Turn The System Back On
Turn your pool equipment back on. This includes priming the pump and turning on the circulation and filtration system. If you have an air relief valve on your filter, make sure to open it to bleed the air from the system. Once water spurts out, close the air relief valve. Check the equipment for leaks or unusual noises.
Clean And Store Your Winter Pool Cover
Find a large, easily accessible area like your lawn, deck, or driveway, and spread the cover flat. Make sure the areas clear of sharp objects and other potentially damaging items.
Wash your cover with water, cover cleaner , and a scrub brush or rubber broom.
Scrub it thoroughly, but gently. Youll ensure a longer life for your pool cover, which can save you quite a bit of money since you wont have to replace it. Make sure you allow your cover to dry thoroughly before storing it to avoid damage from moisture and mold.
Stash your winter cover in a durable, tightly sealed plastic tub or other large storage container during the off season. This will keep rats and other critters from making a nest in your expensive cover or, worse yet, chomping it into tiny bits.
Reinstall Any Pool Accessories And Deck Equipment
You may have had accessories and equipment around your pool such as a slide, a ladder, step rails, a fountain or a diving board that you had to remove over the winter. While youre waiting for the water to fill completely, you can put these components back on your deck. Before installing them in your pool, you may also want to lubricate any bolts or fasteners and grease the hinges on your diving board.
Check all the accessories and equipment for signs of rust or damage. You may want to replace any broken or worn-out components before putting them back on your pool to keep you and your loved ones safe this season.
Also Check: Goplus Solar Dome Swimming Pool Heater
Removing The Pool Cover
If you have a safety cover, begin by first clearing debris from the cover using a pool brush and/or a leaf rake skimmer net. Pop off most of the springs to reduce cover tension this can make cleaning easier.
Use a leaf blower to clean the deck, and release the remaining cover springs from each anchor. Before folding, lower all of the brass anchors into the deck to prevent your cover from snagging.
Carefully pull one section at a time up onto a clean area of the pool deck. Fan fold the cover, accordion style, seam to seam. Use a leaf blower or garden hose to clean , before you make each new fold. When its all on deck, fold the cover in half, in half again then roll up tightly.
Stuff it into the cover bag, like a big pillow into a bigger pillowcase, and set up on a chair to drip dry. Store indoors, if possible, or use moth balls or mint bags to keep nesting rodents away.
If you have a water-bag type, solid pool cover , use a cover pump to remove any water on top of the cover. As the water is pumping from the cover, clean off any leaves and debris with a pool brush or pool leaf rake. Try to not leave any debris behind if it may fall into the pool as the cover is removed.
For inground pools, remove the water bags one at a time. Be careful not to drag them across the concrete, or drop one end to the ground, or holes will result. Drain them completely and lay them aside for some cleaning, drying and folding .
Remove Leaves & Water From Your Pool Cover
- iSwitch technology turns pump on and off by sensing the presence of water
- Plug in and leave the pump unattended for worry-free water removal
Over the winter, leaves, rainwater and debris tend to collect and weigh your pool cover down, making it impossible to remove on your own.
Hopefully, youve been using an automatic pool cover pump all winter and this isnt an issue for you. But in case you havent, its time to get it out now.
You can use any type of pool cover pump you like, but go ahead and plug it in and let it get your cover as dry as possible.
This will make it easier for you to remove it and will also keep the debris and dirty water from getting dumped in your pool.
Otherwise, you can use a simple leaf net to scoop up the debris.
Once its as dry as you can get it, use your pool brush to sweep off any leaves and debris left on top.
Another way to do this is with a leaf blower.
Recommended Reading: Cap050550440rt
Turn That Heavy Metal Down
It might seem counterintuitive, but while your pool water sat stagnant through the winter, metal levels may have increased.
You also probably just topped off your pool with tap water. We hope you used a hose filter to help keep those minerals out of your pool. But to avoid the staining and buildup caused by any metal in your pool water, add a metal sequestrant.
Wait For The Water To Clear
Don’t dive in yet. The filter has to be cleaned every day until the water is clear. Expect the entire process to take about a week. You may have to add chlorine to keep it at the right level. Only when the water is clear and you can see the pool floor should you remove the cover. Remove the cover too soon and you’ll end up with more leaves and pollen and debris to clean out.
You May Like: Vdara Pool Cabana
Balance Your Water Chemistry
Water chemistry balancing is not as demanding as it may seem, but it is a crucial part of protecting your pool or spa investment. If pH, alkalinity, cyanuric acid and calcium hardness are out of standard ranges for an extended period of time, it can wreak havoc on your pool equipment and surfacing.
In the winter, you should balance your pH, pool water weekly at a minimum spa users are recommended to check their water chemistry every two to three days. In addition, use an algaecide to kill any existing algae and prevent new blooms during the winter. Your sanitizer levels can be reduced during the winter months, while still maintaining the proper water chemistry balance.
How To Shock Your Pool
Once youve got your water balanced, youll want to shock your pool.
Use 2 pounds of pool shock for every 10,000 gallons of pool water, or 5 gallons of liquid shock for every 20,000 gallons of pool water. This is a double shock, using twice the normal amount. This will give your pool a sanitizing whammy to make sure the waters ready for swimming.
Important: Dont forget to shock at night or at dusk to keep sunlight from burning off the shock too quickly.
Recommended Reading: Will Fire Department Fill My Pool
Time To Open The Swimming Pool
Time to open the swimming pool. Spring is here and the swimming pool season is about to kick off. Maybe you just bought a home with a swimming pool, or you just installed a pool last summer and this is your first swimming pool opening, and maybe your going to attempt your own opening this year after watching the pool guy do it for years, and just maybe your a veteran and just want to pickup some new tips. Whatever your station opening a pool for the Summer is easy, just follow this guide and you will be swimming in no time.
Tip #1 If you are wondering when the best time to open your pool, I am a firm believer in opening the pool early, if you wait too long you will risk the chance of opening up to a huge mess. I always try to open the pool either before the first hot day or shortly after. Hot days heat up the stagnate water under your pool cover and that will create algae.
Tip #2 Every backyard with a swimming pool or a hot tub needs to have a few basic essentials in the backyard shed.
Tip #3 if you found that you were losing pressure at the end of the pool season the year before it might be a good idea to check the filter media and see if it needs replacing. This is something you can do weeks or days in advance of your pool opening and will save you time on the day you do open your pool.
And with that you have turned your winter hibernating backyard back into your Summer getaway oasis!
Great Quality Hot Tub Covers
Test And Adjust Water Chemistry
Proper water balance is the key to clean, bacteria-free water and a healthy swimming environment. Use a fresh test kit or test strips to check the chemical levels in your pool.
Choose a test kit that will test for all chemical levels . Make adjustments to hardness and alkalinity first, followed by pH and stabilizer. Do this before you shock the pool and begin using chlorine tablets.
Many of our customers like to use our Pool Chemical Value Packs. We have Spring Opening Kits or Full Season Kits, each sized to match the capacity of your above ground pool.
Let the water filter for 24 hours and then re-test before swimming to make sure you have the ideal water balance.
Once the basics have been taken care of, your pool opening duties are complete, and you are free to enjoy the pool with your friends and family. Always remember that safety comes first, so swim well and swim safe!
Don’t Miss: Aria Pool Cabana Review
Drain And Clean The Pool Cover
Whether you have a winter cover or a solid safety cover, you will need to remove the water off the top of the cover before taking it off. If there is a substantial amount of water, you may want to use a cover pump to do the work for you. Afterward, sweep or use a blower to remove all leaves and other debris from the cover you don’t want all of that junk landing in your pool when the cover comes off.
Keep An Eye On Your Pool
If your pool is covered, remember to periodically remove any debris above the cover and check underneath it to ensure you have no unwanted surprises down there.
In addition, the winter-induced wind or snow can put stress on your cover, so make sure that your cover, attachments, water bags and lawn anchors are securely attached so they dont come loose.
Also Check: How To Heat A Above Ground Pool
Do A Shock Treatment And Clean The Pool
You need give your pool a shock treatment to disinfect the water. Let the pool sit for 24 hours after the treatment with the motor running.
To clean the pool, remove as many of the leaves from the surface and the bottom as you can using a skimmer net and vacuum . Empty the basket frequently. Use an appropriate degreasing agent to remove the water ring on the liner and wash the edges of your pool. When youre all done, do a light backwash.
How To Open Your Pool After The Winter
Now that the warm weather is starting to wash across Ontario more consistently, its time to turn your attention to pulling that tarp off your pool and opening it up again.
Yes, those perfect, lazy summer days when all thats on your mind is a mellow and refreshing dip are on their way, but before you can dive right in, theres a little more work to be done.
You May Like: Tropicana Ac Gym
Remove Your Winter Pool Cover And Store It For Next Year
After youve cleaned all the debris and water off your winter cover, you can take it off the pool. A friend or family member can help you remove the cover from the pool surface. It helps to lay it flat, such as on your driveway, to properly clean it without getting any detergent in the pool water. Instead of dragging the cover across your grass or deck, make sure you hold it above the ground to transport it without scratching it.
With your partner standing on the opposite side of the pool, fold the cover back onto itself. As you remove it, you may want to inspect it for tears and other signs of damage. Instead of storing a worn-out cover away for the winter, you can replace it with a new one to use next year. If the cover is still in good condition, you and your partner can spread it out on your driveway to clean as above.
Instead of using abrasive brushes or harsh chemicals, apply car wash soap or a pool cover cleaner and gently scrub it with a soft broom. Use a garden hose to rinse the detergent off the surface, and dry the cover with a leaf blower or towel before folding it up again. Store your winter pool cover in a storage bag or a durable container with a lid instead of on a shed or garage floor where pests could crawl inside.
Opening Your Pool For Spring
A 5-step guide to prepping your inground pool for swim season
Spring is an exciting time for pool owners across the nation, but especially for those who live in cold-climate areas and had to close their pools for winter. If youre one of these owners, youre probably looking forward to opening your pool for swim season as the weather warms and the ground thaws.
Blue Haven offices have built thousands of pools in cold-weather areas where a detailed process for re-opening winterized pools is needed. For those of you who enjoy a DYI project, here is a step-by-step guide to prepping your pool for swim season.
Step 1: Clean and remove your pools cover.
Always begin the pool-opening process by cleaning off the surface of your cover. This is a crucial step: Proper cleaning ensures that leaves and debris dont fall into your pool when you remove the cover.
If you have a solid pool cover, water from rain or snow may have accumulated on the surfacesometimes stagnating and turning icky brown or green with decomposing plant debris. If so, its imperative to pump out this bad water so that it does not dump into your pool water. You can do this using a wet-dry shop vacuum or other pump designed for this purpose.
Its also worth noting that your cover is much easier to clean when it is still stretched across the pool. Thats important because a thorough cleaning will help prevent accumulation of mold and mildew when you store it away.
Step 3: Refill your pool.
You May Like: Intex Pool Water Capacity
How Much Does It Cost To Have A Professional Open Your Pool
You can call a specialized pool centre to open your pool in the spring and close it in the fall. The technicians will reconnect everything and put in the necessary productsall thats left for you to do after is to clean. And if you want to skip even that, you can get a turnkey package that includes final cleaning. Package prices range from $175 to over $400 .
Taking good care of your pool over the summer is the key to making sure it lasts for many years to come. Learn more by reading our Brief guide to maintaining a pool. Make sure you have everything you need to make your pool safe so you can enjoy your pool and yard all summer long.
Remove Plugs And Ice Compensator
When you closed your inground swimming pool for the winter, you blew out the pipes and installed winterizing plugs to prevent water from getting back into them and freezing. Youll need to walk around the pool and remove all those plugs.
You should see some bubbles as the pool water flows back into the pipes. This is normal. Whether you used an ice compensator or a soda bottle, youll need to remove it and the winterizing plugs from your skimmer.
You May Like: How To Vacuum Pool Without Skimmer
Remove Winter Plugs From Pool Equipment And Skimmer Lines
Take a stroll around the pool and take out all of the winter plugs that you installed in your skimmer and return lines when you closed your pool last season.
If you used an ice compensator or a skimmer cover to prevent freeze damage, make sure you remove those as well.
Reattach the normal plugs and return jets into the return lines as you make your way around and then do the same for your pump, filter, heater, chlorinator, and pool cleaner. After taking out all of the winterizing plugs from the pool equipment, reattach the regular plugs.
Hold it right there! Do you live in a super cold place? If so, you probably used antifreeze in your lines when you closed your above-ground pool last season. Before you remove your winterizing plugs, make sure to turn your pump to the waste setting and turn it on for a minute. This will get the water running and the antifreeze out.
S To Diy Open An Inground Pool
Clear Off Your Pool Cover & Remove It – Carefully removing the cover is crucial to minimizing the debris in the pool water. But, before you remove it, you need to clear off all the water and debris thats on the cover. Use a soft broom or skimmer net and, if you cant sweep away all the water, you may need to use a water pump. If you have one, you can also remove the pool pillow at this point.
Replace Winter Plugs with Standard Plugs – Remove all the winterizing drain plugs you installed last fall and replace them with the standard plugs to get ready for reinstalling the pool equipment. If you covered the pool skimmer opening, be sure to remove that cover too.
Top Up the Pool Water Levels – You need to use your garden hose to fill your pool and raise the water levels at least to the halfway mark of the skimmer opening.
Install the Pool Equipment – Place the skimmer, pump and filter in their proper locations. Connect the pool pump to the skimmer. Connect the filter system to the pump. Connect any other equipment you have, like a chlorinator and/or heater, to the filter. Then connect the return line to the return inlet.
Start the Equipment – Power up your equipment and make sure everything works. Look for water leaking at any point in the system. Whether you use a sand filter or a DE filter, you should backwash to filter, using the manufacturers instructions, to ensure there are no blockages.
You May Like: How To Remove Metals From Pool Water
