Summer is finally on its way, so we’re all excited to peel off our winter covers from our pools and dive in into the sparkling blue water! That’s how it goes, right? Well, almost. Most of us aren’t so lucky to pull off our winter covers to find sparkling blue water underneath. Usually, the pool requires a little bit of work to get it up and running for swimming season. So, here’s an easy guide to getting your swimming pool summer ready:
1. Fill Up the Pool
The first thing to do is to put a hose in your pool to fill it up. Fill the pool until the water is half way up the skimmer.
2. Add Chemicals
After your pool is filled, throw in your opening chemicals – algaecide and shock. The algaecide (Aqua Wham-O) will help prevent algae growth. The shock (Super Shock or Easy Shock) will get rid of any unwanted particles that exist in the water.
To know how much chemical you should put in your water, come visit us at Valley Pool and Spa with a water sample where we can calculate this for you based on the volume of your pool. At this time, we can also tell you what other chemicals your water requires.
If you have a salt water pool, do not add any salt until after we test your salt levels with our in-store system. Many salt cell systems display salt levels on a screen, however, they do not often tell accurate readings.
3. Vacuum
This is one of the hardest steps, but possibly the most satisfying. If you have a second set of cartridge filters that you use for cleaning, this is the time to put them in.
If you plan on cleaning your filters at the beginning of the season, do your initial vacuum beforehand.
4. Clean Filtration System
If you have cartridge filters, you could either soak them in water with Aqua Filter Free (a product that removes debris and bacteria from your filters), or you could use an electric power washer to spray off the debris. If you choose to use a power washer, though, be careful! Spray your filter on the lowest power setting. Also, spray on an angle as to not compromise the filter’s fabric.
If you have a sand filter, flip the setting to backwash to flush out the sand. If your sand is older than 5 years, it’s time to replace it.
5. Wait
Sometimes, you have to wait a few days for the water to start sparkling. This is because the filtration system needs time to pick up any particles in your water. So, don’t fret if your water’s not perfect right away. All of your hard work will pay off soon.
Now, hopefully this task isn’t as intimidating, but, if you’re not keen on doing any of the work, you don’t have to! Call us to make a service appointment!