Here comes the lovely sun

In very cold areas, some pool owners will have had their pipes drained and plugs inserted to keep the fittings frost free. These will have to be removed before they can start their pool for summer.
Step by step instructions (Some of the following points may not apply to every pool.)
1. Leaf and rubbish removal: Remove all leaves and rubbish in the pool using a swimming pool leaf rake. (Never try to vacuum these out).
2. Brushing: If there is algae or any other growth attached to the pool walls or floor, it should be brushed with a pool brush. If it is stubborn, a stainless steel pool broom may be required.
3. Settle or floc: After removing the leaves and brushing the walls and floor, a lot of fine rubbish may have been stirred up. Let this settle or use a floc or settle agent to drop it to the floor for vacuuming. It is much less costly to physically remove solids before using chemicals.
4. Top up pool: Fill the pool to about 75mm or 100mm higher than the normal running level. Do this before you add the settling agent. This extra water will be used to remove the heavy rubbish from the pool.
5. Skimmer box and pump strainer: Check to make sure all leaves are removed from the skimmer basket. If the basket has tipped over (which often happens), make sure to dig all the leaves out of the bottom of the skimmer so they do not get sucked down the pump suction line, where they could cause a blockage. Clean the basket in front of the pump and run some water down the pipe to the skimmer box to make sure it is clear. Make sure the pump is primed, ready to start.
6. Check pump and filter: Especially if the pump has not been operated over the winter, then the following needs to be done. Set the filter valve to the waste position or if there is no waste position, then drain. If there are only filter and backwash positions, disconnect the line between the pump and the filter and direct the pump outlet to go to waste.
Switch the pump to the on position for a few seconds, the pump should start to operate and begin pumping water to the waste. If there is just a h-mm sound from the pump, switch is off straightaway. This normally means that the motor bearings have been seized over winter. The pump and motor would need to be taken to a pool shop to have new bearing set in or call your local pool service company.
If the pump runs OK and starts to pump water, let it run for 30 seconds, then switch it off. During the 30 seconds check for leaks between the pump and motor, which would normally occur out of the bottom. If there is a leak here, then the mechanical seal, which stops water moving back along the shaft has become stuck or worn and needs replacing. 
7. Vacuum and waste: Now that you know your pump is operating okay and the fine rubbish has settled to the floor, that fine rubbish will have to be vacuumed to waste. Never vacuum this type of rubbish through your filter, especially if it contains live or dead algae. Never, ever!
Connect the vacuum as normal, being careful not to stir up the fine rubbish when setting the vacuum head onto the floor. Switch on the pump and start vacuuming. The vacuum head should be able to be moved quite quickly without stirring up the fine rubbish. The brushing, settling and vacuuming may be repeated a couple of times if the rubbish or debris is very heavy.
8. Primary chemical addition: If the walls and floor look reasonably clean and visibility through the water allows you to see the bottom, then go straight to step 9. If the algae is still green on the walls and the floor after brushing and vacuuming, then do as follows:
a) Check and correct the pH level to 7.3
b) Add 1.4 kilogrammes of calcium hypochlorite (powder chlorine) for each 40 000 litres of water in the pool by sprinkling it directly onto the surface so it sinks down the walls and down onto the algae on the floor. This will burn into the algae and you can brush it again in 24 hours, top up the pool and vacuum to waste again. If you have vinyl liner pool, then you will have to use four litres of liquid chlorine instead of powder.
9. Filter cleaning: Sand filter — if the filter has not had sand changed for more than five years, then consider getting new sand put it in the filter. After you have finished vacuuming and all the heavy rubbish is out of the pool, set the valve to backwash position and run the pump to backwash the filter sand. Run until the backwash water is clear, then use the rinse position for 30 seconds, then move the filter position. (Remember to never move the filter valve position while the pump is running; always switch off the pump first).
Diatomaceous earth filter — Dismantle the filter tank, remove the internal filter pads and give them a good clean with a very light dish brush and detergent. Rinse well in fresh water after. Check for any holes in the pads and repair them with finger nail polish, after first letting them dry. (colour does not matter). Replace pads back into the filter, make sure valve is on the filter position. Mix the required amount of DE powder with water and have it ready to pour into the skimmer box after you start the pump.
Cartridge filters — Remove the filter cartridge from the tank and give it a good soak for 24 hours in a cartridge cleaner, available from the local pool shop. Blast the cartridge clean with a good high pressure hose. Rinse with clean water and place back into the filter tank. If the cartridge is torn, collapsed at one or both ends or more than two years old, then replace it.
10. Chemical set up: Make sure to set the chemicals correct in the following order. Get your local pool shop to check a sample of water. Correct as follows:
-Calcium hardness first. Set to 150ppm if it is not that high naturally.
-Total alkalinity next. Correct to 80-100 for normal pools and 120-130 for pools using salt water chlorinators.
-then pH set to 7.4-7.6
-when all these are done add the chlorine.
11. Starting equipment: Now that you can start your filter pump. Make sure to run it for 24 hours straight to give it a good chance to clean the fine rubbish in the water, then go back to your normal daily running of 6 to 8 hours.
– Vincent Munyeza is a director at Jackson Munyeza Pools. He is a certified pool operator & certified pool instructor, the first in Africa to hold such a qualification. For views and comments: splash@jacksonmunyezapools.com