Here are ten basic steps for opening your pool each spring.
- Remove the pool cover- You may have a plastic, safety, or automatic pool cover. Either way, it needs to come off in order to use your pool! Plastic covers are the least expensive cover option and protect your pool from basic debris. Sometimes these covers can develop holes or tears during the winter and that can cause seepage which will need to be corrected. Safety covers are typically mesh or solid. We highly recommend the use of safety covers to protect your pool during the off-season. These are very safe as they can be stepped on without risk of falling in (however we do not recommend using them as a trampoline or soccer court). Safety covers actually allow rain and melted snow to add to your pool water and can eliminate the need to pump water in the spring. Lastly, automatic pool covers might be the most costly option. They have a cover pump which is left on the pool all the time when the cover is closed. It’s best to have a pool professional come to aid in the removal of the automatic cover.
- Install deck equipment- This step is simple: just put back your hand rails and ladders for easy pool access.
- Add water if needed- There are many reasons you may need to add water to your pool. The cover may have developed a hole, water could have evaporated, or a myriad of other reasons. Be careful to choose a good source of fill water. Adding bad fill water to your pool will cause nothing but complications and cost when you try to rebalance the water. Hiring a water truck might be your best option in this case.
- Prep equipment pad- Before you turn on your pool pump and filter system, make sure all equipment is in the proper place and all lines are open. Clear the pump and skimmer basket of debris and remove any plugs that were added during closing.
- Prime the pump and start the heater- Simply follow your manufacturer’s guidelines for starting up your pool heater, pool filter, and pump. Make sure to start each new season with a clean filter.
- Clean the pool, brush, and vacuum- Using a leaf rake, remove the large pieces of debris such as leaves and twigs from the bottom of the pool. If the water is too murky and you can’t see the bottom, your pool system may not operate properly.
- Water chemistry testing- Your pool will most likely need to be shocked after opening. This will restore the pools pH levels and water chemistry. You will need to test your water within a week so you can balance the chemicals. Keep a record of your pool’s water chemistry because this will help you diagnose any issues that may come up in the future.
- Add chemicals and salt- This step should occur only after your pool water has been thoroughly tested.
- Start your filtration system and vacuum- once your pool is full and at normal operating level you can prime the pump and start the filter. Slowly open the skimmer valve to bleed the air out of the line and get back to normal function. At this point you can also hook up your vacuum and begin.
- Jump in! You can start using your pool as soon as you’d like, just make sure the shock you added is dispersed before you do. If you happen to jump in too quickly make sure to take a good shower afterwards.
