Helpful Tips: Starting Up Your Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool Opening

June can only mean one thing for New Jersey pool owners: starting up your pool for the summer! You probably can’t wait to get it started, but it’s a chore to get it just right before anyone can start swimming. That’s why you need to follow these helpful reminders, especially if you’re a beginner.

Starting Out

• The first step is to pull out plugs from all suction and return lines.
• Fill your pool with a garden hose to the water line.
• Make sure the pump is full and then prime it.
• Clean the
• Add new D.E. grids or a cartridge.
• Start the pump up.
• Check for leaks or wet spots on the equipment pad area. If you see water, your pump seal could be leaking. Get it repaired sooner rather than later because you won’t make it far with a defective one.
• Test the pH levels of your water. Remember: normal chlorine levels should be at 3.0 ppm.; normal pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6; alkalinity should be between 100 and 150 ppm; and calcium hardness should be between 150 and 225 ppm.

Balance the Chemicals

• Add chemicals to your pool, making sure to pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations for your size of pool.
• Don’t get the chemicals on the plaster coping or liner, as they can discolor them.
• Add chemicals slowly, keeping the pump running for 24 hours initially.
• Shock your pool by adding granular shock to a bucket of water. Mix completely and pour into the pool water all around the edges.

Test Chemicals

• Purchase test kits because you will need a new one every time.
• Take a sample of water.
• Test it.
• Read results carefully and add chemicals to balance if you need to.
• Test it on a weekly basis.
• Use test strips if you have to but know they don’t give as accurate a reading.
• Be careful when opening chemical canisters. Do so away from your face in the interest of safety.

Circulate the Pool

• Run the pump primarily during sunny daylight hours. This is so the UVA and UVB rays can readily take away excess chlorine from the water.
• Allow for circulation of the water, which will mix up the chemicals for top-notch sanitization and distribution.
• Vacuum the pool to waste if you have access to a multiport valve, which will bypass the filter so it doesn’t get clogged. If you don’t have that, opt for an inline canister with the vacuum hose.

We know how much of a time-consuming chore starting up your pool at the beginning of the season can be.