How to prepare your pool for a Cape Town summer

Why spring is the time

Winter in Cape Town is wet. Rain dilutes the pool, raises the level, washes leaves and soil in and upsets the chemical balance. Many owners also cut the pump hours in winter. When the first warm days arrive in September and October, those pools often turn green, the pump struggles, or a problem that crept in over winter becomes obvious.

Spring is also when contractors still have space in their diaries. By December they are flat out. Fix things in September and October and you swim in December.

Step 1: clear and clean

• Remove the cover, clean it and let it dry before storing it.
• Skim leaves and debris, and empty the skimmer and pump baskets.
• Brush the walls, steps and floor, then vacuum.
• Check the automatic cleaner, its hoses and its moving parts.

Step 2: water level and balance

After winter rain the level may be high. Lower it to the middle of the skimmer opening by backwashing or using the waste setting. Then test the water, or take a sample to a pool shop, and adjust step by step: alkalinity first, then pH, then chlorine. If the water is green, it may need a shock treatment and several days of filtering. Do not swim until the water is clear and balanced.

Check the City's current water rules before any top-up. Cape Town has restricted pool filling in the past, especially during the 2017 to 2018 drought.

Step 3: pump, filter and chlorinator

Our guide to pool pump faults and repairs explains the common symptoms. For a repair, see pool pump and equipment repair.

• Listen to the pump at start-up. Humming without starting, screeching or rumbling means it needs attention.
• Look for water under the pump: a dripping seal is easier to replace now than after it fails.
• Check the filter pressure after backwashing. If it rises quickly, the sand or cartridge may need replacing.
• Check that the multiport valve does not leak to waste.
• Clean or inspect the salt chlorinator cell, and check the salt level.
• Reset the timer for summer running hours.
• If anything trips the electricity, leave it off and get it checked by a qualified person.

Step 4: look for leaks

Once the level is normal and the weather settles, run a bucket test over a few dry days. Winter rain can hide a leak for months. Walk around the pool and the pump room and look for settling paving, wet patches and damp walls. Our guide to the signs your pool is leaking explains how. If you find a leak, pool leak detection is the next step.

Step 5: surface, coping and fittings

Small faults are best fixed now. If the surface is worn all over, plan resurfacing for the next shoulder season; see pool resurfacing and relining.

• Look for new cracks, rough patches or stains on the surface.
• Check coping stones for movement and loose waterline tiles.
• Check that lights work and their fittings are sealed.
• Check the steps and ladder for loose fixings or corrosion, especially near the coast.

Step 6: safety

Before children start swimming, check the fence and gate: the gate should close and latch on its own. Check that any safety net or cover is undamaged and fits. SANS 10134 deals with pool safety barriers, and a compliant barrier is worth having wherever children may be near the water. Keep chemicals locked away from children.

When to call in help

If you would rather not do the checks yourself, a pool service provider can do a spring service; see pool maintenance and cleaning. For faults, send us the details and we refer you to an independent contractor who covers your suburb.

Frequently asked questions

Related

• Pool maintenance and cleaning
• Pool pump and equipment repair
• Signs your pool is leaking, and how to check