THESE POOL OPENING TIPS WILL HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF THE POOL SEASON
With summer around the corner, it’s officially pool opening season. To make the most out of your pool this summer, aim to open your pool sooner than later. Pool opening services are available to make the job easier, but if you want to do it yourself, here are ten useful pool opening tips you can follow:
CLEAN WATER AND DEBRIS OFF POOL COVER
Before you remove your pool cover, make sure you clean off any debris and water that might be pooled on top. You don’t want stagnant water and dirt getting in your pool. One easy way to drain the water is by using a sump pump.
PROPERLY STORE POOL COVER
You might need an extra hand when removing your pool cover due to its heavy weight. After removing it, clean it off well on both sides and allow it to air dry. You can also sprinkle talcum powder on each side to prevent the growth of mold and mildew while it’s stored. Gently fold the cover and store it in a safe, cool, and dry place.
HOOK UP POOL EQUIPMENT
Hook up all pool equipment and reinstall accessories that you removed during pool closing season. These include: the filter, pump, heater, pool cleaner, ladders, and rails. Once everything is reinstalled, use a silicone lubricant to lubricate the O-rings on your equipment and the bolts and screws on all of your pool accessories.
REPLACE PLUGS
Replace the winterizing plugs that you installed during the pool closing season with regular drain plugs.
TREAT METAL BUILDUP IN POOL WATER
Metal buildup in your pool water during the winter can leave stains on the sides of your pool if left untreated, so use a metal neutralizing treatment to prevent stains and stained water.
TEST POOL WATER
Test your water chemistry (pH, Total Alkalinity, calcium hardness, chlorine, and cyanuric acid levels) using test strips or a test kit. The results of these tests will determine which chemicals and how much you will need to add to the water to properly balance it.
ADD CHEMICALS TO BALANCE POOL WATER
Balance the pool water with chemicals so your pool will be safe to use come summer. First, balance the Total Alkalinity to between 80 and 120 ppm. Then, balance the pH level to between 7.4 and 7.6. After, make sure the following are balanced: free chlorine—2.0 to 4.0 ppm; calcium hardness—200 to 400 ppm; and stabilizer (cyanuric acid)—30 to 50 ppm.
CLEAN THE POOL
Use a brush to clean the sides of your pool and a pool vacuum to clean the bottom. You can also use a skimmer net to clean the pool water surface throughout the summer.
SHOCK THE POOL
Use a shock treatment to remove algae, bacteria, and contaminants from the pool.
ADD ALGAECIDES
Finally, add algaecides to prevent algae growth this summer. If you want to be extra cautious about your pool safety, you can bring a sample of your pool water to the experts for testing.
For a successful pool opening, follow these steps so you can start enjoying your pool sooner and make the most out of it this summer. If you ever get stuck, though, don’t hesitate to contact expert pool opening services for a helping hand!
