Getting Your Pool Summer Ready
GETTING YOUR POOL SUMMER READY
Spring is officially here. It is time for all outdoor pool owners to get their summer oasis up and running during the upcoming season. Living in the UK, especially with an outdoor pool, it is most likely your pool was dormant all winter. The eight-step guide below will help you kickstart re-opening safely and learn how our professionals can help so you can swim trouble-free.
Refrain from emptying the pool
Firstly, we do not recommend emptying your pool unless you have planned structural works or there is excessive debris (we always recommend a pool cover for prevention). Draining the pool for cleaning may seem the obvious route; however, on the contrary, it can cause substantial damages. One of the many risks of improper drainage can cause the pool to heave out of the ground if the groundwater levels are high.
Remove the winter cover
Using a telescopic pole or pool brush, you will initially want to remove any leaves, dirt, and debris on the pool cover’s surface, collecting away from the pool. Next, detach the anchor loops of the cover, ensuring it does not fall into the pool at this stage. Pulling the cover off can be tricky; you will need to fold it over in your direction and carefully pull it away from the pool. Clear any remaining debris and inspect for any tears or holes before air drying and folding to store it away. Buckingham Pools’ service engineers can come out to perform a summerisation process for your pool, usually over a two-stage process. Book our tailor-made Service and Maintenance packages below.
Top up the water level using a hose or ATU
Swimming pools commonly lose water during the winter season. This is to say; it will require topping off for optimal water levels using a hose or an automatic top-up valve (ATU). You will subsequently ensure you clean the filters well before use, whether a cartridge, DE or the classic sand filter. If a cartridge filter, simply giving it a thorough rinse with a hose will do the job. If it’s a DE filter, you may need to disassemble it for a good clean and reassemble. On the other hand, for a sand filter, you will need to set the filter to “backwash” to activate sand cleaning and return to its standard-setting.
Turn on the filtration system
A “chemical open” is necessary at this stage to bring your pool up to shape for frequent use. This process involves assembling the filtration system, cleaning out the baskets, and removing any plugs placed in the pool from the previous season. Afterwards, the filtration will need to be initiated and run for 12-24 hours to achieve the ideal pressure. forBuckingham Pools’ service engineers can come out to perform a summerisation process for your pool, usually over a two-stage process. Book our tailor-made Service and Maintenance packages below.
Shock the pool
Before the pool shock, it is crucial to wear protective wear to safeguard your skin from harsh chemicals and clothes from bleaching. The pool shock aims to kill all germs and algae settled in the pool. The amount of shock you will need will invariably depend on your pool water volume. Once you have worked out how much, you will need to prepare the treatment according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You will then pour the shock and water solution into the pool and leave it to do its work for approximately 48 hours.
Vac-to-waste
The vac-to-waste process will remove all unwanted dirt or algae from the bottom of the pool by sending it via the waste line either to your sewage system or into your yard. This method bypasses the filter to prevent clogging and contaminating your pool.
Chemical balance for safe swimming
Chemical dosing maintenance is a complex procedure and requires professional expertise. Having the pool water tested professionally can be highly beneficial for both your health and safety. With this in mind, each aspect of the water needs a balanced output for a healthy operation. Our recommendations are as follows:
- PH levels between 7.2 to 7.4
- Total alkalinity from 80 to 120
- Calcium hardness from 150 ppm to 250 ppm (parts per million)
- Chlorine from 1 ppm to 3 ppm
Our professionals can carry out a complete test for you to perfect the pool water quality. They’ll test the chlorine content of the water, along with the total alkalinity, pH level and calcium hardness for safe swimming. Book our tailor-made Service and Maintenance packages for your pool below.
Maintenance
Keeping the filters clean, vacuuming the pool once a week and testing the chemical levels every day is recommended for good upkeep of your pool. We suggest testing your pool water once a month. Our professionals are on hand to conduct all the necessary work above for your pool, whether indoors or out. We can manage your pool entirely, so you won’t need to do anything other than swimming at your leisure and enjoying the sunshine!
