How to Open Your Pool

With the sun shining and the temperatures rising, you might be thinking that it’s about time to open the pool. Before you dive in deep, take a look at these helpful steps to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Clean Up and Prep Your Yard

Before you get started on the pool area, survey your yard and garden. Mow the lawn, prune your flowers, trim the trees and do any desired landscaping beforehand to limit the amount of dirt and grass blowing into the pool once it’s opened up. Have a look to make sure your deck, furniture and pool equipment survived the winter in good condition as well.

Inventory Your Pool Chemicals

You’ll want to have these on hand before starting to open your pool:

• Water test kit or reagents
• Chlorine or sanitizer of your choice
• Water balancers (such as pH increaser, pH decreaser, alkalinity increaser, and calcium increaser)
• Pool cleaner
• A pool opening kit *optional - an easy-to-use kit that comes with chlorine, clarifier, and a water treatment to get your pool water off to a clean start

Clean and Remove Your Pool Cover

Remove as much debris from the top of the cover as possible, then brush it down while there’s still some water on top. Once it’s clean, drain all the water off the top. Remove any security devices or cords that may be connected, then remove your cover and safely store it for the summer.

Give Your Pool a Deep Clean

Clear out any debris in the water using a skimmer net, then use your vacuum to do a more thorough clean of the pool floor. Use a pool cleaner to get rid of any acquired algae, scale, or calcium stains on the pool walls.

Warning: Do not use household cleaners in your pool; even the trace of them can have serious chemical interactions with the pool chemicals you’ll be adding

Dewinterize Your Pool Equipment

Remove freeze plugs and ice guards in the returns and skimmers. Make sure all drain plugs that were removed in the fall are reinstalled on your pump, heater, and filter. Ensure that all intake and return valves are open.

Refill Your Pool to the Proper Water Level

about 1/2 way up to the skimmer. Remember to prime your pool pump and pool filter to avoid airlocks by adding water directly to the suction lines and pump until no air bubbles are visible.

Shock the Pool Water

Use a non-chlorine-based shock to remove any lingering bacteria in the water. Wait at least 3 hours.

Test and Balance Pool Water Chemistry

First, adjust pH using an increaser or decreaser as required. Then test and adjust alkalinity using an alkalinity increaser if it’s low or use pH decreaser if alkalinity is too high. Next add and adjust sanitizer to required level.

Let the Pool Water Recirculate

Let the water recirculate in the pool for 24 hours.

Finish Pool Opening Tasks

Finish up the next day by adding algaecide if desired (follow the directions on the bottle; some may require leaving the product untouched for a few hours). Also, remember to replace your chemical feeder in the water and reinstall any dive boards, ladders or parts that may still be loose.

Helpful Pool Products to Consider at Opening

Final Step — Enjoy Your Pool All Summer Long

Final step? Enjoy your beautiful pool all summer long!