If you are a swimming pool owner then you probably can't wait for the warmer weather to get here so you can open your pool again. You hopefully will have used pool covers to help protect your swimming pool over the winter but removing this can be a scary thought. You never quite know what you are going to find but it is a good idea to make sure you are prepared. Getting your swimming pool back up and running can take a lot of work and is no easy task. There are lots of great swimming pool chemicals and other cleaning products that will make it easier to get the water clean so you can start using it sooner rather than later. Here are some handy peices of advice for getting rid of algae and getting your pool up and running again.

After removing your swimming pool cover you will get to take your first look at what the water is like. Hopefully the cover will have prevented lots of debris from falling in the water. Things like rain and leaves will help introduce algae into your swimming pool which can be a nightmare to get rid of. A good way to make a start is to set the vacuum running to help clear up any algae that is on the floor of the pool. The next thing you should do is add some pool chemicals to the water to kill off any algae. You will find a wide range of different types of chemicals available and they tend to do different things to algae.

Phosphate Removers - Algae needs phosphates in order to survive. Using a phosphate remover will remove the phosphates that naturally occur in the water. This happens thanks to a reaction between the Lanthanum compounds in the phosphate remover and the phosphates in the water. The reaction causes the phosphates to percipitate and get collected up by the filter. Once the phosphates have been removed the algae starves and dies.

Liquid Algaecide - Liquid algaecides can be a long term solution to stopping algae forming in your water. Algaecides contain long chains of quaternary ammonium compounds that stop algae's metabolism. This prevents algae from spreading in your pool.

Chlorine - If you want a swimming pool chemical that actually kills algae then chlorine does just that. It oxidises the algae which is similar to setting fire to it. Using a chlorine shock treatment should get rid of any algae in your swimming pool.

It is a good idea to go through your pump and filter system to make sure that it hasn't been damaged during the winter months. If you have been unlucky enough to have some water left in your system then the chances are that it has frozen and expanded causing cracks in the pipes. It is a good idea to check for cracks and broken parts before using your pool so you can replace them easily. At this point it is also a good idea to clean the filter and backwash your pump to make sure they are clear and in good working order.