If you’re dreaming about warm days in the swimming pool, you’re not alone. With spring on the horizon, it’s definitely time to start thinking about fun in the water. If you want to enjoy your pool to the fullest this season, follow our sure-fire tips for getting it ready for use.
1. Clean Your Swimming Pool Cover
Winter can be harsh, so it’s likely your pool cover is in need of a little TLC. Begin by brushing dead leaves and twigs off of your cover. If there’s water on the surface, a pump will easily get rid of it. Take the cover off the pool and allow it to dry. It may require a good cleaning before you pack it away for the summer.
2. Inspect Pool for Damage
Give your pool a thorough examination before doing anything else. There’s no better time to look for cracks or other types of damage than before your pool is fully filled. Give the pump, plugs, connections, and skimmer baskets a good once over, too. Be sure to make all necessary repairs before turning on your filtration system.
3. Reconnect All Equipment
Next, you’ll need to reconnect any equipment that you removed last fall, such as the pool filter, pump, heater, and automatic pool cleaner. Now is also a good time to put in the ladders, rails, and other such accessories. Winter plugs will need to be removed and replaced with your regular drain plugs. All hoses that were taken out will also need to be re-attached.
4. Run Filtration System
Before turning on your filtration system, make sure the plumbing lines are free of air. This job requires a certain level of expertise, so we recommend having a professional blow out the lines for you. Once this is done, you can turn on your filtration system.
5. Check Your Water
Once you’ve topped up your water levels, let the water rest for at least eight hours before beginning the testing process. To evaluate the water properly, test strips or a test kit should be used. You need to test the water’s pH levels as well as the total alkalinity and its chlorine and calcium levels. When measuring and mixing chemicals, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Do Some Spring Cleaning
After sitting unused for months, your pool will need a quick clean-up. Brush down the walls and then vacuum the bottom to get rid of any algae or bacteria that grew during the winter. Let your filtration system run overnight to get rid of any excess algae.
7. Shock Your Swimming Pool
You’re finally on the home stretch. Finish off by using two pounds of shock for every 10,000 gallons of water and run the circulation system for a few hours. If you wish, you can also add some algae prevention treatment to the water to prevent re-growth.
Swimming Pool Accessories at Pool Tech
Pool Tech is your one-stop-shop for all things swimming pool. As the top pool supply store in Maryland, Pool Tech offers everything from concrete in-ground pools to swimming pool installations. Drop by our Salisbury showroom to check out the fiberglass pools for sale or to pick up your supplies for the season. Have questions about what you’ll need? Send us a message with any queries you might have — or schedule a service and let us do the work for you.