Opening Your Pool This Spring
By Sandy Cisney, Pool Manager, Cisney & O’Donnell Pools
With Spring right around the corner, many pool owners are starting to make a list of what they need to do this year to open their pool. You will want to consider both maintenance issues and pool chemicals in your planning.
First of all, drain any water off the pool cover by using a submersible pump for an in-ground pool or a simple siphon for an above ground pool. Then remove the pool cover. If some debris falls into the pool, don’t worry. You will be removing this debris later.
Next, clean the pool cover by brushing or scrubbing away any debris. When it dries, treat each side with pool cover cleaner to prevent mold and mildew. Fold it up and put it in a dry, cool place such as a large container to prevent bugs from harming the cover.
After these steps are completed, you will want to raise the pool water level back to normal. You can fill it from your house hose or have a delivery from your local fire company, depending on the quantity required.
Next, reconnect any equipment that had been disconnected like the filter, pump, or heater. Remove any winterizing plugs from equipment, skimmer and return lines then reattach drain plugs. Pool antifreeze does not need to be flushed out before using the equipment.
Check the equipment to make sure it is working properly by turning it on. The pump may need to be primed and if you have an air relief valve on your filter, make sure it is open so the air bleeds off.
Let the circulation and filter systems run for a good twelve hours before testing pool water. Test your pool water to see if the chemistry is right for pH, total alkalinity and chlorine levels by using a pool water testing kit or by taking the water to a local pool store for testing.
Lastly, brush the sides of the pool, remove any debris and vacuum the pool several times to get the water clear.
By following these guidelines, you will have a clean and crystal pool for the coming summer season.