Hiring a pool service is the easiest solution when reviving your pool for the season. Nevertheless, if you’re willing to put in the effort, you can do it yourself and maybe even save a ton of money, which you can then use to purchase more advanced pool equipment to make the work simpler. Here are some steps to take.
Clean the Pool Cover
Post-winter, there could be a lot of debris and standing water left on your pool cover, especially if you don’t own a mesh cover. If the buildup on your pool cover is in liquid form, you can rent a submersible pump or use a cover pump to remove the murky water.
If all you have on your cover is dried debris, consider yourself lucky. Sweeping it and then immediately spraying it with the hose or pressure washer can get rid of this.
Take off the Pool Cover and Store it
Head to the corners at the shallow end to start the removal process. There are a several methods to remove a cover, depending on the kind type
For solid winter covers, you’ll want to fan-fold the cover into 3- to 5-foot folds
For mesh covers, use a removal tool or Allen wrench to remove springs or fasteners from anchors, and fan-fold the cover in an accordion style.
Keep the pool cover indoors or in a garage, far from animals, moisture, and insects.
Examine, Remove, and Replace as Needed
Check the important elements on the list, conduct inspections, and address any problems:
- Taking out plugs, etc. Surface skimmers, wall returns, and any expansion or freeze plugs should be removed before reinstalling directional fittings.
- Examine the pump and filter: Check the filter and pump for worn or broken parts. Perform any repairs or replacements that are needed.
- Look for cracks: Inspect the tiles in your concrete or fiberglass pool for any signs of deterioration. Also, check for indentations on the deck and coping as well as plaster chips.
Reinstall Equipment
Reset all of the user equipment, including the slides, ladders, diving boards, or the newer, safer jump boards, grab bars, and safety rails. Spraying a metal lubricant on metal bolts and other fasteners is a good idea. Besides that, make sure everything is tight.
Clean the Pool and Add Water
Take a garden hose and fill the pool halfway, either to the center of the skimmer weirs or the waterline tile. Use a long-handled (telescoping) wall and floor brush to remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from the pool’s bottom once it has reached the proper level.
Now is also the perfect time to clean off your pool vacuum and algae brush and use them to scrub surfaces and walls to get rid of any lingering traces of the unwanted algae.
Power Up Your Pool
You may now switch on the power to the pool. Check the pool for leaks, cracks, and split hoses while the circulation system is running. Turn off the electricity and get in touch with your local pool service if you notice any damage.
Water Testing and Treatment
Before testing or adding chemicals, run the filter for 12 to 24 hours to mix up the old and fresh water. Following that, you should utilize a pool testing kit. Test these fundamental parameters first:
- The pH level
- Chlorine Content
- Calcium hardiness
At this point, you should shock the pool, superchlorinate it with chlorine, or use a shock treatment to get rid of germs and algae.
You may wish to add further treatments to your water at this time, depending on the outcomes of your pool test kit, your preferences, the guidance of a pool service expert, etc. A stabilizer, conditioner, or algaecide are a few possible ones.
Before allowing anyone into the pool, give the filter another 24 hours to run and perform another test.
