Your Total Pool Opening Checklist

Pool Opening Checklist

With spring here, you’re probably very excited to open up your pool and get going with the summer festivities. But wait, first, you have to properly open it and this can take some time. However, if you had taken the time to close your pool properly in the fall, with proper maintenance over the winter, you should be in good shape at this point.

Heed our handy tips for pool opening:

• Pump or siphon off any accumulating water on the cover before you remove it.
• Remove the pool cover and clean it. Make sure it dries first before you fold it up and store it.
• Make sure you have all the supplies you need and stock up on things you don’t have.
• Use a leaf blower or broom to sweep away any dirt or debris from the cover and surrounding deck.
• Start up the pump and support system.
• If you encounter leaks, call your local pool experts to come out and take a look.
• Test and adjust your pH regularly. It’s a good idea to run the pump 24 hours a day so the water is properly balanced. Then you can start reducing that time by one-hour increments.
• Add algaecide, then test the chlorine level again and make any necessary adjustments.
• Reinstall and turn on the pump and filter.
• Attach all accessories, including ladders and diving boards.
• Set up the patio furniture and wipe it all down with a damp cloth.
• Determine that all circuit breakers, switches, and time clock trippers are working correctly.
• Switch on the circulation equipment.
• Clean and vacuum the pool, removing leaves or debris that may have gotten in.
• Keep balancing the pH every few days to keep an eye on it.
• Backwash the filter.
• Remove any plugs and replace the return outlet fittings.
• Fill up the pool to the correct water level with a garden hose.

What Can Go Wrong?

Plenty of things, actually. Even when you follow the steps to a T, you can still run into some trouble. Here at National Pools and Spas, we are always here to help if you run into an issue you can’t resolve. Meanwhile, here are some tips on troubleshooting:

• An accumulation of sand in the pool means you could have an underground leak or a crack in your sand filter. Look at the filter to locate and repair the crack or call in the pros if the problem is not remedied.
• Lack of water pressure in the DE filter means you should backwash the filter and add new DE immediately. We can perform an acid wash if this doesn’t work. Don’t attempt this yourself.
• Drops from the filter, pump or pipes mean you should tighten all fittings, then call us if the leaks don’t stop.
• Air bubbles at return jets could signal a suction line leak near the skimmers. Dig down to locate the source, or call us.