Preparing Your Pool for Spring

As the weather begins to get warmer and Spring draws nearer, you are probably planning to finally take off the pool cover for the season. Yet, you may come across some alarming issues. Here are some tips to help get your pool ready for Spring.

Algae
When you uncover your pool for the first time after the winter season, you may have to deal with algae in the pool. Even with the cover on, there is a chance that light will go through and possibly make your pool susceptible to algae growth. Luckily, it does not take much time to get rid of algae before your swimmers want to make a cannonball into the pool.

First, prepare your pump and filter. Then, drop some algaecide (our Swim-mor professionals can prescribe the best brand) into the water. Choose a brand with the main active ingredients of polyquaternary ammonium or quaternary ammonium. These chemicals will remove most unwanted particles and microorganisms in the pool.
Leave the pool undisturbed for at least four hours after putting in the algaecide, and keep the pump running. Unfortunately, chlorine does not kill algae, which many pool owners are probably unaware of. To actually kill the green microorganism, use algaecide and then shock the pool with chlorine. That will allow for dead material to be later filtered. The process of removing pool algae should take about an afternoon.

DE Powder
Many pool owners use a Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filter, as it is the most efficient type of pool filter available. The DE filter cleans your pool water by passing the water through a set of grids. Each of these grids is covered with a layer of DE powder. If you notice DE powder floating around in your pool, it may be due to these factors: the fabric on the grids may have accumulated holes; a crack in the manifold that the grids attach to; a broken air bleeder tube.

Replace Your Sand
If you have a pool sand filter, you need to replace the sand occasionally to increase its efficiency. Pool sand filters typically work better with time as more sand continues to collect on the filter, helping to boost the filtering process by acting as an added layer of protection. Most sand filters should be replaced every five to seven years because the sand particles become worn and have difficulty capturing unwanted objects. Additionally, there is a chance that the sand will gather up into a ball. Make sure to turn off the pool pump when you change the sand.

If you have any questions about pool maintenance, contact a Swim-mor professional or fill out our contact form.