Essentials for Opening Your Swimming Pool This Spring

So you haven't opened your pool yet!

You’re ready to take a dive into your pool it's a major part of enjoying the warm weather.

If you’ve properly maintained your pool in the off-season, then opening your pool in spring should be simple. Still, opening your swimming pool takes a lot of work; even if you have maintained it and even more if you haven't.

But by taking the right steps, you’ll save time and money. You just have to do the basics to prepare your pool properly for use.

Opening Your Pool

Hire an expert to open your pool. If you are not comfortable with any of the following procedures, please consult a pool professional before any work is completed.

Opening your pool for the spring season takes more than just removing the cover and cleaning the water. You’ll need to take to right precautions with regards to the safety and chemical components of your pool as well.

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Checking all the equipment and accessories for any undue damage such as cracking or general wear will help maintain the performance of your pool and save you money over time.

If you are unfamiliar with starting priming pumps please contact a service professional.

Initial Pool Cleaning

The first step in opening your pool is to get rid of debris that’s accumulated on the cover. This should be done prior to removing the cover, using a skimmer and net to gather the debris and place it into a container.

Once you’ve cleaned the cover, you can remove and inspect it for any damage. This is important since you’ll be storing it away for the entire summer. You want to make sure that it’s in good condition for use next winter.

Any debris that has collected at the bottom of the pool can now be assessed. If there’s a large amount, you can drain the pool to remove it easily before refilling it with clean water. This should only be done when absolutely necessary, as it requires some knowledge of how to do it right.

If you decide to clean the existing water, you’ll need to first remove as much of the debris as possible with a vacuum or leaf rake. Your filter system should then be started to help clean the water.

If you vacuum a large amount of water out, you’ll have to add more, which can affect its alkalinity. At this point, you won’t need to be concerned about maintaining the balance until you’ve completed this phase.

Treating the Water

Measure your pH level with a test kit first. The ideal pH level of your pool is approximately 7.2. Adjust it accordingly once you’ve determined its level.

After you’ve shocked the pool with chlorine, you should wait a couple of days to allow the chlorine to drop. The water’s calcium hardness and alkalinity should then be tested and adjusted as needed. Any additional chemicals such as salts or algaecides can be added as the final step.

Opening for the spring is vital for your swimming pool’s overall maintenance. By properly clearing out the debris and treating the water, you’ll be ensuring the safety of your pool and prolonging its life. Now you can enjoy the pleasures of swimming.

Always contact a pool professional and ensure proper practices are followed when performing any sort of maintenance to a pool.

Author:

Being a home renovator gives me great satisfaction. The happiness that you bring into someone's life, just through your work, can't be expressed in words. I have been in the home improvement industry for quite a long time and have never felt my work anything other than interesting. I consider being a part of bringing someone's dream come true, the greatest happiness and virtue. - John Medina.