With the weather starting to warm up once again, many people are thinking about getting their pools up and running again. Of course, the pool also needs to be safe for use. In order to make sure this happens, there are a few steps that everyone must follow. 1. Remove the Gunk from the Pool Cover The first step doesn't even involve the pool itself; however, the pool cover is going to be dirty. Take a soft broom to the pool cover and pump and use these tools to clean the cover. Get rid of the dead leaves and remove the standing water. This needs to be removed to prevent it from leaking into the pool when the cover is removed. 2. Skim the Pool The next step is to take a skimmer and use it to remove anything that might have fallen from the cover during the removal process. This debris might end up clogging the filtration system when it is booted up. Therefore, remove the big stuff to make the cleaning process easier down the road. 3. Remove the Ice Compensator and the Plugs From the Pool When the pool is winterized, plugs are often added to the pipes to prevent water from getting into them and freezing (which can cause serious damage). Remove these plugs first. If an ice compensator was used, be sure to remove this as well. If these items weren't used, this was a big risk! Use them next winter! 4. Chutes and Ladders Swimming Pool Version Similar to the popular game, it is time to reinstall the chutes and ladders. This includes the pool ladder, railings, diving board, slide, and other accessories. Drag these out of storage and put them back in the pool. Be sure to lubricate the bolts of all of these materials to prevent them from breaking. This can increase their longevity. 5. Add the Water to the Swimming Pool During the winter, the water level of the pool probably dropped by a few inches. Sure, the pool cover does prevent evaporation to some extent, but it isn't perfect. Bring the water level back up to normal now. It is easier to do this before chemicals are added because adding additional water will throw off the concentrations of the chemicals that are used to sanitize the pool. 6. Run the Pool Filter and Pump Now is the time to get the filter and pump back up and running. Be sure to use plenty of lubrication on the pump housing o-ring. If there is any air being sucked into the pump, be sure to check the o-ring for cracks. Open the return side valves to ensure the water has someplace to go once it is filtered. Then, turn on the circuit breaker and watch the pump go to work. 7. Make Sure the Swimming Pool Water is Safe The next step is to make sure the chemicals in the water are at the right level. Sure, test strips are a good place to start; however, there are a few other tools that are needed. Get the chemistry kit and adjust alkalinity, then pH, and then the water hardness. Checking the chemicals in this order will minimize the amount of work required. 8. Vacuum the Pool Sure, the big stuff was removed, but there is still lots of little stuff present. The filter is going to do a lot of the work but plenty of other stuff is probably sitting at the bottom. Get the pool vacuum and get that stuff out of there! 9. Shock the Pool Finally, kill everything in the pool that shouldn't be there. In order to shock the pool, you'll need to calculate the break-point chlorination of the pool. This is done using the free chlorine level from the water test. Be sure to wear gloves as well as safety goggles during this process! Once Your Pool is Ready, Add Accessories For Fun! It can be a lot of work to get a pool ready for use once the weather warms up. Once your pool is ready to go,check out all of our pool accessories to finish it off. At Dunn Rite Pool Products, we have some of the most advanced pool products on the market. Take a look at our selection of fun  pool basketball and pool volleyball units today.  Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories 3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality. Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball

A pool is a popular addition to numerous homes and apartment complexes. When the weather heats up, it is always great to have a place to cool off. Furthermore, pools are beautiful to look at and are a great place to socialize. Those who have installed a pool in their backyard also know that this comes with a few major responsibilities. One of these has to do with maintenance. When it comes to the maintenance of a pool, there are a few points that everyone should know. How is a Pool Maintained? In general, the purpose of pool maintenance is to keep it safe for use while extending its longevity. In order to accomplish this task, there are a few important categories. The first has to do with the water. The water of the pool needs to be safe for use. This means that it needs to have a sanitation level that will kill bacteria and viruses. This will keep people who use the pool from getting an infection. The other part of pool maintenance has to do with the structure. The structure of the pool needs to be kept clean and safe. This will prevent cracks from developing in the foundation of the pool. What Chemicals are Required for Pool Maintenance? When someone is maintaining the water, there are two broad ways that the water can be kept clean. The first method involves traditional chlorine. If someone is trying to sanitize the water by adding chlorine directly to it, then chlorine is required along with a pH indicator. The pH is used to indicate the chlorine level (or bromine if someone is going with an alternative). There is also a chemical used to measure the alkalinity of the water. All of this is necessary for making sure the pool is safe to use. Should a Professional Service be Hired? One of the most common questions people ask about the maintenance of a pool is whether or not they should hire a professional service. This is a personal question; however, there are a few factors to consider. Some people are too busy to take care of their pools. In this case, it is better to hire someone else to accomplish this task. Other people may think their time is more valuable than what they would pay a pool maintenance crew. This is another good reason to hire a professional service. Finally, other people might not be present often enough at the property to take care of the pool. This is another good reason to hire a professional service. Are There Seasonal Differences in Pool Maintenance? There are seasonal differences in pool maintenance only if someone winterizes the pool during the cooler months. If the pool is not heated, then when the temperature drops, it is unlikely to be used for several months. When someone is going to winterize his or her pool, there are a few tasks. First, the chemical balance of the water needs to be altered. This is important for keeping the water safe and also for preventing it from freezing. This is the other important point of winterizing a pool. If the water freezes, then it expands. This will damage the structure of the pool. This must be avoided through proper maintenance. Does the Type of Pool Matter? The type of pool is going to influence the way someone takes care of it. For example, a vinyl liner requires more upkeep than a concrete structure. Mold sticks to vinyl and forms more quickly than it does concrete. Furthermore, if someone uses a saltwater chlorinator to sterilize the pool, this is going to require less upkeep than the traditional chlorine method. Make sure the right method is being used to take care of the pool. Trust the Professionals for Pool Assistance At Dunn Rite Pool Products, we have some of the top pool pieces on the market to make your day outside as fun as possible. Take a look at our  pool basketball hoops, pool volleyball, and more! We are always here to help you take your day at the pool to new heights! Swing by and take a look at our selection today! Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories 3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality. Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball