Your pool’s been waiting for you all winter, but now, it’s spring again! Spring is a lovely time to start swimming again if you’re in Hamilton.

It’s just warm enough, so you can indulge in some poolside relaxation, play in the water, and sunbathe for hours.

However, getting your pool ready can be a major task. Your pool cover’s been gathering dust and debris for the last six or seven months, and you might be daunted by the work involved in clearing all of it up.

Don’t worry, though—we’ve got you covered with the most comprehensive pool guide for this spring.

Taking the pool cover off

The last thing you want is a season’s worth of dirty leaves and debris to fall into your pool. If your pool cover is just a mesh net, use a soft broom to get rid of as much debris off the top as you can. If the cover is solid, then you’ll also need to remove all the water that might have accumulated on the surface of the cover using a submersible pump.

Once this is done, it’s time to remove the cover. This is a two-person job, with both people standing on opposite ends of the pool and folding the cover across accordion-style. You’ll need to clean the pool cover after this and lay it flat to dry. After it’s dried, fold it up and put it away.

Set your pool up

Fill the pool up to the appropriate level with your garden hose. You’ll know to stop filling when the water is halfway to the wall skimmer.

After this, you’ll have to turn on the pool pump and filter. Make sure there aren’t any drips or leaks, and let the pump run for a day.

Clean up your pool

At this point, you’ll probably see a lot of debris floating about on the surface of the pool. Grab a vacuum and get to work to remove all of it. If you don’t have a vacuum, you can use a net instead. Make sure you get all the algae and dead leaves. The water level of your pool might drop while you’re removing the debris, but you can just fill it up with your hose again later.

Testing the waters

The pH and alkalinity of the water may have changed during winter; it’s good practice to balance the chemical levels in the water since it keeps you and your pool healthy. You can get it tested at a pool supply store or use a water testing kit. Good general guidelines for the parameters are as follows:

· Chlorine: 1.0–3.0 ppm

· pH: 7.2-7.6

· Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm

· Calcium hardness: 150-225 ppm

If the chemical balance is not right, make sure you adjust it by adding a little at a time and test after mixing every time. You’ll have to wait at least a week after adding the chemicals to make sure they’re doing their job—but then it’s all yours to dive right into!

We want to bring your dream pool to life. We’re a North Virginia based award-winning swimming pool design, building and renovation company that serves Hamilton and surrounding areas. If you need a pool contractor in Hamilton, contact us today!