Restoring a swimming pool after winter

As the swimming season approaches, it’s time to think about taking your pool out of its winterizing period. This is easier said than done, depending on how you winterized your pool. Here are some tips and information regarding the restoration of your swimming pool.

When to restore your pool?

In general, it is advisable to take your pool out of winter storage just after the cold season, before the water temperature drops below 12°C. Be aware that if you wait until the water reaches this temperature, it will be more difficult to restore, as it will already be invaded by germs, and various types of algae and fungi will have started to settle, making your pool unpleasant. However, if you have a salt electrolysis system, avoid using it until the water has reached 15°C. Earlier activation could damage the electrolyzer cell. What you can do is use chlorine tablets as long as the water is below 15°C. To give you a reference point, swimming pool restoration is generally carried out between mid-March and April.

Methods for restoring your pool

Protecting your pool from frost during the winter can be achieved in two ways: either through passive wintering or active wintering. Each of these methods requires a specific approach to restore your pool after the cold period. Be vigilant to avoid mistakes!

Restoration of a pool in passive wintering

Passive wintering involves completely shutting down the filtration and water treatment system during the wintering period. Consequently, it will be more complicated to restore your pool after the frost, as you will need to restart the entire system and clean it thoroughly. When restarting, you will also need to adjust your equipment settings according to the user manual in order to proceed with cleaning. After that, remove the winter cover and all associated equipment before increasing the water level. Once the filtration system is turned back on, clean your pool basin, not forgetting to take care of the pool surroundings as well.

Restoration of a pool in active wintering

Active wintering, also known as semi-wintering, simply consists of a partial standby of the system; filtration continues to operate during the winter period. It is therefore easier to take a pool out of active wintering. After checking that no major damage has been caused, go straight to cleaning the pool surroundings. Then, set your filtration system back to its usual operation. Thoroughly clean the pool, including the bottom, before replacing all the pool accessories that were removed for wintering. Finally, you can eventually rebalance the pH of your water if necessary.