Sunny days are finally here, and so is the irresistible urge to dive into clear water!
But before pulling out the loungers, it's essential to properly prepare your pool for the new season. A successful restart is the key to a worry-free summer… and perfect water! Follow our 8 key steps to gently wake up your pool and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
1. Remove Winterizing Equipment
This is the first must-do step: take off the winter cover, floats, plugs, and anything else used to protect your pool over the winter. Also, remember to put back essential components like the skimmer baskets, return jets, and sensors.
2. Give It a First Quick Clean
Even with a cover, a pool can collect leaves, dust, or insects on the surface. Use a skimmer net for a quick sweep and remove as many visible impurities as possible. This will make deep cleaning easier later.
3. Check the Pool Equipment Area
The steps here depend on the type of winterizing you used:
- Active winterizing: Filtration was never fully stopped, so you can simply restart your usual cycle or adjust the filtration durations.
- Passive winterizing: Everything needs to be reconnected—open the valves, reconnect devices, and restart the filtration. It’s also a good time to check the pressure on the filter gauge.
💡 Pro tip: Consider installing a smart filtration control system like our Tild VP, which automates cycles based on water temperature.
4. Do a Deep Clean
With the basics out of the way, it's time for a full clean-up. Use your pool robot or a manual vacuum to clean the walls, the floor, and those tricky corners. This sets a good foundation for proper water balance.
5. Adjust the Water Level
You likely lowered the water level during winter to prevent freeze damage. Time to top it up! Fill until you reach the optimal level—generally about two-thirds of the way up the skimmer.
6. Test and Balance the Water
Restarting your pool is also the perfect moment to assess water quality. pH, alkalinity (TAC), hardness (TH), stabilizer—everything should be in check before anyone dives in.
🔎 Save time with our smart analyzer Ofix VP, which measures key parameters and sends them straight to your smartphone via the Vigipool app.
7. Perform a Shock Treatment
The water has been stagnant all winter, so a shock treatment—using chlorine or bromine depending on your system—is highly recommended. This effectively kills bacteria and algae that may have grown.
If you use a salt chlorinator like Zelia VP or Zelia ZLT, you can activate the CHOC mode directly on the device to boost chlorine production for 24 hours.
8. Run the Filtration Continuously
Last step: keep the filtration system running nonstop for 24 to 48 hours. This helps the water mix well, clears out remaining debris, and ensures crystal-clear results.
☀️ In Summary
Getting your pool ready for the warm season is easier than you think—especially with the right guidance. And the earlier you start (as soon as the water reaches 12 to 15°C), the more you reduce the need for excessive chemical products.
Ready to go? Your pool is too!