I will first explain how to get your pool ready for summer if at the end of last season you drained all of the water out. After you read this paragraph you should skip paragraph number 2 and read paragraph 3 until the end to follow the remaining steps to get your pool ready for summer. You will want to do a thorough inspection of your pool liner and pool foundation to make sure that there are no cracks or leaks. If there are cracks or leaks in the pool liner you will want to use a vinyl patching system to repair them. If there are cracks or leaks in the foundation you might need to call a professional to help you repair them with safety in mind. After you have done this you should clean all the floors and walls of the inside of your pool and make sure there are no leaves or pieces of dirt in the pool. Then fill the entire pool with clean, fresh water.
If you left the water in your pool over the entire length of the winter you probably opened your pool cover and found a murky, disgusting mess. There is no need to completely drain the water out of your pool but you will need to spend a good deal of time cleaning and treating the water to get the PH back to the right level. First you will want to use a skimmer to get rid of all the algae and dirt on top of the pool water. You might want to get a pool vacuum to remove the bulk of the algae and bacteria that is stuck to the sides and the floor of the pool lining. Finish up the cleaning process by using a quality pool cleaning chemical and a scrub brush to clean the sides and bottom of the pool. After this is done you can do a visual inspection to see if there are any cracks or leaks in the pool liner or foundation of the pool. If there are leaks in the pool liner you can repair them yourself with a vinyl patch kit. If there are any cracks in the pool foundation you will need to call a professional to make sure the repairs are done safely.
Now you will want to make sure that all of your pool filtration equipment is clean and free of cracks or leaks. Use a quality pool cleaner and thoroughly clean the inside and outside of all the filters and pumps. Inspect them for leaks and if there are any repair them with epoxy or the use the appropriate repair kit from your pool supply store. After you are sure that your filters are working correctly be sure to “back wash” them. All pumps and filters should have a setting that will allow you to do this. Check your manual if you are unsure of how exactly to do it.
If your pool water is not completely full add clean water until it is at the right level. Then gather all the necessary chemicals and supplies to get your pool water up to the right PH level. You will need to buy a product called “Shock Treatment” to fix the PH level and get rid of all the bacteria that has built up over the course of the winter months. Make sure you carefully read the directions on the bottle to be sure that you are using the right amount for the size of your pool. Also, you should always make sure to wear latex gloves and a mask when working with dangerous chemicals. Use a PH Strip to test the level of your pool water after you use the Shock Treatment. The normal PH level for a healthy swimming pool is between 7.2 and 7.6. If your PH level is not between this range after you use Shock Treatment you might need to add some Chlorine to your pool water. Read the instructions on the bottle of Chlorine and add the amount that is listed on the bottle for the size of your pool. Test the PH level again and if it is at the right level you have successfully gotten your pool ready for summer!
Now that you have done a little bit of hard labor you can sit back and relax (for now) and enjoy using your swimming pool! A swimming pool is an investment of both time and money and just because you spent hours preparing it for summer does not mean you should forget about regular upkeep. Make sure that you monitor the PH levels and keep your filtration system working properly to extend the life of your pool and keep yourself safe!
