Pool maintenance: spring re-entry of the outdoor pool

Recommendation points

• When to start and how to prepare for pool re-entry
• Removal of temporary devices
• Cleaning the circulation system and installing equipment
• Pool bowl cleaning
• Application of chemicals
• Working with a water treatment plant
• Follow-up service during the bathing season

Outdoor pools require seasonal maintenance, and in this article we will show you how to properly re-preserve your pool after winter. You will learn about the mandatory seasonal maintenance of the pool, how to clean the bowl and commission a water treatment plant..

An outdoor pool requires proper care and maintenance, therefore it must be preserved for the winter period, and with the arrival of spring, work is required to put the pool into operation.

When to start and how to prepare for pool re-entry

The best time to bring the pool out of hibernation is mid to late March. De-preservation can be started only when the ice melts by itself. In no case should you break the ice – this often leads to damage to the bowl cover.

Everything you need for work must be prepared in advance:

1. Personal protective equipment: rubber boots and gloves, respirator.
2. Brushes, sponges, nets, scrapers, plastic buckets.
3. Water vacuum cleaner.
4. Chemical agents:
   • chlorinated trisodium phosphate (CTNF) for wall cleaning;
   • acidity regulators;
   • impact chlorination agent such as Bayrol Chlorifix;
   • means for general disinfection;
   • algicide suitable for the type of purification system;
   • coagulant (aluminum sulfate).
5. Removable equipment:
   • spotlights;
   • nozzles;
   • stairs;
   • disassembled pipe sections.
6. New filter sand.

For work, it is better to choose a sunny day, since in good natural light all coating defects will be noticeable immediately.

Removal of temporary devices

First, remove the protective cover from the pool. It is better to do this with the assistance of an assistant so that dirt and debris accumulated on the cover do not fall into the bowl..

Attention! The cover does not provide absolute protection against debris, therefore, when the protection has been removed, cleaned and packaged before the fall, you will need to catch all the large debris from the surface of the pool water.

Empty the pool from the water with a drain or drain pump (the bowl must be drained dry, and the drain hole temporarily plugged with a rag). After that, you can remove the hydraulic lifters and remove the plugs from the pipes.

Cleaning the circulation system and installing equipment

You will surely come across organic deposits inside the pipes. It should be removed using flexible pipe brushes and hard-bristled brushes. Pay special attention to the joints of pipes and installation of nozzles.

If the nozzles were not removed for the winter, they must also be thoroughly cleaned, without using any hard and sharp objects. To facilitate the task, remove the nozzles and immerse them for a few minutes in a solution of aggressive cleaning chemicals.

A good solution is to blow out the plumbing system with compressed air to get rid of cobwebs, insects, dust and small debris. If it is not possible to blow through the pipes, fix a small foam rubber brush on the edge of a piece of elastic wire and walk it along all accessible sections of the pipeline.

When the pipes are cleaned, prepare all mounting holes and niches, wash them well from dirt and wipe dry. Install spotlights, nozzles, ladders and other removable items. Check backlight for proper operation and replace lamps if necessary.

Pool bowl cleaning

We start cleaning the pool bowl: sweep the bottom and walls of the pool, remove the remaining large debris. Dilute HTNF or other cleaner in the correct proportion and coat the pool walls with the solution. Use a hard-bristled brush to thoroughly brush over all joints and attachments. This treatment of the pool must be carried out twice, then rinse off the remaining cleaning agents with clean running water..

Attention! When treating the surface of the bowl with chemicals, the use of protective gloves and boots is mandatory.

Wash the bottom of the pool with special care: a huge amount of green plaque accumulates in the folds, irregularities and at the joints, it must be removed. Once the surface has been cleaned and washed, walk around the pool and inspect the surface for damage. If they are, now is the best time for repair..

If the bowl is ready, add water. The pool needs to be filled to the maximum level so that the skimmers are ready to run the circulation system in intensive mode. If the pool has an overflow device, fill the intermediate container halfway. Bypass piping and installed equipment, inspect connections for leaks and repair.

Application of chemicals

The first step is to equalize the acidity and perform shock chlorination. Bring the chlorine concentration to 4–4.5 mg / l and maintain it for 8–10 hours, periodically measuring the acidity and leveling it to a level of 7.2–7.6. Based on the type of basic disinfection, select the appropriate algicide and add it to the water, exceeding the dosage by 15-20% of the recommended.

Attention! Some products do not work with ozonizing or chlorinating water purifiers.

After chlorination and disinfection, the color of the water may change and it may become cloudy. A suspension of fine particles that are not retained by the filter can be removed with coagulants. These substances bind the fine suspension into large flocs, which are retained by the filter and removed during backwashing..

Working with a water treatment plant

After wintering, it is necessary to revise the pumping and filtration equipment. This should be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. For pumping equipment, the mandatory maintenance steps are:

1. Checking the electrical part, tightening the contacts.
2. Checking, revising or replacing bearings.
3. Inspection of the actuator, cleaning the discharge chamber.

Sand filter barrels need to be removed from the sand, cleaned the walls and pipe of the six-position valve, then fill in a new one, moisten and seat it. Ionizers, ozonizers and UV lamps generally do not need special care, but if your equipment needs the recommended service, be sure to do it..

Before starting the pumps make sure that their pre-filters and pressure chambers are filled with water, this is recommended even for self-priming pumps. Start the water circulation at the same time as the shock chlorination starts, run it in intensive mode.

The total volume of the pool must be distilled by the installation 3 to 5 times, then backwash the filter and start the circulation in standard mode. Bring the water level to normal and rinse the filters at least once a day.

Follow-up service during the bathing season

One week after filling the pool with water, perform a second shock chlorination and equalize the acidity. A day after that, the pool is completely ready for the bathing season, and carry out the application of chemicals in normal (routine) mode.

A few tips for further pool maintenance:

1. If using an ionizer, keep an eye on the copper content of the water and carefully control the acidity during UV cleaning..
2. Skin irritation and the smell of bleach indicate a lack of disinfectant, not an overdose.
3. In spring, a small amount of debris falls on the surface of the water, but it also needs to be removed periodically.
4. Do not be lazy to bypass the visible sections of the pipeline once a week in the first months of the pool operation, check for leaks.