Summer is right around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about getting your pool ready for another fun filled season. For those of you who don’t have warm weather all year long, 2010 was probably a pretty hard winter for you. We saw record snowfall in many areas so it’s important to check on your pool even earlier than you normally would to make sure your pool is ready to go. Hopefully, you’ve maintained your pool during the winter months so you don’t have as much work to do. If you’re new to swimming pools and never have opened a swimming pool before then you should definitely call a local pool professional to open the pool for you, at least for the first time. For those of you who have opened your own pool before, here is a checklist for getting your pool opened.
-For all covers, remove all debris on the cover. If you have a solid cover, make sure to pump all excess water off. Once the cover is free of debris, remove cover and clean with a cover cleaner. Allow the cover to dry before folding it up and storing it to prevent mildew. As long as you’ve maintained the pool properly while it was closed, your water should be fairly clear.
-Connect your pump, filter, and other equipment. If you have a DE or cartridge filter and have not cleaned the DE grids or cartridges then you should clean them now. Use a filter cleaner/degreaser to properly clean your grids and cartridges.
-Make sure to lubricate all seals.
-If large debris has gotten into the pool, use a leaf rake or a leaf bagger to remove all large debris.
-Remove all winter plugs and re-install all return fittings and skimmer baskets. Bring the water to the proper level in the pool. Make sure nothing is clogging up the suction lines.
-Prime the pool pump and turn on the power. Check the pressure gauge to make sure your system is running properly. (Normal operating pressure will vary from one pool to another. If your pressure is not at the normal operating pressure then you know something may be wrong.) Visually inspect your pool equipment for leaks. Walk around your pool to check for leaks by looking for air bubbles.
-Brush pool walls and floor thoroughly.
-Take a water sample from 18 inches below the waterline into your local pool store for testing. You can also test your water with the Aquachek 7 Way Pool test strips. Balance your pool accordingly and add sanitizing chemicals according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
-Check your pool chemical supplies to make sure none have expired.
This is your basic pool opening checklist. Some of you may have more complex systems and if you are not comfortable opening your pool on your own then you should seek out a local pool professional. Good swimming!
Source: Yardandpool.com - Pool Opening Checklist
Tags: opening tips, pool maintenance, pool opening
