Getting Your Pool Ready for Summer: 7 Tips

7 Pool Opening Tips

Pool opening is never something you look forward to. It takes a long time to do right, plus it’s physically exhausting work. This doesn’t mean you can skip steps and rush through it. It has to be done right in order for you to enjoy your pool all season. Many pool owners dread taking off the cover for fear of seeing green or cloudy water. That’s OK. It can be fixed with the proper blend of chemicals and attention to detail.

Let’s go over seven tips to getting your pool ready this summer:

1. Remove the cover and clean it completely. Stretch it out next to the pool, then clean it thoroughly with a garden hose and scrub brush with water and soap. Pool supply stores also sell special winter cover cleaner. Either way, make sure it’s dry before you fold it up and store it in a cool, dry place.
2. Gather necessary supplies. Make a checklist and start gathering all supplies beforehand, such as chemicals, telescopic pole, pool brushes, skimmers, vacuum hose, and test kits.
3. Stick to one reliable source. It can be confusing to get conflicting information from a variety of sources, from pool supply store workers to online sources. It’s best to go with one reputable source, such as your local pool guy due to his training and experience.
4. Schedule your pool opening earlier rather than later. This will save you money because spring is usually when you can get better deals at the pool stores. Plus, if you wait too long to make an appointment with your pool service company, you may have to wait because summer is their busy season. If you open your pool in late spring, you won’t be forced to do these chores in the sweltering heat while the kids keep bugging you about when it’s going to be ready. Another advantage to doing it early is to keep algae from thriving in damp, dark, warm places.
5. Invite a friend to help you. Pool opening will go much quicker and more smoothly when you have friends helping you. Then, you can reward them with a dip in the pool or some pizza. Bonus.
6. Add shock to remove harmful bacteria as well as old chlorine that has lost its effectiveness. This is necessary only in a chlorine pool.
7. Switch the filter on and let it run. Begin with running it 24/7 until you see a big improvement in the color. Once the cloudy or green tint has gone away, reduce running time to 10 to 12 hours a day.