Essentials for Opening Your Swimming Pool This Spring

Posted by  on 11 March, 2014

Spring has arrived, and you’re ready to take a dive into your pool and enjoy the warm weather. If you’ve properly maintained your pool all winter, then opening your pool this spring should be simple.

You’ll have to do the basics to prepare your pool properly for use. Opening your swimming pool takes a lot of work. But by taking the right steps, you’ll save time and money.

Opening Your Pool

Hiring an expert to open your pool will cost an average of $200-$300. Many pool owners eliminate this expense by doing much of the work themselves. If you know the essentials of opening your pool, you can avoid this cost altogether.

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.

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.

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 your swimming pool for the spring is vital to its 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 that winter is finally over, you can enjoy the pleasures of the swimming season.