Wintering: what precautions should you take when restarting your shell pool?

For a few weeks now, spring seems to be replacing winter in France. And rising temperatures mean... the start of the swimming season! But before you jump into the deep end, there is one important step to enjoying your pool with complete peace of mind: restarting your shell pool after wintering.

Cleaning the skimmers, the liner, as well as filtration andwater treatmentaremaintenancesteps essential for regaining healthy, clean water for your next swim.

To avoid an unforeseen event or an error,Aboralwill review for you the things to avoid during therecommissioningof your pool. Let's go!

1. First mistake: a swimming pool restarted too late

You are surely wonderingwhen to end your pool's wintering?

The answer is simple: to enjoy clean pool water as soon as the frost and winter are over, don't wait until it's too hot to restartyour pool! Indeed, as your pool water warms up, algae and bacteria will invade your pool, makingthe water cloudy and green. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, you should therefore respect the recommended temperature threshold, namely between 12°C and 15°C. No more than that!

In addition to limiting the risk of algae and bacteria proliferation, removing the winter cover andgetting your pool back into serviceat the right time will save you time and energy. Yes, by taking charge quickly, you won't need to use a lot of sanitizing products and equipment to get clean water back – regardless of thewintering method(active or passive wintering)

Finally, be careful not to be surprised by sudden temperature increases. Depending on the size of your pool, it is not uncommon to gain up to 3°C in a single day!

2. Neglecting to maintain your pool

Like any spring cleaning,recommissioning a swimming pooltakes time and requires a lot of attention to avoid potential mistakes. So if you're hoping to apply the "quick and dirty" method, don't count on it! Whether you opted for passive or active winterization, you must constantly check the condition of the pool.

After removing the cover ortarpaulin from your shell pool, you will need to proceed with a complete cleaning of the water and the pool structure. Walls, pool bottom, water line, but also skimmers, liner, valves, return jets… Everything must be cleaned!

Although tedious, thismaintenancewill allow you to fully enjoy your swims throughout the summer season.

After performing the necessary cleaning with your vacuum broom, placing a tarp or otherpool coveris essential to prevent leaves, pollen, or other impurities from falling into the pool.

3. Not performing water analysis

Before starting the filtration, it is important to adjust thepH level. To do this, get test strips: the pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6. If it is below 7.2, use a pH increaser (which will make your water more alkaline). If it is above 7.6, use a pH reducer (which will make your water more acidic).

Please note, however, that the pH correction product should only be introduced into the pool when the valve is in the filtration position. In addition, if your pool is treated with chlorine, you will need to check the stabilizer: it must be at a maximum of 30 mg/L. The alkalinity (TAC) and limescale will also need to be checked.

Did you not perform ashock treatmenton your pool before winterizing it? Do it before the water turns cloudy or green: with chlorine, bromine, or liquid active oxygen, depending on your pool's usual treatment.

4. Drain your pool completely if the water is cloudy

Contrary to popular belief,drainingis not the only solution for pools that have gone bad! In addition to the risk of cracks in your pool's structure, this technique can prove to be extremely expensive.

Are you using chlorine treatment? If your pool water has become cloudy or green during winterization, Aboral recommends performing achlorine shock treatment. To do this, pour it directly into your pool water, then clean the walls and waterline with a brush to dislodge dust and impurities. Let the treatment act for 24 hours, ensuring the filtration runs continuously.

Want to know more? Discover all our tips forfixing green pool waterquickly.

5. Forgetting the technical room

When restarting your pool, you will need to pay particular attention to yourtechnical room.

You've opted for an active wintering? Good news, you simply need to readjust thefiltration time.

For pool owners who have chosenpassive winterization, the procedure is slightly longer: first, it involves reconditioning the pump and filters. If the pump needs to be unjammed, use a screwdriver to turn it until it unblocks.

Subsequently, opening all the valves and manipulating the pump's electronic box are necessary before programming a new filtration time.

When restarting the filtration system,Aboralrecommends checking the filter pressure gauge. If the pressure is too low, the pump may be seized, in which case you should try to free it again with a screwdriver. The pump may also be clogged and require cleaning.

Conversely, if the pressure is too high, there is a good chance that the valves are not open. The problem may also come from the filter: clean it and everything should be back to normal!

To find out everything about getting your pool up and running again, don't hesitate to contact our team of experts directly. They will be happy to advise you!