When gathering garden supplies, don’t forget to stock up on products to get your pool ready for summer. Filling and preparing the water is essential to create a safe, clean swimming environment for your family. Below is some advice to ready your pool before the warm weather arrives.

A Guide to Preparing Your Pool for Summer

1. Clean Everything

Use a soft-bristled brush and water to remove any debris on the pool interior edges. Leave the cover on in the areas you’re not working on, so you can quickly close it up. 

Remove the pool plugs protecting the pipes from freezing. Those who have diatomaceous earth filters should dismantle and clean them according to the manufacturer’s instructions for the model. Sand filter owners can attach a hose to the backwash side and force the water backward to clean it. If you have a cartridge filter, remove it and wash the cartridge with a hose. Remove leaves and other debris from the baskets, so the system can begin filtering the water when you turn it on.

2. Fill & Test the Water

Fill the pool with a water tank delivery or from the hose. Most pools use between 18,000 and 20,000 gallons of water, meaning this process will take several hours. After topping off the water level, start the filters and use pool chemistry testing strips to assess the chlorine, mineral, and pH levels. These measurements use parts per million (PPM), which is one pound of chemical per 120,000 gallons of water.

3. Facilitate Healthy Levels

After testing the water, go to a garden supplies store for the chemicals you need to make the water clear and sanitary. You can add or remove chemicals to obtain healthy measurements. The water levels should have a 7.2 to 7.8 pH to keep the water clean and prevent damaging the filter and lights. The total alkalinity, or amount of bicarbonate, in the water should be 10 to 80 PPM.

The calcium hardness measures minerals that make the water “hard” or “soft,” and levels should be 180 to 220 PPM. Cyanuric acid protects the chlorine by stabilizing it in the sunlight and should be between 30 to 50 PPM. The chlorine should be 1 to 3 PPM.

Also, purchase pool shock treatment, which is powdered chlorine that will kill off the algae and bacteria after you balance the pool chemicals. This mixture will make the water clear again and disinfect the interior surfaces.

If you need pool and garden supplies, contact Bethel Feed & Supply Pet & Garden Center in Clermont County, OH. The store has been open since 1858 and offers everything you need from plant care to dog food and pool chemicals. Call the Bethel-area garden supplies company at (513) 734-2246 or visit the website for information on their products for farms, gardens, and gifts for children.