Winter is officially packing its bags across Australia. With September just around the corner, warmer days are coming fast.
Nothing spoils a sunny spring weekend like pulling back the cover to discover cloudy water, an empty sanitiser tank, or a stubborn pump error. The secret to a hassle-free spring? Starting your preparation now.
Whether you relax in a hot tub, train in a swim spa, or love diving into the family pool, here is your ultimate Spring Start-Up Checklist to get your water crystal clear, safe, and ready to enjoy.
♨️ Hot Tubs & Spas: The Spring Refresh
After a long winter of heavy use (or sitting idle in the cold), your spa water needs a total reset before spring entertaining begins.
1. The Big Flush & Drain:
Knowing when to drain your spa doesn't have to be a guessing game, you can calculate the exact lifespan of your water using this simple formula:
Spa Litres ÷ Daily Bathers ÷ 12 = Days between Draining
Example: 1200 litres ÷ 2 daily bathers ÷ 12 = 50 days
If your water is due for a reset, run a pipe flush through the lines to clear out hidden biofilm, hair, and body oils before draining the water.
💡 Pro-Tip: We usually suggest using a pipe degreaser like Swirl Away before you dump the water. It pulls out grime you can’t see behind the jets.
2. Deep Clean the Shell & Cover:
Wipe down the acrylic shell with a non-abrasive cleaner, like Squeaky Clean. Don't forget the cover, clean the underside with an anti-fungal solution and apply a UV protectant to the top to prevent cracked vinyl under the Australian sun.
💡 Pro-Tip: A dedicated vinyl restorer like 303 Aerospace Protectant works wonders here to shield the cover from high UV days without leaving a sticky residue.
3. Filter Care (Soak or Swap):
Rinsing with a hose isn't enough after winter. Soak your filter cartridges in a dedicated cleaner overnight to dissolve oils and scale buildup.
💡 Pro-Tip: A soak in Filter Renew or Filter Cartridge Cleaner breaks down oils that plain hose water can't touch. If your pleats look frayed or are over 12–18 months old, swap them out for a fresh set to save your pump from strain.
4. Refill & Balance:
Fill your spa by placing the hose down the skimmer box to prevent airlocks in the plumbing. Balance your pH (7.2–7.6), total alkalinity (80–120 ppm), and sanitiser levels before taking your first soak.
🏊Swim Spas & Plunge Pools: Dual-Zone Conditioning
Swim spas and plunge pools bridge the gap between hot tubs and full-sized pools. Because they handle both high-energy swimming and hydrotherapy, they need special attention as temperatures shift.
1. Adjust the Thermal Settings:
If you cranked the heat to 38°C for winter soaking, drop the thermostat down to a comfortable 28°C–32°C for spring swim workouts. Lowering the temp now prevents excessive chemical burnout as days warm up.
2. Check Dual-Zone Controls (If Applicable):
If your swim spa features separate hot tub and swim zones, test and balance each body of water independently. They have different volume capacities and filtration cycles!
3. Inspect High-Flow Jets & Propulsion:
Run your swim jets through all speed settings. Check for smooth operation and clean out any leaf litter or debris caught near the intake grates.
💡 Pro-Tip: A simple Leaf Rake Net with Telescopic Pole makes removing trapped debris around suction covers easy before restarting high-flow pumps.
4. Degrease the Waterline:
Plunge pools often see heavy edge accumulation from winter leaf runoff. Use a gentle, pool-safe surface cleaner to scrub the waterline before shocking the water.
💡 Pro-Tip: A gentle cleaner like Squeaky Clean breaks down scum lines effortlessly without damaging gelcoat or tile finishes.
🏊Swimming Pools: De-Winterising Made Easy
If your pool was covered or running on low winter filtration hours, it's time to bring it back to full life.
1. Water Level & Cover Removal:
Clear leaves and pooled rainwater off your cover before removing it so debris doesn't drop into the pool. Top up your pool water level to 1⁄4 -1⁄2 way up the skimmer box opening.
2. Prime the Pump & Reset Timers:
Ensure your pump is primed with water before switching it back on, never run it dry! Increase your daily filtration timer from winter mode up to spring mode (8-12 hours daily) as water temperatures climb.
💡 Pro-Tip: Check your pump o-rings ensure they are lubricated. This can prevent air leaks out and ensures a tight, whisper-quiet prime every single time.
3. Backwash or Hose Down Filters:
If you have a sand filter, give it a thorough backwash and rinse. If you have cartridge filters, give them a spray-down (or replace if worn).
💡 Pro-Tip: For cartridge filters, using a filter cleaner like Filter Renew or Filter Cartridge Cleaner removes oils and caked-on winter scale trapped in the pleats.
4. Double Shock & Algaecide Treatment:
Give the water a start-up "shock" dose of liquid or granular chlorine to kill off winter bacteria. Follow up with a quality long-life algaecide to prevent spring blooms before they start.
💡 Pro-Tip: We usually recommend using a non-foaming, long-lasting algaecide like MSA Extreme Algaecide alongside a quality Chlorine Shock to safeguard against early spring algae blooms.
5. Brush, Vacuum, & Robotic Clean:
Scrub the walls and floor to loosen biofilm, then vacuum or send in your robotic cleaner to scoop up fine sediment.
💡 Pro-Tip: If you want to skip manually vacuuming the dirt, setting loose an automated Robotic Cleaner takes care of floor scrubbing automatically.
Spring is all about new beginnings, so take the time to prepare your water features for the season ahead. With these tips, you’ll be ready to relax and enjoy the warm weather in no time. Happy spring cleaning, and here's to many sun-soaked days ahead!
