viable solution when a cleaner is old, spare parts cannot be found easily, or a problem keeps reappearing. A replacement could also be considered when the cost of fixing a cleaner is near the price of a new one.

An experienced technician will offer an objective opinion about it. In case you decide to purchase Dolphin pool cleaner equipment, you will be able to browse current Dolphin models and compare them with your pool’s requirements.

FAQs

How frequently should I review pool safety precautions?

Do the quick checks every week and the comprehensive fence and gate check once a month. Do the whole process before the beginning of summer as well as after a storm, party, or repairs.

Who can verify that my pool fence is compliant?

Contact your local council and/or state pool regulation office. In some places, it may be done only via council inspectors, while in others there are private inspectors available for this task as well.

What should I do if the robot cleaner triggers the safety switch?

Stop using it, disconnect from the power source. Don’t try to reset it in order to check if the problem is solved because it means that there is an issue. The device and power supply need to be checked by a specialist.

Can a robot cleaner substitute supervision and/or the fence?

Absolutely not. It is used only for cleaning purposes.

If the cleaner shows any damage, unplug it and stop using it. You can start by booking a repair or ask for advice on whether replacement makes more sense.