As the cold weather comes to an end, soaking up the sun by the poolside is almost everybody’s goal. But there is a lot of groundwork you will need to do before enjoying the pool. These are some of the top things you can do just before the temperatures start rising.
Simple ways to prep your pool before the summer
The first and most important thing you should always do, ensure you cover your pool during the cold season as this will keep your pool in usable conditions when the summer finally arrives. Read on to find out some of the critical steps you should follow to get your pool summer-ready.
1. Start with cleaning the surroundings
The cleanliness of the water inside your pool highly depends on the cleanliness of its surrounding environment, your yard. Before removing the pool cover, clear out the surface surrounding your pool from the leftovers such as leaves, plants, branches, and other stuff the wind might direct inside it.
A great tool that will come in handy at this preparation stage is the leaf blower. Not only it will get rid of leaves, but it will also get rid of the dirt that might affect the water. Once you get the surroundings neat and tidy, you can use the leaf blower to clear out what’s on the pool cover. Sure, the water beneath it is dirty anyway, but this way you will prevent even more from falling inside. That can extend the water cleaning process afterward. Once the cover is free of dust and other things, carefully remove it from the pool and give it a detailed wash. Once washed, dry it completely. This stage is important for preventing fungus and other organisms breed on the cover. When all this is complete, store it in a dry, closed space.
2. Check the equipment before you use it
Before you start using the chemicals and filtering system, do a detailed assessment of all the pipes, joints, valves, and other equipment the pool works based on. Make sure there are no damages caused in the meantime. If necessary, clean the filter and check or change the sand inside. This is the time to switch to another type of filtering system, if you wish to, some that have a longer life expectancy. There are always some improvements in the market when it comes to filtering, so you may consider using some that reduce electricity spending, water, and chemicals. But this is totally up to you and depends on the equipment you currently use.
The lighting system in the pool is important because it adds to the experience during the night, so check if all the lights are still working properly. Whatever else you are using, like ladder, massage system, skimmer, check if it is in good working condition before the season starts.
3. Properly filter and clean out your pool
Once the pool cover is off, the surrounding is clean, and all the equipment works fine, cleaning and filtering your pool is the second step. The leaves and debris need to be removed, but don’t let the color of the water scare you. At this stage, you are focusing on picking the items that could clog the filter. Once all these chunks have been removed from your pool, you can move to clean your filter. Placing it under running water for 3 to 5 minutes can help unclog it.
4. The chemistry stage
Once the debris has been picked, and filter cleaned, it’s time to deal with that awful color your pool might be having. You need to add some water together with chemicals, don’t worry the clean and dirty water can mix. Once your pool has sufficient water, turn on your pump and let this run for about 2 or 3 days. For chlorine, it is advisable to add about 2 kilograms to 19,000liters of water.
The chemical levels must be well balanced to clean the water; this is why you leave the pump running for the next 2 to 3 days, to get the greenish-brown water to look nice and clear. After three days test the water to ensure the ph. levels are between 7.4 to 7.6, calcium at about 200 – 400, alkalinity at 100 parts per million. Anything beyond this can be dangerous; if the levels are high, it is advisable to contact a professional to get it just right.
5. Some scrubbing then vacuum
If the water levels are just right, and your water is nice and clear you can get to scrubbing and vacuuming. The water looks nice and clean, but the surface also needs some attention. Clean the entire area around the pool, such as edges with some agent for removing the organic impurities and things like calc, rush, and so on. It’s also recommended to use some anti-algae agent and spray on the edges, to prevent their growth around the pool. Once cleaned you can add your swimming toys; the ladder, diving pad, or any other items you like having as you enjoy your summertime by the poolside.
About the scrubbing, depending on whether you’re emptying the pool during the winter or not, you can apply some additional chemicals to the bottom and the walls, to prevent algae from breeding.
6. Now to the grill
Summer is never complete without a barbeque by the pool, since the pool is now clean and ready, how about the grill. Do some deep cleaning, brushing of the dirt, scrub the grime that has been accumulating and gather all your barbeque tools to get your grilling going. And after all the hard work you’ve been doing, treat yourself to a nice barbeque afternoon. Grab a cold beer, have a laid back, after work lunch, while enjoying the sounds of water filtering and announcing the summer.
Preparations are time and energy-consuming, so if you don’t have time, you can always call a professional cleaning service. Summer is all about soaking up the sun and spending time outside bonding with family and friends.
