As the weather begins to warm up, you’re probably starting to visualise all the fun you’ll be having in your outdoor pool this summer! But before you take a dip, there are some essential things to take care of first. In this blog, we look at how you can prepare your outdoor swimming pool for spring and summer.
1. Tidy up around your pool
A pool cover is designed to keep debris out of the water and prevent algae growth, but it will accumulate dirt and leaves in the autumn and winter months. To prevent these from entering your pool water when you remove the cover, brush off all debris with a stiff brush or broom, or use a leaf blower if you have one.
Once the cover has been removed, make sure you store it in a cool and dry place. This will help to prevent any excess moisture from building up.
2. Refill the pool
It’s common for water levels to drop over winter, so next, you’ll want to refill the pool to its normal level using a hose. Once you’ve done this, it’s time to give the pool itself a good clean. The walls, steps, ladders, pumps and filters are where most of the grime will build up, so use a brush or suitable pool cleaner to get rid of any debris that has accumulated.
3. Reconnect all equipment
Before turning the equipment back on, you’ll need to make sure it’s properly connected. This includes removing any winterising plugs and checking all seals for water-tightness before plumbing them back in. Once you have primed your pump and turned on the air relief valve in your filter to release the trapped air, you can switch the entire system back on and flush it through.
Don’t expect the water to be crystal clear at this stage; you can keep the filter running until the water has gone back to its normal colour.
4. Treat the water
The next thing you need to do is treat the water in your pool. This will help remove any metals that have built up during winter, as well as any algae which may have accumulated.
You should test for total alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness, as well as check the chlorine level, before and after treating the water to ensure the balance is correct. If the levels aren’t right, you will need to adjust the acid or alkaline treatment before adjusting the pH balance. You should wait 4 hours between each treatment and then a further 24 hours before treating your pool for calcium hardness.
Shocking the pool is the next step, which means treating the water with a high level of chlorine to kill any bacteria, chloramines and algae. We advise leaving the shocking solution overnight for the best results, as this will give it time to filter through the system.
5. Keep up with swimming pool maintenance all year round
It’s important to keep up with pool maintenance throughout the year, especially in the build-up towards the spring and summer months. Make sure that you check the water pH and chlorine levels regularly so that you can troubleshoot any potential problems before they become more serious. Once your levels have stabilised, you can start using your pool again. At Cheshire Swimming Pools & Spas we also offer swimming pool maintenance and servicing to help you cover these steps, if you would like your swimming pool checked over by one of our swimming pool experts.
Looking for swimming pool installation in Cheshire?
We’re experienced swimming pool designers Cheshire-based, so why not browse through our range of pools today? A pool from our Riviera pool range will be perfect if you’re looking for a centrepiece for your garden, or why not check out our eco-friendly Heatform pools with insulated pool panels? Get in contact with us today to find your dream pool. Call us on 01925 551 945 or alternatively enquire through our email address contact@cspas.co.uk
