How To Open A Pool

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Swimming pools are a luxurious addition to a home, but they require more maintenance than most pool owners realize. Poor water conditions in a pool can create health hazards for swimmers, as well as cause structural damage to the pool, its components, and its accessories. Because of the consequences of poor pool maintenance, a pool owner should pay careful attention to detail when setting up their pool for the season. Below you can find information about when to open a pool, a checklist of items needed for pool maintenance, and a step-by-step process for opening your pool for the summer.

What do I need to open a pool?

The non-chemical materials you need to set up your pool include:

  • Test strips
  • Pool pole
  • Leaf rake
  • Pool brush
  • Vacuum head
  • Vacuum hose
  • Garden hose
  • Pool filter
  • Gasket lubricant
  • Threaded plug tape
  • Pool cover cleaner
  • Pool cover pump

What chemicals do I need to set up a pool?

To maintain a sanitary and safe environment in your pool, you will need:

  • Pool shock
  • Chlorine
  • pH increaser and decreaser
  • Algaecide
  • Calcium chloride

Many pool start-up kits come equipped with every necessary chemical to open a pool. These can help you save money, but they sometimes include items that do not need to be added to every pool.

When is the best time to open a pool?

The best time to open your pool is when the daily temperature is regularly above 70 degrees. In warmer climates where these temperatures are reached in the early spring, consider opening your pool in the late spring or early summer. This prevents pollen from overwhelming your pool, which causes algae buildup and clogs filters.

What are the steps to opening a pool?

Opening a pool may seem like an overwhelming task, but, like anything, the process can be simplified by taking one step at a time.

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  • 1. Remove The Pool Cover

    Removing the pool cover can be tricky, particularly when there is substantial debris or standing water on top of it. Use a leaf blower, soft-bristled broom, or brush to remove any loose debris. If there is a significant amount of standing water on your cover, you will need to utilize a pool cover pump. Once the cover is clear of water and loose debris, you can remove it from the pool.

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  • 2. Clean The Pool Cover

    Once the cover is removed, it needs to be cleaned before storing. The optimal location to clean your cover is a large, flat patch of grass. When transporting your cover to the cleaning location, ensure it does not rub against any rough surfaces, such as a driveway or sidewalk. This can tear holes in the cover, compromising its ability to protect your pool. To clean your pool cover, you can use a pool cover cleaner or other mild detergents, such as dishwashing soap or car wash soap. When scrubbing the cover, use only a soft brush, such as the one used for your pool. Rough brushes can scratch the cover and tear holes. Once the cover is clean, allow it to dry and store it in a temperate, dry location. You may opt to dry it with a towel or blower to prevent dirt from accumulating while the cover air dries. The ideal storage location for a pool cover is a sealed container. This prevents rodents, insects, and other critters from nesting in the cover over the summer.

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  • 3. Remove Loose Debris

    Despite the protection a pool cover provides, leaves, twigs, and other debris can still find their way into your pool. Use your pool skimmer to remove any loose debris that may clog your filter once it is activated.

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  • 4. Remove All Winterizing Components & Reinstall Features

    Remove all winter plugs from the pool. Reinstall the appropriate pump, heater, and filter plugs. Any railings, ladders, and other pool accessories can be reinstalled at this time.

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  • 5. Top Off Your Pool Water

    Now that you have de-winterized your pool, you can replace the water that the pool lost while it was covered. You will want to fill your pool so that the water level is at the midpoint of the waterline tile. It is best to fill your pool now so that the pool contains the correct amount of water while you test the water’s chemical levels. Otherwise, chemicals would need to be added and tested twice during the opening process. When filling up your pool, you may wish to add a filter attachment to your garden hose if your home does not feature a point-of-entry filtration system. This prevents metals and water-hardening minerals from entering your pool.

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  • 6. Inspect & Power On Your Equipment

    Before powering your pump on, check both the pump and pool filter for cracks and other signs of damage. If you find no structural damage, power the pump on and monitor the performance of the pump and filter. If your filter performs poorly, the cartridge must be cleaned or replaced. The lifespan of a filter cartridge depends on how much water flows through the filter, the amount of dirt and debris a filter processes, and how well you maintain your pool. In the worst-case scenario, a filter cartridge will last about one year. If you maintain your pool well and the filter does not have much demand, a cartridge can last for as long as five years. Sunscreen is one of the biggest contributors to shortened filter lifespan. The oils in sunscreen build up on the cartridges in a layer of film, causing the filters to work harder than they would need to otherwise.