
Maintaining Your Pool on the Île de Ré: the Complete Season-by-Season Guide
From the spring opening to winterisation, your pool deserves regular attention. Our complete guide takes you through it week by week.
The Île de Ré offers an exceptional setting in which to enjoy a private pool. But this privilege comes with its demands. Between the sea salt carried on the air, the Atlantic temperature swings and the intensity of the summer sun, a pool on the Île de Ré requires careful, regular attention. This guide takes you through the full year.
SPRING: THE REOPENING
The reopening is the most important stage of the year. Done poorly, it can have a negative impact on the entire season ahead.From mid-April, as soon as the water temperature exceeds 12°C, it is time to act.Steps to follow:
Begin by removing the winter cover or the winterising plugs fitted to the jets and skimmers. Clean them thoroughly before putting them away. Reinstall any equipment that was stored over winter, pump, filters, accessories, and carry out a general check of all fittings after several months of inactivity.Restart the filter and carry out an extended backwash to remove the residue that has accumulated over winter.Check the water level and top up if necessary, it should sit at mid-height on the skimmers.Then carry out a full water analysis: pH, TAC, TH and chlorine level.
On the Île de Ré, the water is often hard and slightly saline, which calls for specific adjustments.Carry out a chlorine shock treatment to eliminate all dormant bacteria and algae, then leave the filtration running for 24 hours before anyone swims.
SUMMER: REGULAR UPKEEP
This is the season when your pool is under the greatest strain, and at its most vulnerable. Intense sunshine, high bather numbers, elevated temperatures: all of these factors throw the water off balance rapidly.The golden rule of summer: test the water at least twice a week, ideally in the morning before the heat of the day builds.Parameters to monitor:The pH should remain between 7.2 and 7.4. On the Île de Ré, heat and evaporation tend to push it up quickly. A pH that is too high renders chlorine ineffective; too low, and it irritates the eyes and mucous membranes.The free chlorine level should sit between 1 and 1.5 mg/L under normal use. In intense heat or after heavy use, do not hesitate to carry out a weekly chlorine shock treatment.The TAC (Total Alkalinity) should remain between 80 and 120 mg/L. This is what stabilises the pH and prevents sudden fluctuations.
Mechanical cleaning:
Vacuum the floor two to three times a week depending on usage. Brush the walls and the waterline every week — this is where grease, sun cream and the first traces of algae collect. Empty the skimmer baskets every two days.Filtration: in summer, the filtration duration should correspond to half the water temperature in degrees. At 28°C, filter for 14 hours a day, preferably in two cycles: one in the morning and one in the evening
AUTUMN: PREPARING FOR WINTERISATION
From mid-September on the Île de Ré, the nights begin to cool and pool use starts to tail off. This is the time to begin preparing gradually for winterisation.Reduce the filtration duration progressively as the temperature drops. Continue to test the water, though treatments will be needed less frequently. Take the opportunity to clean the filter, skimmers and jets thoroughly.When the water temperature falls consistently below 12°C, generally in October or November on the island, it is time to carry out the winterisation.
WINTER: ACTIVE OR PASSIVE WINTERISATION?
This is the question our clients on the Île de Ré ask us most frequently. The answer depends on your installation and how you use your pool.Passive winterisation involves partially draining the pool, fitting plugs to the inlets and outlets, adding a winterising algaecide product and switching off the filtration. This is the least costly option, but it carries risks in the event of frost.Active winterisation keeps the filtration running at a reduced rate (a few hours per night) and maintains a minimal water treatment. The pool remains filled to its normal level, protected by a winterising product. This is the solution we recommend on the Île de Ré: the mild climate allows the installation to be kept running without risk, and the spring reopening is far quicker.In either case, protect your pool with a good-quality winter cover, it limits evaporation, prevents leaves from falling in and protects the lining
THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES
Through our work across the Île de Ré, we regularly observe the same mistakes:Treating the water without testing it first. Adding chlorine "by eye" is both ineffective and costly. Without knowing the actual pH, chlorine can be entirely inactive.Under-filtering in summer. Many owners reduce filtration to save on electricity. This is a false economy: poorly filtered water turns green within 48 hours and requires a shock treatment that is far more expensive.Neglecting skimmer cleaning. Full baskets reduce filtration flow and can damage the pump over time.Forgetting the waterline. This is the area most exposed to grease and limescale deposits. A weekly clean prevents stubborn marks that will require aggressive descaling at the end of the season.
OUR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
On the Île de Ré, the specific nature of the maritime climate calls for particular vigilance. The iodine-rich, mildly salty air accelerates the oxidation of metal fittings and can disrupt the chemical balance of the water. We recommend that all our clients have their water analysed by a professional at least twice per season: in spring for the reopening, and in July for a mid-season adjustment.Regular, well-managed maintenance represents a modest outlay compared to the remedial work that a neglected pool demands. It is also the guarantee of enjoyable, safe swimming throughout the summer.































































