How do you restart your pool after the winter? [roadmap]

The clock is back to summer time, and the Easter Bunny has already visited. In short: bye bye, winter! We are really looking forward to the summer and, of course, that includes swimming. But when can you restart your pool after the winter? And how do you make sure your pool is ready for summer again?!

After a few months' hibernation, your (outdoor) pool needs a bit of attention before it can sparkle again. Many pool owners dread it, but restarting your swimming pool is quite simple. Find out what to look out for in this blog.

At Swimm, we also often get the question how to restart your sand filter after the winter. To answer this question, we have created a video and step-by-step plan especially for you. Find out further down this page.

Your pool from winter-ready to summer-ready

Every pool needs regular maintenance. If you choose not to use your outdoor pool during the cold months, you will need it in autumn winterized to make. The more thoroughly you have done this, the greater the chance that your pool has made it through the winter without damage.

Now that the sun is shining more, you notice: The better you prepared your pool for the cold, the less work you will have now. If you don't like the condition of your pool, at least you know what to pay more attention to next autumn.

When to make the swimming pool ready for summer?

Do you restart your pool after the risk of frost has passed, as your pool can suffer frost damage.

We advise you to start preparing your sun for summer around mid-May, around this period the chance of night frost is very small

‍After all, frost is the biggest threat to your swimming pool installations. The longer your pool hibernates, the more the effect of chlorine, anti-algae agents, etc. decreases and the greater the risk of algae growth and pollution. As the temperature rises, the growth and spread of algae and microorganisms accelerates. So start getting your pool ready for summer on time!

Even without frost, the water cools quickly at night for a long time. The heating must then run extra fast. If you heat your swimming water with a heat pump, it also works less efficiently at low temperatures (if at all). In the case of highly energy-efficient, compact baths — such as the
Swimm Intelligent Pool — you don't have that concern.

In short, there are three scenarios:

1. You want only in hot water swimming:
   Wait at least until the period with (night) frost has ended.
   If the water temperature without heating around 12°C reached, you no longer run this risk.
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2. You don't mind being in cold (er) water to swim:
   Restart your pool on a day when it doesn't freeze.
   Set the pool heater to a low temperature (somewhere above 0°C).
   For the rest of the cold months, you need the circulation pump at least 4 hours a day to run to prevent the water from freezing. ‍
   ‍‍When it freezes, then you need the circulation pump permanently to turn on.
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3. You swim anyway year round — cold water swimming is extremely healthy!
   Then you don't have to get your pool ready for summer because it hasn't hibernated.
   During a period of frost, do follow the advice under 2).

How do you get your pool ready for the summer again?

The time has finally come: you are going to restart your pool! What do you start with?

In short, these are the steps:

1. Organize your pool cover
2. Clean your pool
3. Take into account the technical aspect
4. Maintain a good water balance
5. Enjoy your pool (the best step we thought!)

Below, we'll give you an additional explanation per step to get your pool ready for summer again. Good luck!

Step 1. Organize your pool cover

‍An outdoor pool benefits from a year-round good cover. A pool cover prevents leaves and pruning, for example, from falling into the water and minimizes heat loss through evaporation.

1. If you haven't used a winter cover, the pool and water won't look so good now.
2. Remove leaves, branches, etc. from the winter cover if necessary.
3. Remove the pool cover.
4. Clean the winter cover thoroughly according to the instructions, let the cover dry and store it.
5. If applicable: Clean the shutter niche (slatted cover).
6. Clean and install the summer cover.

Step 2. Clean your pool

‍The better you had made your pool winter-ready and the more thoroughly you swimming pool maintains, the less work you have at this step.

^{How to clean your pool again after the winter:}

1. Remove the winter floats.
2. Grab your landing net and remove any debris you see floating in or on the water.
3. Remove the gizzmo from the skimmer. Empty and clean the skimmer.
4. Remove the other winter stoppers in the pool.
5. Clean the bottom of the pool with your polar dredger.
6. Clean the pool walls. Watch for limescale around the waterline.
7. Clean and install stairs, ladders and similar accessories.

Step 3. Take into account the technical aspect

‍If you have cleaned up your pool, it is the turn of the pool installations.

1. Inspect the lighting in the pool (if applicable).

2. Remove the winter stoppers and reconnect the pumps, filters, etc.

3. Prepare your (sand) filter according to the instructions. Make sure that all gaskets are present, otherwise the circulation pump will not work.

4. Turn on all taps.

5. Set the 6-way valve to circulate. Once everything works properly, set the valve to filter.

6. Check the installation for leaks.

7. Empty the basket of circulation pump.

8. Refill your pool to about halfway through the skimmer. We recommend that our customers only work with tap water.
9. Clean the sand filter with a backwash. Watch the video and see how to clean your sand filter:

Cleaning your sand filter will work slightly differently with each pool. We watched a number of videos of other swimming pools just for you. Based on that knowledge, these are the general steps you need to complete:

• Turn off your pump.
• Put your handle on the stand backwash
• Turn your pump back on
• Run your pump for 60 seconds (you'll see the water clear)
• Turn off your pump again
• Place the handle on the Prinsen beach
• Turn on the pump and let it run for 5 seconds
• Turn off your pump again
• Set your handle to stand filter
• Turn the pump back on and enjoy your pool again!

10. The water level has now dropped slightly again, so refill water.

Step 4. Ensure a good water balance

You now have a clean pool with clean water again. To keep the pool clean, the water must be optimally balanced.

1. Treat your water with a so-called”chlorine shock“. Add 2-3 times the regular dose of chlorine at one time. Preferably use liquid chlorine or rapidly dissolving chlorine granulate for this purpose. Chlorine disinfects the water and kills algae that may have remained in the water. Give the chlorine sufficient exposure time.

2. If applicable: Start up your (half) automatic water treatment system.
   Check the jerry can (s) and electrodes. Aren't they dehydrated? Otherwise, you have to renew them.

3. Check the water values with a test strip whether electronic meter. Test at least the pH value, chlorine concentration and alkalinity. If you work with chlorine tabs or granules, you should also keep an eye on cyanuric acid. More details about these values can be found in our blog about water treatment.

4. Work the water balance update and check them again.
   Many swimming pool owners leave (partially) the water preparation to an automated system. With such a (half) automatic system, this step expires; give the device sufficient time to do its work.

5. One flocculant helps make your bathing water crystal clear. Flocculant ensures that small dirt particles stick together so that they can be removed better by the filter or the pool vacuum.

Step 5. Enjoy your (summer) pool

1. Give the chemicals sufficient time to work well.
2. As soon as the pH value, chlorine concentration and alkalinity are at the right level, you can open the swimming season. Pool party time!  
3. Think about the weekly maintenance to keep your pool in top condition.

How much time you need for steps 1 to 4 depends on several factors:

• Condition of your pool (before the winter)
• How thoroughly you've winterized your pool
• The size of your pool (the more water in your pool, the larger the surface area)
  and the more work)

With an average pool of about 10 m x 5 m (l x w), you should count on at least 2 to 3 days.

Benefits of a small pool when it comes to getting ready for summer

1. Less water treatment.
2. Warm up faster.
3. Easier cleaning.
4. Lower costs.
5. Less space required.
6. Easier installation.
7. Lower energy costs.
8. More flexibility.

Less hassle, more swimming fun in both summer and winter

A compact swimming pool offers countless benefits. It takes up less space, maintenance takes less time, costs for water treatment, heating, etc. are lower. With a compact pool, you'll have more time to enjoy your pool (and maybe other fun stuff).

Of course, you want to be able to swim well and comfortably in your pool. A compact swimming pool also has an advantage here, provided it has a high-quality countercurrent system. Then you can swim carefree without having to turn around, just like in open water.

The Intelligent Pools by Swimm combine super-compact dimensions with a state-of-the-art countercurrent system. The fully adjustable current adapts perfectly to every level of swimmer. Even an Olympic champion like Maarten van der Weijden You won't swim out in an Intelligent Pool.

The Intelligent Pool is so energy efficient that you can choose to swim all year round. According to our customers, this is a wonderful experience.

Find out why our customers are so thrilled. Dive into the world of Swimm and experience it for yourself!

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