How to restart a pool in spring?

In the Var, the ideal window runs from mid-March to mid-April. The marker: a water temperature above 12 °C for at least 5 days in a row.

Wait longer, and you let algae take the lead: at 15 °C, they get going within a few days.

Clear out leaves and rainwater before removing it (a sump pump if needed). Clean and dry the cover before storing it: that's 3 extra years of lifespan.

Use this moment to check the fixings, anchors and the cover itself.

• Full brushing of the walls and floor.
• Vacuuming of debris with a robot or manual vacuum.
• Cleaning the waterline, often marked from winter.
• Refilling to the middle of the skimmer.

This is also the moment to deep clean the filter — not just a backwash.

Before starting the pump:

• Check the pre-filter and its seal.
• Open the valves in the right order (suction before return).
• Re-prime the pump if it was drained.

Run it 24 hours continuously the first day, then go back to a normal cycle based on temperature.

1. pH first: adjust it between 7.2 and 7.6 (see water balance). 2. Shock treatment with unstabilised chlorine to make up for winter. 3. Preventive anti-algae treatment straight after. 4. Stabiliser if needed.

48 hours later, run a full check again. If everything's clear, swimming can resume.