Are you going away on holiday for a few days or a few weeks this summer? You'll need to prepare your pool so that the water quality is as good as possible until you return. Cleaning, water treatment, water filtration... not forgetting making sure your pool is safe while you're away. Find out our tips for monitoring your pool remotely and entrusting your pool to a trusted third party, so you can leave on holiday with peace of mind.
To prepare your pool, we advise you to start by cleaning the pool, then analyzing the water quality.
The cleaning procedure is similar to that for winterizing your pool. You'll need to plan several days in advance, especially if there's no one to intervene in your absence. Your pool needs to be thoroughly cleaned:
For more details, read our article clean your pool.
Using your usual measuring tools, measure the main water parameters and correct them where necessary. Here is a summary list of all the water parameters, showing the optimum thresholds and the methods for correcting the parameter.
Once you've cleaned your pool and treated the water, it's time to activate a full filtration cycle (at least 12 hours a day) to get the chemicals into every nook and cranny. Take a look at our article on pool water filtration, the activation time depends on the water temperature. Remember that filtration contributes 80% to maintaining balanced water.
Before you leave on vacation, program your pump for daily activation. A programmer is a highly recommended piece of equipment for installation in the equipment room. Without filtration, you're likely to find your pool full of algae when you return. There are models with mechanical programmers (approx. 35 euros) that you can easily install yourself. Other, more sophisticated models feature a digital display and even an Internet connection for remote activation (from 130 euros).
In France, it's not compulsory to cover your pond if you're away from home for several days (please check the legislation in your country). It's even less advisable if outdoor temperatures are very hot, as a shutter or bubble cover helps to raise the water temperature and prevents it from cooling at night. However, if the weather forecast calls for violent thunderstorms or heavy rain that will bring debris, it's best to cover the pool.
Although it's not compulsory to cover your pool, French law does require you to secure your private pool at all times, especially when you're away. There are 4 types of safety equipment to choose from: pool fences, pool alarms, pool covers and pool shelters. See the list of safety equipment that complies with standards. Activating one of these systems while you're away is compulsory, and will protect you in the event of an accident in your swimming pool in the event of an intruder.
To prevent your pool from turning into a greenish puddle when you return from vacation, you can ask a third party (pool professional, neighbor, family or friend) to look after your pool in your absence. However, this can be costly if you're away for several weeks, and it requires a lot of the person's time.
That's why connected water analyzers, like ICO Pool, are particularly interesting if you're away from home on a regular basis. ICO automatically monitors all water parameters and lets you access the latest water quality measurements remotely via your smartphone. What's more, you can activate the sharing function with a trusted third party, who will receive precise treatment recommendations.
This solution saves time for your pool professional, who can monitor your pool remotely and intervene only when necessary. Similarly, your neighbor or friend won't need to visit your home every day. They'll receive clear instructions on which product to use and the appropriate dosage, right when your pool needs it.
