Pool Maintenance and Opening Tips
It’s about that time again! Before the warm weather rolls in, make sure your pool is in its best condition so it’s ready to go with these spring pool maintenance and opening tips.
- Trim Trees and Shrubs
While you are outside this Spring getting your yard and garden ready before the summer, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give some attention to the surrounding landscape to your pool. Be sure that any overgrown trees, shrubs, and bushes are trimmed to minimize debris falling in the pool. Also make sure to rake around the pool area to make sure no yard trimmings blow into the water once your pool is open.
2. Clean Your Pool Cover
Weather you have an above or below ground pool, cleaning off the pool cover is a job that needs to be kept up on. Especially during the winter, your pool cover can collect a lot of leaves and other debris. Start by clearing off any type of waste that needs to be removed from the top of the cover. An accumulation of debris can actually damage the cover and possibly even your pool, so this is a task that should be maintained throughout the seasons you’re not using your pool. Clear any standing water on the pool cover with a water pump – and NEVER use a metal rake or shovel accomplish this task instead, it will damage your cover.
3. Check Water Levels
Before reconnecting and starting up any pool equipment, be sure that the water levels in your pool are where they should be. Just toss in your hose pipe and refill your pool to the normal level (which is normally around the middle of your skimmer). The reason why you want to make sure your water levels are up to normal before turning on any pool equipment is because this could cause problems with your pool pump or other pool mechanics.
4. Reconnect Everything
Usually, pool owners will disconnect their pool equipment during off seasons. If you did any winterizing to your pool, then you will need to reconnect everything back so it runs properly and you are able spot any issues with the mechanics if there are any. Once everything is reconnected properly you can begin to start circulating the water.
5. Make Minor Repairs
In addition to cleaning, this is also a good time to do a routine check-up of any ladders, rails, steps or other pool equipment that may need to be fixed, replaced, or given a little maintenance. Look out for any broken hardware, chipped, cracked surfaces or loose fittings. While doing this, also be sure to inspect your pool filter and any other mechanical components of your pool to make sure they are running properly. Once your pool cover is removed, inspect the lining of the pool for any cracks or damage.
6. Test Water Levels
One of the most important steps for a safe and healthy pool is checking the water for a proper PH balance. After you’ve let the water run and circulate for a few hours, you can then use a testing kit on your pool water. A pool PH testing kit will measure the chlorine, total alkalinity, and PH levels. The pool will not be ready until these levels are just right. You can purchase a testing kit at your local pool supply store, so you can continue to monitor your pool’s water throughout the season. The test will advise you exactly where each level is at, and you will know if you need to add more or dial back on the chemicals you’re using.
7. Open Earlier Than Later
It’s worth it to take the time to open your pool early in the Spring time so that your pool is all ready to go by the first hot day. As a general rule of thumb, it’s better to open your pool sooner than later. This is because as temperatures begin to rise, algae is more likely to form in your pool. This means more money will be spent on chemicals and more time spent tending to the water. The longer you allow algae to grow in your pool by the late spring and early summer, the more work will be required to open your pool.
