It might not feel like it, but spring is upon us. Although we’ll have to wait a month or so for truly warm weather, winter is definitely over—say goodbye to snow. So now, you’re probably looking forward to weather warm enough for swimming. With that in mind, it’s time to get your pool ready for spring, so that you can really enjoy it by the time summer arrives.
In order to help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the five most important tips for getting your pool ready for spring.
Check for Leaks and Cracks
Examine the edges of your pool, particularly around the drains, lights and intakes. Because the ground freezes and expands during the winter, the sides of your pool can crack from the pressure. This is especially true in colder climates. In warmer climates, there’s a good chance your pool was filled with water all winter, in which case you should look for bubbles or dark spots.
If you find any of these problems, you should have them repaired right away, before they worsen and cost you thousands of dollars—or permanently destroy your pool.
Make Sure Your Pump Is in Good Working Order
Winter can also do a number on your pump. When your pump isn’t used, its seals and rubber and plastic parts can dry out. Its electrical components need to be cleaned and checked (make sure you turn the power off first), as do its filters and pumps (you need to turn them on to check, but not to clean). You should check with a pool supplier to find out what kind of lubricant you need, and then apply it to the O-rings.
Some filters may need to be replaced. Lift the cement pad at the bottom and check for leakage, and make sure you repair any leaks before they worsen.
Chemically Treat the Water and Brush the Pool
The most important piece of advice here is to read the labels on chemicals and make sure you use them properly. Since your friends and loved ones will be swimming in the water, you want to make sure that you don’t expose them to dangerous levels of chemicals. After you add the chemicals, allow the water to circulate a day before you add the shock treatment, which raises the chlorine level to above 5 parts/million.
After you test the water balance, make adjustments to the level of calcium and alkalinity and ensure that the pH level is between 7.4-7.6.
After you’ve done all this you should scrub all the parts of your pool thoroughly to make sure that it isn’t slimy—that’d be awful gross to swim in.
About That Pool Heater
Pool heaters don’t require that much maintenance compared to other parts of your pool, but if you have one, you should check to make sure that calcium hasn’t been building up inside its tubes and been restricting the flow of heat. This would be a big waste of money on electricity and do nothing to keep your pool warm.
Finally—Clean around the Pool
Now that you’ve put all this care into your pool staying nice, make sure that its surroundings don’t muck it up. Clean off your pool chairs and other furniture to make sure people aren’t getting into the pool dirty, and get rid of any leaves and other debris that might wind up in the pool. It doesn’t hurt to trim back any branches nearby that might drop their leaves in on a windy day.
With all these tasks done, soon you’ll be ready to enjoy the pool for some summertime fun. Enjoy!
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