Now to the core of the matter, to really help you out, these are the five main steps to follow when opening a swimming pool for the season.
1. Replace or clean your pool water
If you drained your pool at the end of last season, you’re going to need to fill it up. However, if you left water in your pool, you’re going to need to make a decision instead. That is, should you clean the water or replace it?
Realistically, it’s more cost-effective to treat the existing water rather than completely replacing it. But if the water has extremely high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), there's likely severe contamination that cannot be effectively treated. Similarly, if the water simply looks and smells terrible, replacement may also be better. To determine its starting condition, you should test your pool water, and decide from there.
2. Clean your pool surfaces and water
- Like any spring cleaning, your pool is going to need a good scrub down when you open a pool for summer. To do so:
- Take off the winter cover. Remove any debris from the water surface.
- Thoroughly scrub the pool walls and floor, either manually or with a pool robot.
- Test and balance the water chemistry (see step 3 for details).
- Shock the pool to eliminate bacteria and algae.
- Run the filtration system to circulate the treated water, and clear any remaining cloudiness.
- Then test again to be extra sure of the water’s quality, and further treat if needed.
3. Balance the chemicals
Opening your pool after winter requires a balance of chemicals to ensure safe and clean water. You’ll need to first test your waters, as we mentioned, so you know what and how much to add of:
- Chlorine or shock
- pH balancers (i.e. a pH increaser or decreaser)
- An alkalinity reducer (like muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate)
- A calcium hardness increaser Algaecide
How long does it take for pool chemicals to work, you ask? Well anywhere from a few hours for pH adjusters up to 24 hours for shock. Your pool size and circulation will be influencing factors, but always read the instructions on the side of the packaging the chemicals came in, to be on the safe side.
4. Prep your pool pump and filter
Part of opening an inground pool after winter, of course, also means doing a visual check, to see that there aren’t any cracks or erosion, and that important elements like the pump and filter are working. To do so, make sure the power is off, then inspect the pump and filter for any visible damage or cracks. Next, clean or replace the filter cartridge or media, and lubricate any O-rings or gaskets as needed. Finally, reconnect all plumbing, prime the pump, and turn the power on to check for proper operation and leaks.
5. Get your robotic pool cleaner ready for the season
Once your pool is ready, it’s safe to go in the waters. But the maintenance continues. To keep it easier, you may have purchased a robotic pool cleaner, which is essentially an automated device that climbs into your pool to vacuum and scrub on a set schedule, so you don’t have to think about it.
To ensure it’s ready for the work ahead, make sure it’s in good working order by checking the brushes, tracks, filters, climbing-rings, and seals, and if needed, fix or replace (spare parts are easy enough to order). Also, plug it in to make sure it charges, or use the built-in testing diagnostics to identify any issues in advance.
