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Yes, you will need to shock your pool with high levels of chlorine or bromine when you first fill it to kill off bacteria and pathogens. You’ll need to wait for the chlorine concentration to come back down to a safe level before swimming. After that, you can test and maintain the chlorine and other levels as normal. The only exception to this is if you get pool water delivered by a professional. In that case, the water might come pretreated, so you might not need to shock it.

Generally, you do not need to drain your pool to convert it to a saltwater system. The main exception is if you have used an antibacterial agent containing polyhexamethylene biguanide to sanitize your pool, as these sanitation products do not mix well with saltwater systems. If this is the case, you will need to start fresh. You can either drain the pool or treat the existing water with a high dose of chlorine to remove the antibacterial agent. If you choose the chlorine treatment, wait several days to allow the chlorine to work before proceeding with the conversion. If you are unsure whether this applies to your pool, consult a pool technician.

An easy way to know whether your sand filter has enough sand is to check how full the filter is and what the sand looks and feels like. The filter container should be two-thirds to three-quarters full of sand. Look for interior marks indicating the ideal sand level. If you put your hand into the sand, it should flow through your fingers without clumping. The filter pressure gauge is also an easy indicator—the right amount of sand leads to normal pressure, while too much or too little sand can cause high or low pressure.

You can use a plunge pool any time of the year, including winter. Be sure to install a pool heater if you plan to take a dip in the plunge pool when temperatures are low to avoid risk of hypothermia. You will also want to add a sturdy pool cover to protect the pool from snow, sleet, and rain during the winter months.