Advice and recommendations for pool water treatment and maintenance

How to start up your pool in springtime

1. Clean your pool

Before starting up your pool you must clean it :

- Remove the winterizing cover taking care to clean and dry before storing in a sheltered, dry area.

- Remove all winterizing accessories present in the pool : winterizing floaters, gizmos, caps etc....

- Replace all discharge nozzles and baskets in the pump pre-filter and skimmer.

- Clean the pool floor by slowly brushing and vacuuming. Position the 6-way valve to waste as to avoid clogging the filter.
Use only the brush adaptor if possible, by closing the skimmer and main drain circuit. If the pool floor is not visible or the water is very green, some water evacuation will be required.

- Clean the waterline with a specific gel detergent.

- Check the totality of your filtration system and equipment (filter, pump, electrical box,...).

2. Filter cleaning, start up

- Reposition the purge caps, check O rings on the Pool filter, pump and pre-filter.

- Clean and descale the pool filter using a specific detergent (the filter must be stopped for cleaning).
If the filter cannot be opened, introduce the product via the pump pre-filter. Select position waste to disperse the detergent throughout the filter.

- Leave to activate for 12h, then backwash and evacuate to waste till water runs clear. Supervision is possible using the sight glass.

- Adjust the water level of the pool to 3/4 of skimmers.

3. pH analysis and stabiliser levels

- Check the pH level present in water using a pH tester or manual analysis pouch. Then balance water between 7,0 and 7,4.

- Check stabiliser levels with a strip test: the stabiliser levels should not be greater than 75 mg/l. If this is not the case, evacuate some pool water.

What is over stabilisation in pool water?

Following years of water balance treatment, the use of Stabilised chlorine in tablet form leaves deposits of cyanuric acid in the pool water.

A high level of stabiliser cancels the effects of water treatment. The only method to eliminate stabiliser residue is to empty pool water.

Check the levels of stabiliser present in your pool water by using a photometer.

This reading should not be any greater than 75 mg/l (150 ppm : evacuate approx 1/2 pool water - 100ppm : evacuate approx 1/3 of pool water) or adopt the use of a chlorine without stabiliser

4. Shock treatment

To disinfect and eliminate green pool water (algae and other bacteria suspended in water), effectuate a chlorine shock treatment. Continue filtration 24/24 during 48h.

- Effectuate a backwash of the filter

- Balance pH between 7,0 and 7,4 et maintaining chlorine levels at 1,5 mg/l.
A flocculant treatment every 2 weeks will keep your water limpid and crystalline

Everyday pool maintenance

1. 1 or 2 per week

- Clean skimmer baskets, remove insects, leaves and other debris.

- Clean the waterline with a sponge and gel detergent.

- Vaccum brush the pool using the brush adaptor or use an Electric pool cleaner.

- Adjust the water level of the pool water to 3/4 of skimmers. A water level which is too low will provoke air being suctioned via the skimmer resulting in lost prime.

2. Pump and filter maintenance

- Empty the basket and pre-filter of the pump (not running).

- Check the pressure gauge of the filter and effectuate if required a backwash. If the pressure gauge shows an abnormal amount of pressure in the tank, the filter is clogged.

Sand filter : Effectuate a back wash of the filter. If the problem persists, use a detergent.
Cartridge filters : Check the cartridge is in good working order, descale if required.
DE filters : Backwash the filter, stop filtration and remove filtration module, clean, replace all parts and add a supplement of DE via the skimmer.

3. Water balance

- Regularly check the pH level present in pool water is between 7 and 7,4.

If pH is too high :
Alkaline levels are too high - Add pH correction treatment
Basicity level too high - Adjust pH-.

pH is too low :
Alkaline levels are too high - use an alkaline corrector
Acidity levels too high - frequent pH checks, add pH plus correction treatment

Cloudy troubled water : suggestions that may resolve your problem

1. Cloudy or troubled water

- Check pH.

If pH is incorrect:
Readjust between 7 and 7,4 using a pH correction product ( pH+ or pH-), that you check using a pH tester.

- Effectuate a shock treatment compatible with your water treatment system (chlorine, bromine, active oxygen...).

- Use a flocculant which agglomerates the fine particles drawing them towards the pool floor.

- Leave on the filtration system for 24h and vacuum residue present on the pool floor.

Insufficient filtration : Lengthen the duration of filtration cycle (15h/day for water at 28°c, 24h/24 over 32°c)

2. Green troubled water

Formation of algae on pool floor and walls.

- Effectuate a shock chlorine treatment, wash and rinse the filter. Place a cartridge of flocculant in the skimmer and use a concentrated anti-algae treatment. Avoid using a flocculant if you use a cartridge filter.

If you suspect over-stabilisation: Check your stabilisation levels (100 to 150 ppm evacuate 1/3 of your pool ; greater than 150 ppm, evacuate 1/2 pool water) and use a non-stabilised chlorine.

3. Lime deposits

pH levels too high - Readjust pH between 7,0 and 7,4.
Hard water (too much limescale) - Add anti-limescale treatment

Brown, red or black water

Presence of iron or magnisium deposits.
Readjust pH between 7,0 and 7,4 and proceed with a shock chlorine treatment, liquid flocculant and stop filtration during 12h. Vaccum deposits and send directly to the main sewerage network by selecting the "waste" option on the multiway filter valve.

4. Green, translucid water

Copper deposits.
Check the TAC. An ideal reading is between 80 and 120 mg/l (8 to 12 °C). If required, apply a liquid flocculant and stop filtration during 12h. Vaccum deposits and send directly to the main sewerage network by selecting the "waste" option on the multiway filter valve. Use a metallic sequester treatment if pH is too low when using a Bromine water treatment.

- Correct pH between 7 and 7,4, supervise bromine levels.

5. Strong smell of chlorine, eye and skin irritations

If the chlorine level is insufficient, an excess of chloramines is present (eroded chlorine).

- Effectuate a shock chlorination to raise chlorine levels and readjust pH between 7,0 and 7,4.

6. Chlorine or pH levels difficult to stabalise

- Check the stabiliser level present in the pool (always lesser than 75mg/l).

- Add a product to enhance the level of alkaline present in the pool to lower pH variations (by heightening a buffer effect).

- Readjust between 7 and 7,4, effectuate a shock treatment.

Backwash procedure for sand filter

1. Stop the pool pump
2. Open the waste valve
3. Position the 6-way valve to "rinse"
4. Activate the pump for 1 minute
5. Stop the pump
6. Position the 6-way valve to "rinse"
7. Activate the pump for 1 minute
8. Stop the pump
9. Close the waste valve
10. Selection the position "filtration " on the 6-way valve
11. Activate the pump

Brush cleaning the pool

1. Assemble the telescopic brush, place the connection at the end of the floating tube against the discharge nozzle
2. Once the air has been evacuated from the brush tube, connect to the brush adaptor or the skimmer using a skim-vac.
3. Close the main drain and vacuum, slowly.

You can also consult: our installation guide for pool kit