Springtime is officially here and in Texas that means it is the beginning of splashpad season! If your splashpad has sat unused for the winter months, it may need some maintenance to get it ready to be enjoyed again. The checklist below will help ensure your splashpad is a safe and fun environment for the upcoming summer months.
Spring Startup Procedures for Your Splashpad:
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1. Clean splashpad of dirt and other debris.
During the inactive winter months, the splashpad may gather leaves and other debris. To keep your splashpad in good condition, it is important to clear this debris. Give the splashpad a thorough cleaning and make sure drains, pump strainer baskets, and filters are clear to prevent mold or bacteria from growing and water from not draining properly. Depending on what your splashpad is made of (powder coat and fiberglass, stainless steel, or plastic) it will make a difference as to what you should use to clean your equipment, Waterplay provides these guidelines.
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2. The manifold and controller are inaccessible to the public and locked.
Check to make sure the manifold and controller are locked and not within access to the children and other visitors. This will prevent damage to the equipment or injury to splashpad visitors.
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3. Remove winterizing nozzles.
Some aquatic play equipment may come with winterizing nozzles to protect the equipment from the elements in winter months. Remove these nozzles and set them aside to use again when the season comes to an end.
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4. Check all features for loose or damaged parts.
Being outdoor equipment, splashpads are subject to damage from weather, nature, and misuse by people if they are not fenced off. Check to make sure the splashpad hasn’t been damaged and if it has, contact your vendor. Damaged play features could not only make the splashpad not function properly, but they could also be harmful to children. Keep in mind, it is not uncommon for children play on splashpads with bare feet and broken parts could cause them to cut themselves.
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5. Install features and nozzles removed for the winter months.
Some splashpads have features that can be removed and kept indoors in the winter months. Now that you have cleaned and removed your splashpad of debris, reinstall the features that were removed for winter.
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6. Turn on water and check for leaks.
Some damage such as small cracks in spray features, won’t be noticeable until the splashpad is functioning. Turn on the water and check for any leaking or other malfunctions.
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7. Nozzles are spraying at a safe pressure.
Water features are meant to spray at specific pressure. This ensures a safe and fun level of spray for children and protects the splashpad equipment from damage. For Waterplay equipment, the recommended level should not exceed 5pso or 34kPA. For other equipment check your manual or with your vendor.
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8. Over-spray of the components does not reach landscape.
Once the water is running, check to make sure the water is not exceeding the area it is meant to. This will prevent damage to landscape and keep your splashpad from getting muddy.
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9. Test water quality and chemical levels.
Check water quality and chemicals levels to ensure they are within the recommended range. Check the user manual for your splashpad model to view acceptable levels or contact your vendor to see what is recommended.
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10. Enjoy your splashpad.
Your splashpad is up and running and ready to be enjoyed for another season!
Need help planning your splashpad?
For the past decade, fun abounds has been helping individuals and communities achieve their dream play spaces. We offer a wide selection of commercial playground equipment and aquatic play features from the most trusted product lines in the industry. We also carry other site amenities to complete your play area including safety surfacing, shade structures, picnic tables, benches, and more. Call 855-ABOUNDS to discuss your playground project today.
