Timing matters
Too early (August) and frost can still damage exposed pipework. Too late (October) and the first heat wave catches you with un-balanced water and a panicked dose. The sweet spot in Joburg/Pretoria is 15–25 September; in Cape Town and Durban, 1–15 September.
The opening sequence
Allow 2–3 hours of attention spread over a day:
- Lift the winter cover, hose it clean, hang dry, store flat
- Skim debris, brush walls, vacuum if needed
- Top up to skimmer mid-level
- Test: pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid, free chlorine
- Adjust alkalinity first (80–120 ppm), then pH (7.2–7.6)
- Shock-dose to break combined chlorine
- Run pump 24 h continuously
- Re-test, dose to free chlorine 1.5–3 ppm
- Add stabiliser if cyanuric acid < 30 ppm
Equipment check before the heat hits
Run the pump and listen for cavitation, bearing whine or seal leaks. Check the multi-port valve gasket. If you have a salt chlorinator, inspect the cell for calcium scale — acid-wash if needed. Backwash sand filters; check cartridge filter cartridges for tears.
Typical opening cost
DIY: R450–R900 in chemicals. Service-plan callout: R1,200–R1,800 including chemicals. Add R600–R1,200 if the pool needs minor algae recovery (common after a no-cover winter).
Sources
- SAWS spring weather averages — South African Weather Service