The swimming season is fast approaching and for the happy owner of a swimming pool that you are, it is now time to put it back into operation. You know full well that running fresh water into your pond doesn’t work. Here are the 10 steps of this famous spring cleaning so that you can do it best.
1 – Start cleaning at the right time
As soon as the outside temperature rises, the water that has remained in the pool during the winter also warms up. This creates a breeding ground for algae and bacteria. As soon as the water temperature reaches between 12 and 15 degrees, you can stop the wintering and put your pool back in water.
2 – Remove the winter cover
If your pool is not covered all year round, but has a winter cover. Take it off. Remove the water accumulated on its surface using a pump. And clean it: avoid storing a dirty and damp cover so as not to have any unpleasant surprises in the fall.
3 – Remove surface dirt
Most of the time, leaves, twigs, insects and other impurities have accumulated on the surface of the water and on the bottom of the pool during the winter. In order to prevent the pool drain from clogging when it starts, you need to remove this debris. The best way to do this is to use a landing net. In addition, you can of course also use special vacuum cleaners or pool robots to clean the bottom of the pool. If the water is dirty with algae, you can add a suitable anti-algae agent in the pool before lowering the water level of the pool and let it act for 24 hours. The mechanical removal of the algae is then much easier, or even no longer necessary.
4 – Remove dirt thoroughly
Since organic residues often settle in the corners of the pool, it is advisable to put the filter system in circulation for a few minutes. Take care that the accumulation of dirt does not clog the pool filter.
5 – Drain the pool water
Once all the impurities have been removed, adjust the water level. Be careful not to flood your property. In the case of pools with a liner, carefully monitor the water level of the pool to avoid creases in the liner. Quickly refill the basin once you have drained it.
6 – Clean the bottom of the pool
Take advantage of having emptied part of the pool to carefully clean its floor with a sponge, a brush, or even a high-pressure cleaner or garden hose. This eliminates limescale deposits but also algae. If you use a pressure washer, be very careful not to damage your pond. If in doubt, check with specialist stores. Their staff will tell you that conventional cleaning products are strongly discouraged. He will give you the right maintenance product for your pool: you can also go to the store with a sample of your water. This will be analyzed on site and you will then be given the appropriate product. Once back home, evenly scrub the bottom of your pool. Leave on for five to ten minutes. Scrub again and rinse thoroughly
7 – Prepare the technical equipment
After the basic cleaning, you should check the technical equipment in your pool, clean it thoroughly and replace it if necessary. Reinstall all hardware that was removed during winter storage. Check pool pump, skimmer and supply lines. Check and clean the cap and the float. Check the gaskets for cracks. Check the non-return valves for stubborn dirt and their proper functioning. Check the filtration system.
8 – Fill the pool again
Then you can start filling the pool. During the filling process, you need to check the lines several times. Then fill and activate the filter pump, well washed.
9 – Treat the water if its pH is not good
To guarantee the cleanliness of the swimming pool during the summer, the chlorine content and the pH value must be correct. The recommended pH value for a swimming pool is between 7.0 and 7.4. In case of deviations, special pH reducers and pH boosters can allow you to optimally adjust the water. Similarly, the optimal value for chlorine is between 1 and 3. If you get a reading below 1, you need to add water.
10 – Carry out a shock treatment with chlorine
In order to avoid possible contamination of the freshly introduced water, you can carry out a shock cleaning with chlorine. Shock chlorination is a short-term overdose of chlorine to prevent algae infestation from the start. The pH of the pool water must be exactly 7.2 for shock chlorination to work. If possible, the pool water should not be heated, but should have a temperature above 15 degrees. Thoroughly rinse the filter and switch it on. Add quick dissolving chlorine tablets, chlorine granules or liquid chlorine preparations to the water until the chlorine content reaches 3 to 5 milligrams/litre. Check the rate with the test strips. Let the filtration system run as long as possible, check the chlorine content of the water again and again and add more if necessary.