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, but also filtration and water treatment are essential maintenance steps to restore healthy, clean water for your next swim.

To avoid an unforeseen event or error, Aboral will give you an update on the things to avoid when putting your pool back into service . Let's go!

1. First mistake: a swimming pool restarted too late

You are probably wondering when to stop winterizing your pool ?

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 restart your pool ! Indeed, when the water in your pool warms up, algae and bacteria invite themselves into your pool, making the water cloudy and green . To avoid any disappointment, you should therefore respect the recommended temperature threshold, namely between 12°C and 15°C. Not beyond!

In addition to limiting the risk of algae and bacteria proliferation, removing the winter cover and putting your pool back into service at the right time will save you time and energy. And yes, by taking things in hand quickly, you will not need to consume a lot of sanitation products and equipment to find clean water – and this, whatever the wintering method (active wintering 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, putting a pool back into service takes time and requires a lot of attention to avoid a potential mistake. So if you're hoping to be able to apply the "quick and easy" method, don't count on it! Whether you've opted for passive or active wintering, you must constantly check the condition of the pool.

After removing the cover or tarpaulin from your shell pool , you will need to completely clean the water and the structure of the pool. Walls, bottom of the pool, waterline but also skimmers, liner, valves, return jets... Everything must be cleaned!

Although tedious, this maintenance will allow you to fully enjoy your swimming throughout the summer season.

After having carried out the necessary cleaning using your vacuum cleaner, it is essential to install a tarpaulin or other pool cover in order to stop letting leaves, pollen or other impurities fall into the pool.

3. Not performing water analysis

Before starting the filtration, it is important to rectify the pH level . To do this, get some test strips: the pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6. If it is lower than 7.2, use a pH enhancer (which will make your water more alkaline). If it is higher than 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.

You did not shock treat your pool before winterizing your pool? Do it before the water becomes cloudy or green: with chlorine, bromine or liquid active oxygen, depending on the usual treatment of your pool.

4. Drain your pool completely if the water is cloudy

Contrary to popular belief, draining is not the only solution for pools that have turned! In addition to the risk of cracks in the structure of your pool, this technique can be extremely costly.

Are you using chlorine treatment? If your pool water has become cloudy or green during wintering, Aboral recommends that you perform a chlorine shock treatment . To do this, pour it directly into the water in your pool, then clean the walls and waterline using a brush to remove dust and impurities. Leave the treatment to act for 24 hours, making sure to run the filtration system without interruption.

Want to know more? Discover all our tips for fixing green pool water quickly.

5. Forgetting the technical room 

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

Have you opted for active wintering? Good news, you simply have to readjust the filtration time .

For pool owners who have chosen passive winterizing , the procedure is slightly longer: first, it involves repairing the pump and filters. If the pump needs to be unstuck, use a screwdriver to turn it until it becomes unstuck.

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, Aboral recommends that you check the filter pressure gauge. If the pressure is too low, the pump may be seized, in which case you will have to try again to unseize it using a screwdriver. The pump may also be clogged and need 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!