In the same way that we prepare our suitcases before leaving on vacation, we must take care of the swimming pool, and it is important to do this well in advance. There’s no question of waiting for D-Day because managing the swimming pool during a prolonged absence must be anticipated and requires method. If you haven’t taken any measures, ten days without supervision and it’s a disaster. To avoid the risk of bathing in a seaweed bath on your return and being confronted with unhealthy water, it is therefore essential to take the lead unless you have a pool with automatic treatment. Here is everything you need to know to pamper your swimming pool before the big start on vacation.
Test the pool water
To do this, one or the other of the following solutions can be used.
- test strips,
- A swimming pool analysis kit or kit,
- A water analysis tester,
- A connected water analyzer,
Nothing prevents you from taking a sample of the pool water and then taking the sample away at the swimming pool to do the analysis himself.
Perform rebalancing in the correct order
During the period preceding the departure on vacation, for a long period, it is crucial to submit your swimming pool to a kind of check-up in order to find healthy water on the way back. The analysis of the pool water allows you to be perfectly informed about the various settings to monitor. Here is the order in which to carry out the verification as well as the measures considered ideal.
- The Hydrotimetric Title (TH) : between 10 and 22°f (French degrees), which indicates the concentration of calcium and magnesium salts. A TH greater than 22°f indicates that the water is too hard, so the limestone it contains damages the equipment, if it is less than 10°f, this means that the water is too soft. Over time it can be irritating to the eyes but also corrosive to equipment.
- The Complete Alkalimeter Title (TAC) : between 80 and 120 mg/L for a perfectly stable pH. The TAC indicates the capacity of bathing water to absorb variations in Hydrogen potential. We talk about the buffering capacity of water.
- Hydrogen potential (pH) : between 7.2 and 7.8 (neutral water). A pH below 7.2 indicates acidic pool water and if it is above 7.8, the water is too basic. However, acidic water irritates the equipment as much as the skin and eyes of swimmers, while basic water promotes the development of algae.
- The rate of disinfectant : variable depending on the type of treatment, it therefore measures both salt and bromine, chlorine or Poly Hexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) used to disinfect chlorine-free pool water. It is advisable to rely on your pool specialist to ensure that the rate is ideal. If this is not the case, a correction is necessary according to the advice of the professional. Here, for your information, are the ideal rate ranges:
- Sel : from 3 to 7 g/L,
- Brome : from 1.2 to 3 g/L,
- Chlorine : from 1.5 to 2 g/L,
- PHMB : from 30 to 45 mg/L.
- The level of stabilizer in a chlorine pool : between 20 and 30 mg/L. It is used to extend the life of this type of pool.
- water temperature : it should be neither too high nor too low for the treatment products to be effective and for bacteria and algae not to proliferate.
Once the corrections have been made, a new test ensures that everything is compliant this time.
Of course, the analysis of the pool water can be entrusted to a swimming pool specialist, as can the corrections that are necessary if necessary in order to carry out the balancing of certain levels. It is also recommended, especially when before leaving on vacation it is crucial to take stock. It’s an excellent solution for taking advantage of your holidays with peace of mind, knowing that when you return you can swim in crystal clear water. It is useful to ask for several quotes a few weeks before departure in order to compare the prices according to the services.
Take precautions before going on vacation
Not everyone does a mega analysis in the days leading up to the big start. If the pool is always cleaned correctly and the treatments are applied as they should be, we can be satisfied with preventive treatment against algae and bacteria especially if you have to be away for more than ten days. Many homeowners do not hesitate to treat the water with a algicide.
But you can also get a disinfection kit which can cover a period of absence of 20 days. Another solution consists in depositing in the swimming pool, the day before departure, slow release chlorine tabletsthat is, they dissolve over time so that the pool water is disinfected for three weeks, without any intervention, for a carefree holiday…
In order to prevent the water from being soiled by the petals and leaves of the plants, especially in the event of a gale, the best solution is to cover the swimming pool on the day of departure if it is equipped with a automatic coverof a opaque cover or even a rolling shutter. On the other hand, this is especially not what you should do if you have a bubble cover because it would only increase the risk of algae invasion because this device causes the temperature to increase. some water.
Finally, it is absolutely essential to let the filtration run throughout the duration of the holidays, at the rate of:
- 4h/d for a maximum outside temperature of 23°C,
- 7h/day if the outside temperature is between 24 and 27°C,
- 10h/d when the outside temperature exceeds 27°C.
We therefore do not forget to take an interest in the 10-day weather forecast before escaping for other horizons.
Count on the good will of an acquaintance to manage the swimming pool during the holidays
It is reassuring to be able to entrust the keys to your gate to a family member, friend or other trusted person… in short, to a good soul ready to manage the pool in the absence of the owners. This allows you to be freed from all worries and therefore to fully enjoy a stay in the countryside, by the sea or in the mountains.
The task does not require great knowledge since this person will only have to perform a water level controlpossibly a filter pressure check and some water quality. He is also entrusted with the task of emptying the filtration pump or the skimmer baskets, for example. Nothing prevents him of course from passing the broom vacuum cleaner or plugging in the pool cleaner…
Do a shock treatment by the pool when you return from vacation
Some professionals advise doing a shock treatment in order toeradicate germs and bacteria which have accumulated during a fairly long absence. But before “shocking” the water, it is essential to bring the pH down to 7.2 in order to create an environment that is not appreciated by bacteria and algae.
The treatment is done with shock bromine or shock chlorine tablets, but should only be carried out in very exceptional cases, such as when the pool is put back into service after wintering or if the pool water has suffered. during an extended vacation. Note that it is forbidden to swim for at least 48 hours once the shock treatment has been applied.
A maintenance-free swimming pool during the holidays
No, it is not incongruous! Some swimming pools can be managed independently during the holidays and without the need to call on a friend to take care of them. All you need to do is have a automatic water treatment device.
You can opt for a electrolyser which produces a natural chlorine from the decomposition of the salt contained in the pool water. Another solution is to install a pH regulator making all the necessary corrections after checking the Hydrogen potential. The device works on its own, without the need for intervention. Finally, the must fits in a 2 in 1 device, which combines the electrolyser and the pH regulator. It analyses, measures, corrects and generates chlorine absolutely by itself because automation is pushed to its climax. Enough to spend holidays without worrying about your swimming pool and have the guarantee of being able to dive into crystal clear water as soon as you get home.