Don’t Forget To Remove Winterizing Plugs And Replace Drain Plugs
If you live in an area where the winter temperature drops below zero, then you may have replaced the pool inlets/outlets with winterizing plugs. These rubber plugs provide a very tight seal and prevent any plumbing damage due to leaks or ice during winter. You may have also installed a skimmer plug or gizzmo to protect your skimmer from expanding ice. After re-connecting your equipment, you will want to remove all of the winter plugs and put the pool inlets and outlets back in place. Remember to also reinstall the drain plugs in your pool equipment. If the water level is below the skimmer, you can now refill the pool.
Preparing & Testing The Water
Running the Filtration System
Once the pool has been filled with fresh water, its time to run the filtration system and get the water circulating. Before you turn on your filtration system, bleed any remaining air from the line and be sure to prime the pool pump before use.
Initial Water Testing
When you first begin running the filtration system, add the pool opening chemicals kit. These kits include important products that remove winter buildup of chemicals and other elements. Keeping your pool clean and free from bacteria and debris are important responsibilities for every pool owner and having the right pool chemicals makes it easy to do.
Testing the Water
After your pools circulation system has run for at least 12 hours, its time for testing pool water chemicals. The chemical balance of the water in your pool requires some careful testing and monitoring to stay within safe limits. Everything from environmental changes and just basic use can alter your pool water chemistry, so its important to test the water frequently throughout the season.
There are six things that affect your pools water balance that pool owners must monitor, including pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, Total Dissolved Solids, Sanitizer, Cyanuric Acid, Temperature, and Metal levels. Keeping each of these levels in check is an essential part of preventing harmful erosion, scale deposits and staining of pool surfaces.
1. Find your pools average depth:
WATER TEMPERATURE
Shocking Your Pool
Why You Need To Know How To Open An Above Ground Pool
Your pools been covered all winter. As convenient as it would be to just pull the cover off and dive right in, think for a minutethat waters been sitting there, stagnant, all winter long. Do you really want to submerge yourself in that? Didnt think so.
Knowing the above ground pool opening process will ensure that when you do finally get back into the pool, its in clean, clear, non-swampy water.
Also Check: Mandalay Bay Pool Opens
Getting Ready To Open Your Swimming Pool
Before you begin, youll want to make sure youve got all the tools you need lined up poolside and ready to go. Youll probably already have some of the items on hand, such as a garden hose, but you may need to pick up a few other things, most importantly, some protective gear.
Every year, thousands of pool owners end up in emergency rooms due to poisoning from pool chemicals. Most of those injuries occurred because people were not wearing protective gear when handling pool chemicals. So when youre stocking up on all your other supplies, dont skip the safety gear. It matters.
By the way, if you need a little more help with caring for your pool once its open, youll find more information in The Pool Care Handbook and Video Course. Dont maintain your pool without it!
Stain And Scale Remover
If you have metals in your water, like copper and iron, you can use a metal remover or stain and scale remover to keep those metals in solution so that your filter can filter them out.
If metals come out of solution that can attach themselves to the walls and other parts of your pool and produce unsightly stains.
Also Check: Pool Installation Syracuse Ny
How To Get Your Swimming Pool Ready For Summer
Here’s your eight-step guide to getting ready for lazy summer afternoons.
Opening your backyard swimming pool for the season takes more than filling it up and jumping in. Larry Biscornet, president of LBI Swimming Pools in New Rochelle, N.Y., has been in the swimming pool business for 50 years, and he knows the importance of opening a pool correctlyboth for the health of the swimmers and the pool. “If a swimming pool is opened properly, you can be assured of proper operation and chemical safety,” he says. Here’s your eight-step guide to getting ready for lazy summer afternoons.
Remove Winterizing Plugs From Skimmer And Return Lines
Dont forget to remove any winterizing plugs you used in your skimmer and return lines. Make sure to wait until after the antifreeze has drained before removing the plugs. Remember to reinstall the regular drain plugs in your pumps, filter, heater, and any other equipment. Now you can reconnect any return valve fittings that you removed last winter.
You May Like: Remove Metals From Pool Water
The Importance Of Balanced Pool Water
Balanced pool water is clean, safe, healthy, and comfortable to swim in. And it will prevent damage to your pools structure and equipment.
Too much chlorine will cause skin and eye irritation, and potential illness, while too little will not be effective at killing bacteria, algae, and other contaminants.
If pH levels are too high, the water will become cloudy and create scale deposits on your pool walls and equipment. And if the pH levels are too low, the pool surfaces and equipment will become etched and corroded.
Simply put, unbalanced water can lead to plenty of unwanted issues with your pool. So do yourself and your pool a favour and keep your water balanced.
Stain Removal And Prevention
Stains and ugly water lines are another issue that most pool owners have to deal with. Pool Stain Removal & Stain Prevention Chemicals effectively remove and prevent stains that can be caused by metals such as copper, iron, lead, silver, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. These metals are a major cause for discoloration and scaling in your pool water pool stain removers disperse these metals from your water, leaving it clear and clean. By using stain prevention chemicals on regular basis, the need for backbreaking scrubbing and cleaning will be greatly reduced and it will be far easier to maintain a beautifully clean pool environment.
Read Also: Hide Pool Equipment Fence
Have A Pro Test Your Water
Biscornet recommends having the water professionally tested. Take a water sample to a swimming pool store, Biscornet says, and they’ll test the water for you, usually for free . “It’s a good idea because they’ll do a complete test,” he says. “They’ll test the mineral content of the water, along with the total alkalinity and the pH and the chlorine levels.” They’ll tell you which needs to be adjusted and by how much.
You should also pickup your own DIY pool chemistry testing strips. Just dip the strips in the pool water and then hold them up to the color chart on the bottle. This is an easy way to measure the chlorine and PH on a regular basis.
Prime Your Pool Pump And Filter
To get your pool pump and filter ready take the following steps:
- To eliminate any air in the plumbing lines, make sure to add water to the suction lines with a garden hose.
- Open the filter gauge pressure relief. Then, mark or document your starting PSI.
- Inspect your controller for the correct time, hours of operation and programs for variable speed or variable flow pumps.
- After the filtration system is operational, inspect all components in the equipment area for leaks.
- Open all suction and return lines, utilize the multi-port valve and clean out any debris in the line by discarding to the waste position. Prior to operating the pool, remember to return the multi-port valve to the filter position.
Recommended Reading: Algaecide Ace Hardware
Remove Excess Water With A Sump Pump Before Taking Off Pool Cover
If you have a winter cover or a solid safety cover, chances are a fair amount of water and debris has built up on the cover during the long winter off-season. Pool covers can be difficult to remove when water is on them, so we recommend using a sump pump to drain the water off the cover before moving it.
It is best to use two people when taking the cover off of the pool, because even with most of the water drained off, pool covers can still be quite heavy. Take care not to spill too much debris from the cover into the pool, or else it’ll take longer to open the pool. If a small amount of water or debris does spill in, don’t worry. The pool will soon be thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed.
Chemical #: High Concentration Algeacide
This kind of algeacide removes most of the oxygen from the water that is necesary for organic material to survive. This will help kill the existing algea, as well as help prevent any new algea from growing. We suggest a minimum of over 20% concentration, 40-60% as a recommendation.
Note: 5% or 10% will not cut it here, even if you add high quantities. Also, if you did do it with low concentration products, it would end up costing you more.
Read Also: Pentair Intellicenter Freeze Protection
Cyanuric Acid Or Stabilizer
Most chlorine products you add to the water will be stabilized chlorine. However, if you start with fresh water, you might want to add some cyanuric acid as a stabilizer base so that the chlorine doesnt get burned off by the suns UV rays so quickly. This chemical will protect your chlorine from the sun.
Chemicals Are Vital For A Successful Pool Start Up
The chemicals for pool start up are really important for getting everything off on the right foot. Without doing this properly, your pool start up can turn into a lengthy ordeal.
However, to get this chemical balance right quickly, you need to have a clean pool. This cuts down on contaminates in your pool water and lets the chemicals work properly.
This can be a complicated job, which is why a lot of people use pool maintenance services for the start up and close down of their pools. This ensures your pool starts off right, and you can keep on top of chemical maintenance through the season.
Otherwise, you can sort the chemicals for pool start up yourself. However, it is going to take some precision and quite a few chemicals.
More pool cleaning tips at YOUR tips:
Read Also: How To Get Stabilizer Up In Pool
How To Open An Inground Pool In 13 Steps
Its that time of year again! Pool season has arrived. The suns shining. Temperatures are rising. You could really go for a swim.
But there you are, standing on your patio, staring at a dirty pool cover, wondering what kind of horrors await you underneath it. Pool opening seems like so much work, doesnt it? Dont worry. Grab a friend and a few other essentials, and youll be back to backstroking in no time.
Preparing Your Pool & Equipment For Use
Overview
If you live in a cold weather climate and prepared your pool for freezing weather at the end of last season, then youll need to get your pool and equipment ready for use by cleaning out and testing all of the pool equipment and preparing the pool itself for use. Consider adding a fresh coat of pool paint, replacing your filters and taking other steps to get your pool ready for the season.
Removing Plugs
Remove the winterizing plugs from the pool filter, heater, pump, pool cleaners& other items that were winterized last fall. Replace winter plugs with the original drain plug.
Reinstalling Deck Equipment
Once the plugs have been removed, begin reinstalling the deck equipment. Follow the provided instructions to install the pool slide, deck chairs, and extra railings, making sure to inspect items for damage when they come out of storage. If youve got a pool fence, set that up as well, as its never too early to start practicing smart pool safety.
Reconnecting Electrical Equipment
Cleaning the Pool and Equipment
Next, thoroughly clean all pool surfaces and pieces of pool equipment. For the most effective cleaning, try using a manual pool brush for some tough pre-treating action on especially dirty or stained areas of the pool. Follow up with a deep cleaning using a high quality automatic pool cleaner. Getting the pool surfaces as clean as possible and removing all traces of mildew and debris before you start swimming ensures that your pool will be ready to go.
Don’t Miss: How To Take Calcium Off Pool Tile
How To Put Chemicals In Your Pool For The First Time
First time opening your pool? Congratulations! You’re about to have endless summers of fun and enjoyment. Before you can get to swimming, follow these steps to put chemicals in your pool for the very first time:
Pro Tip: Be sure to check your filter and return lines for damage, cracks, or leaks. If you have a sandfilter, add sand if needed. If you have a cartridge filter, check the cartridge and clean/replace asneeded.
Related Articles
How Do You Close A Swimming Pool Permanently
Use a jackhammer, sledgehammer, or other tool to smash holes into the bottom of the pool. This will allow water to drain out of it in the future. Remove any top decking concrete walkways, coping tiles and any other concrete around the pool that you dont want anymore. Toss it into the pool over the holes you have made.
Recommended Reading: Filling Intex Pool
How Much Does It Cost To Open A Swimming Pool
Above ground, pools should cost no more than $40 if it is DIY.
Inground pools should cost between $60 to $70 if it is DIY. If professionals are involved the cost will clearly escalate. Also, if CLEAN & CLEAR is used at the beginning of the season, that is enough to last the entire year. It just needs to be topped off periodically. So it is a bit misleading. The initial cost is really the cost of the year. That cost is $50 for above ground pools and $100 for in-ground pools. But that replaces all the chemicals, except some chlorine, for the entire year.
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.
Also Check: Tibbits Pool Yonkers
Chemicals For Your Pool Water
Water is not complex. Over the winter, outdoor swimming pool water becomes contaminated because of environmental factors where most pool owners will turn to chemicals to maintain their pool water. These must be corrected in order to restore your water to its natural state. Water that appears clean and clear is naturally more appealing to swim in. The fewer chemicals are the better. The more natural the better. And safer for the whole family. Thats why I recommend a simplistic and proven combination of liquid chlorine and CLEAN & CLEAR from C*Pool and Spa. Not only is it the cheapest , but it is the safest way to open pools. Yes, you could use a wheelbarrow full of chemicals, but they would not produce a better result and would cost a lot more.
If CLEAN & CLEAR by C-Pool & Spa is unavailable in your region, I recommend the following chemicals and process when opening an outdoor pool.
The target levels of chemicals as determined by testing:
pH 7.0 to 7.7
Total Alkalinity 80 120 ppm
Calcium 100 400 ppm
Chlorine 1 4 ppm
Calcium hardness add calcium chloride
To decrease:
Alkalinity add liquid or dry acid
Calcium hardness add Flocculant keep pH and alkalinity in the proper range
Chlorine, time and sunlight will deplete CL levels
Beginners Guide To Swimming Pool Chemicals
I was super excited when I purchased my first Intex Easy Set Deluxe Pool and remember spending every single minute of my free time swimming or just floating in my beloved pool.
Although I did my pre-purchase homework and bought all the right accessories for my pool, I lagged behind on the pool chemistry the most important part of pool care.
As a novice pool owner, I had no idea how important it is to use the proper chemicals to maintain a clean and clear pool. Within a few days, my sparkling clean pool started to lose its beauty and the water started turning cloudy.
That was when one of my dear friends came to the rescue and guided me through the pool maintenance routine. Your pool needs cleaning, toning, moisturizing just like your face. Those were her exact words to me, which I have never forgotten.
I know that there are a lot of excited new pool owners out there who, like me, may be overwhelmed by their new purchase and may need some coaching on basic Pool Chemicals. Then you can enjoy spending more time in your pool and less time wondering which chemicals to use and when.
Also Check: Poole Family Ymca
What Is Breakpoint Oxidation
To reach breakpoint oxidation, the chlorine reading must be 10 ppm over your combined chlorine reading.
Your chlorine has two readings: free chlorine and combined chlorine . Free chlorine refers to the chlorine that is free and available to kill.
NOTE: Pool shock products are made with unstabilized chlorine or no chlorine at all. They will go in, do their job, and get eaten up by the suns UV rays very fast. Thats why its important to shock your pool at night or dusk, and let it work for 8 hours throughout the night.
