The Guide to Opening Your Pool
With the weather heating up across the country, get back into the swimming spirit and open up your pool. Of course, opening a pool can feel daunting if you don't have any experience.
Thankfully, setting things up for the warmer months is easy. Take a look at this handy guide to find out how.
1.Remove Your Pool Cover
The first step to opening your pool this summer is to remove the pool cover. For many pool owners, this step is also the most off-putting. But, while the task of removing the gunk that's accumulated may seem unpleasant, it shouldn't take long. Simply use a soft broom to sweep away the debris, then use a pool cover pump to siphon off any water.
Once that's done, all you need to do is take the pool cover off and store it. Before you put it into storage, you may want to wipe it down with pool cover cleaner to keep it in good condition for next winter.
2. Use a net pool cover
Like most pool owners, you probably use a heavy pool cover to keep leaves and other debris out of your pool when it's not in use. While you can technically use a cover like this all year round, they're generally too cumbersome to remove every time you want to swim.
That's where leaf net pool covers come in handy. These pool covers are made from a fine mesh fabric that prevents leaves from getting in your pool much like a winter pool cover. However, unlikely a winter pool cover, net covers are very lightweight, and rainwater can't settle on top of them. This makes removing and replacing the cover each day nothing more than a few minutes' work.
3. Keep Your Pool Clean
Of course, prevention is always better than a cure. If you're tired of skimming your pool or relying on pool covers, it may be best to revamp your landscaping with new, pool-friendly plants.
Common garden foliage like azalea flowers and cherry blossom trees may look beautiful, but they constantly shed flowers and drop leaves that will blow into your pool.
Instead, you'll want to opt for plants with minimal leaf drop. Some attractive tree options for your yard that won't shed into your pool include citrus trees, palm trees and Japanese maple trees. Succulents are another pretty alternative. And if you don't want to get rid of your other plants entirely, you can always move them to your front yard or separate your landscaping from your pool with a retaining wall.
Keeping your pool clean is always essential for a great swimming experience. Alongside taking steps to keep leaves at bay, make sure you have a working pump that's suitable for your pool. For a wide range of high-quality pool pumps and other essential equipment, check out Maygo Pool.
4.Run Your Pool Pump and Filter
Next, you'll want to address your pool's circulation system: the filter and pump. First, check your filter for signs of wear and dirt. If it looks damaged, you'll need to replace it. If it's just in need of a clean, backwash it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Next, when you hook everything back up, remember to lubricate your O-rings with a quality pool gasket lubricant, and use thread seal tape to reinstall the drain plugs. Then, all you have to do is turn everything on and make sure water flows through as it should.
Sometimes, pumps can become worn over the winter and may not work when you open your pool for the summer. If that's the case for you, think about buying a new pool pump.
5.Refresh Your Pool
Last, but not least, refresh your pool so it's ready and inviting for a day of swimming. First, use a skimmer net to clear away all the big chunks of debris floating in your water. Then, use a brush that's suitable for your pool walls to scrub away any accumulated dirty film.
Once the pool looks clean, you need to fix the water chemistry problems you can't see with your naked eye. You can use a testing kit, or you can ask your local pool supply to test a sample for you. Use those results to balance your alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness and chlorine. During this stage, you'll want to double shock your pool with chlorine to kill all any bacteria and algae spores lurking in the water.