While it may be in the thick of winter right now, it’s still time to start thinking and preparing for opening your pool up.
The warm months are approaching fast and will be here faster than you know it. Hooray for winter almost being over!
In order to properly open up your swimming pool, there are several steps you need to take to make sure it’s ready for several months ahead.
Here are some of the most important tips to remember when opening your swimming pool for the spring and summer. Use these as your guide for readying the water for the family.
1. Properly Store the Pool Cover
Your pool cover is your best friend when it comes to sheltering your beloved pool from the harsh winter months and all that entails. Because of that, you want to make sure you’re taking care of it so as to not buy a new one each year.
If you don’t carefully take the cover off of the pool, you’re pouring an entire winters’ worth of debris into the dream pool you’ve worked so hard to protect.
Start by removing any water that’s gathered on the tarp during the winter. Trying to remove the tarp with water still on it will make it heavier and more difficult to maneuver.
Be sure to have several people (preferably 3 or 4) help you remove it by standing on opposite sides and folding it.
After you’ve removed the cover, it’s time to clean it. Regardless of what cover you use, you can wash it down with a hose and then pay it all the way out to dry. Once it’s completely dry, you can fold it and store it for the summer.
2. Fill the Pool to an Optimum Level
While this is technically step number 2, you can consider it step 1.5, since you can be accomplishing it as you tend to your pool cover to save time.
It’s once again time to fill your pool back up to its optimum water level. As a general guideline, that means it should be halfway up the skimmer on your pool’s wall.
Keep a sharp eye on the water level to make sure it doesn’t spillover. Other than that, this step should be fairly easy.
3. Ready the Pool Pump
Every pool pump system is different, and thus, the manufacturer will have different directions for how to properly get it ready for the spring. Be sure that you’re following those steps to the “T”.
If you feel comfortable doing so and are looking to maximize time spent on opening the pool up, you can do this while the pool cover is drying and pool is being filled with water.
If you’ve misplaced the manufacturer’s manual for your pool pump, be sure to order another one during the winter, so that you’ll have it ready to go for the spring.
4. Reconnect All Your Equipment
Once you feel like the pump is ready to be reconnected, you should place everything back to where it needs to go.
Be sure to write a checklist of things like your filters, heater, the pool pump, hose, etc.
Make sure that everything is connected and ready to go if you were to start the pool. Use an eye test once you feel like everything’s connected to make sure you aren’t forgetting anything essential.
5. Fire It Up!
Now that you’re 100-percent positive everything is connected, it’s time to fire up the pump and pool filter.
After it’s turned on, take a few walks around the pool and watch for things like making sure the circulation is moving correctly and keeping an eye out for leaks.
If you notice a leak or two, don’t panic. Simply turn off the pump system, and go purchase a pool leak repair kit or call an expert, whichever you feel most comfortable with.
6. Clean Your Pool
Alright, now everything is connected and you turned the power on for the first time that spring.
It’s time to do your darndest to make sure the pool is as clean as can be before the circulation begins.
Even though you’ve had a pool cover on for the entire winter, there are still unwanted things such as algae and debris that may have crept into the pool. All of that can be fixed with a good, thorough cleaning.
Start by removing any debris away with a leaf rake. Take your time to do this portion and check that every corner and crevice of your pool is debris-free. After that, give the pool surface and floors a good, hard scrubbing.
Be sure to scrub down all the tiles, tough-to-reach corners, and any other place in your pool that you’ve noticed doesn’t get enough (if any) circulation to it.
7. Test and Adjust the Pool Chemistry As Needed
After the pool’s had a good scrubbing and the circulation has been going for a few hours, it’s time to check the chemical balance in your pool.
Remember, you’re shooting for a pH level close to 7.5, total alkalinity of around 100 ppm, and for your chlorine to be as close to 3.0 or 4.0 ppm as possible.
Once you know what each chemical level is at, make the proper adjustments to make sure the levels are where they need to be.
Opening Your Swimming Pool: It’s Time to Jump In!
Now that you’ve taken all the proper steps in opening your swimming pool, it’s time for you and the family to enjoy your chlorine-filled or saltwater-filled oasis.
If you’re unsure as to whether a pool is a good idea for your family, check out this article about the numerous health benefits it can offer children.
For more inquiries, please feel free to start by requesting a free consultation and we’ll be happy to assist you further!
