Warmer weather has us starting our spring cleaning initiatives – both inside and out. See what you need to be thinking about when it comes to your pool.

Scrub off winter dirt

Start by brushing down the side-walls and steps. Black algae form a protective shield around itself that only vigorous brushing can remove. After brushing the pool, run the filtration system for several hours and backwash the filter. Repeat the brush-filter-backwash sequence. If you have cartridge filters, run the sequence twice with the old filters and then replace the filters to get the season off to a good start.

GATHER UP spring flowers

“April showers bring May flowers.” If you live in Northern California, an array of flowers are blowing everywhere. Beautiful? – Yes! Messy? – Definitely!! Nothing controls this debris and the pollens that go with it like one of our robotic pool cleaners. It works all day and most of the night to skim all this mess from the surface of the pool before it has a chance to sink. Promptly removing spring flowers from your pool will keep the pool sparkling clean and bacteria/algae at bay. By the time it sinks to the bottom for your bottom cleaner to take care of, the damage is already done. Talk about necessary spring cleaning!

Check your chemistry

As the temperature heats up, algae and bacteria become more active. The key to winning the fight against algae is to start with properly balanced water. Start your season by taking a water sample in to your local pool professional and letting them test the full range of levels. Most home test kits only measure pH and Chlorine concentrations. This is good enough for maintaining your pool during the season but is inadequate for getting a proper start to the year. Having all the levels balanced will not only make your pool water feel more comfortable, it will reduce your chemical costs during the season.

Assess your water quality

Check water for high (TDS) Total Dissolved Solids. In California TDS are so high that it requires changing the pool water every three to five years. High TDS reduces the effectiveness of chlorine, thereby increasing the cost of keeping your pool sanitized. A sustainable alternative to changing your pool water is to have it recycled through a mobile reverse-osmosis system.

Tune up your pump

A well-tuned pump motor will save you lots of energy and cash. Lubricate the motor if it has lubrication ports. Check all seals and apply new silicone. This will help keep the rubber parts supple and minimize the chance of air leaks. Turn on the pump and ensure it primes properly.

Cleaned, controlled, balanced, filtered and tuned-up! A little work now will save a lot later. Your pool will be cleaner, cheaper and easier to maintain, and more sustainable. Of course we can do all this for you and we guarantee you spend more time enjoying your pool and less time cleaning when you sign up for our weekly service. ?