How To Open Your Pool in Spring

For pool owners, warmer weather means it's almost time to open your pool for the season! With just a little effort, you can be on your way to a clean, safe, and healthy pool. Regardless of whether you own an above ground or in-ground pool, the fundamentals for opening a pool are very similar. Follow these simple steps to get your pool swim-ready:

1. Clean Your Pool Cover

The first thing to do it to take your winter cover off, remove the debris or any remaining dirt, let it dry out fully and pack it away when it is dry. You can try to sprinkle some Alkalinity Up to prevent possible mould growth and mildew for your next use.

2. Bring the Water Level Back to Normal

If the water level has dropped below the skimmer, then top it up until the level is halfway up the skimmer.

3. Turn Your Pump and Filter Back On

This includes priming the pump and turning on the filtration system. If you have an air relief valve on your filter, make sure to open it to bleed the air from the system. Once water spurts out, close the air relief valve. Check the equipment for leaks or unusual noises. If there are leaks present, mark them, then turn the pump off while repairs are made. If there are no leaks present, continue to let the pump run nonstop (24 hours per day).

Note: Be sure to ‘prime’ the pump with water. Don’t start it dry, not only can it harm the pump, but extra stress and strain are placed on the entire system. If your pump is below the water level, as on most above-ground pools, priming probably isn’t necessary because the water is naturally ‘falling down to the pump (we call it a gravity feed). If the pump and filter system is more than 900mm above the water level, priming is an absolute must. 

4. Clean Brush and Vacuum Your Pool

Get all of the excess stuff out of the pool before adding shock & start-up algaecide. The less debris in the water, the more effective your chemical treatment will be. Be sure to vacuum & brush the sidewalls of the pool to remove any build-up of bio-films there as well.

Clean the liner or tile line with a good quality pool surface cleaner. Do not use household cleaners as they can affect the pH and add phosphates to the water, which will contribute to algae growth later on. This is where most of the winter’s scum has left its mark. Clean it off now while it is still ‘soft’ & easy to remove rather than when it bakes in the sun and is more difficult to clean.

5. Adjust the Chemical Balance of Your Pool

Use a test kit to test your water and to know how much of each adjusting chemical to add to bring your water into balance. You can always bring your water to your local pool shop to test as well. You should start by balancing the total alkalinity since it will help the other chemicals reach the desired levels. If TA is too high, you can use pH Down or Liquid Acid to lower the levels to the ideal range. (Check out our complete guide to see the recommended chemical parameters and find out how to test and fix your pool water properly.)

6. Run the Filtration System Overnight

After adding the initial shock and algaecide, be sure to run the filter for 48 to 72 hours continually before doing another water test. DO NOT backwash the filter during this time. Let the filter and the chemicals do the work.

Final tips:

Understanding how to handle a successful spring pool opening is the key to setting yourself up for a great swimming season. As long as you maintain regular water testing and a cleaning schedule, you can worry less about major water treatments and enjoy the warmer seasons ahead!