Why You Should Prepare Your Pool for Summer
Although we’re still a couple of months away from summer, it’s a good idea to start thinking about your swimming pool. After all, you don’t want to go out to your pool after the season begins only to discover that your water pump isn’t properly working or that the water is too dirty for anyone to swim.
Here are just a few reasons you should prepare your pool for the summer season before it arrives:
Water May Be Unsafe for Swimming
If you use a secure pool cover, you probably don’t have to worry too much about dirt and debris getting in the water. But you don’t want to take the chance of jumping into unsafe water either way. If there are bacteria and germs in the pool, anyone who enters could end up getting sick. Preparing your pool before summer arrives will help prevent that.
Gives You Time to Fix Any Problems
It’s a darn shame when you go out to take a dip in your pool when the sun comes out only to realize that it’s broken down. Or maybe you’re planning your first summer pool party and you don’t have enough time to get something fixed, forcing you to cancel the event. Preparing your pool before the summer season arrives will give you plenty of time to address any issues.
Prevents Equipment from Shutting Down
Since your pool equipment hasn’t been running for a while, it may kick into gear when you start it up again but then break down a few days or weeks later. One thing you want to do, which we’ll get to below, is inspect the equipment as part of your summer preparation. If anything seems amiss, you can get it fixed before it becomes a problem.
How to Prepare Your Pool for Summer
You don’t want to wait until summer arrives before you prepare the swimming pool. Here are some of the things you’ll need to do:
Clean Up the Dirt and Debris
First, you’ll want to clean up all the dirt and debris. The most basic way to accomplish this is to use a pool skimmer that will help you get leaves, branches, and other items out of the water. If you have a little money to spare, you can also invest in an automatic pool cleaner, which is basically a Roomba for your pool.
Check the Water Chemistry
Use a water testing kit to check the swimming pool’s pH level, which measures its acidity and alkalinity. The goal is to maintain a pH level of 7, which is neutral. This will keep your water clean and reduce stinging eyes and skin rashes that can be common when the water chemistry is off.
Fill the Pool if the Water Is Low
Chances are, the water level of your swimming pool will be a bit low because of evaporation while it wasn’t in use during the winter season. All you need to do is fill the pool to the proper water level per the manufacturer’s instructions. This will prevent the water level from going so low that air is sucked into your filter system and burns out the pump’s motor.
Inspect the Pool Equipment
Before you plan a summer pool party, inspect all of the equipment. This includes the swimming pool’s pump, filter, heater, etc. There are some do-it-yourself solutions for small problems, but large issues will require a visit from a pool service company.
Run the Pump for 24 Hours
You certainly don’t want to turn on your water pump and jump into the pool a few minutes later. The basic guideline is to run your pump for 24 hours. This will give the pump time to circulate the water throughout the pool to help ensure that any chemicals you’ve added have distributed evenly.
Get the Accessories in Order
It’s finally time to have a little fun by getting all the pool accessories in order. If you have a waterfall or slide installed, make sure you have wiped them down and that they are in good working order. Now is also a great opportunity to clean off the pool toys and check your pool cover to ensure it is in good condition.
Contact Larsen’s Pool & Spa to Learn How to Prepare Your Pool for Summer
As the premier custom pool builders in Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas, Larsen’s Pool & Spa can assist you with new pool construction and pool remodeling. If you have any questions about how to prepare your pool for summer or our pool financing opportunities, reach out to us at (727) 786-POOL today.
