It’s finally here! Time to open your pool! There is nothing that pool owners simultaneously anticipate and dread more than pool opening. Yes, you are excited that the swim season is just around the corner, but there is quite a bit of work that needs to be done first. Check out these 5 mistakes to avoid when opening your pool so your path to fun is an easy one.
Opening Your Pool Too Late
Finding a day in your busy schedule to open the pool isn’t a quick task. Life is busy and it is easy to push the pool opening to the back burner, after all you aren’t planning to use it for a long time anyway, right? Wrong! You need to keep your pool opening at the top of your to-do list. The spring weather is unpredictable and things can turn hot quickly. As soon as the weather changes algae growth will start immediately. That algae makes your job much harder than it needs to be. Make it a priority to get your pool open before any additional algae growth can begin.
Not Clearing the Cover
We’ve all tried that yanking the table cloth kind of magic trick on the pool cover and we have all ended up with debris in the pool. Quit playing games and take the time to properly clear the cover and the pool deck while you are at it. You are just making more work for yourself if you pull a dirty cover and wind up with a winter’s worth of sludge in the water. Get your leaf blower, sump pump, broom or whatever you need to get the job done right. Taking 10 minutes to properly clear things will save you weeks of combating dirty water.
Forgetting the Chlorine
After you open your pool, your chlorine level will undoubtedly be high because of all the shock you just put in, but that level will drop quickly. You need to be ready with your regular chlorinating methods. If you run a saltwater system, keep in mind that salt cells won’t produce chlorine if the temperature is under 60 degrees, so you may need to use a floating chlorinator or something similar until the temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees.
Not Running the Filter Long Enough
Often times pool owners are worried that they will burn up their pump or their utility bill by running their pump too long. Set those fears aside while you open your pool. Your pump should run 24/7 for the first few days to make sure that the water is clear and the start up chemicals are well-circulated. Your pump will be just fine and your utility bill won’t be affected too much.
Adding Your Chemicals All At Once
When you have already spent hours cleaning your pool, opening everything and making sure it is running properly, it is very tempting to dump in all of your start up chemicals at once and walk away. This really isn’t the best method. The shock can actually counteract some of the other chemicals making them ineffective. You should shock your pool on the first day. Add the clarifier on the second day. Use any stain and scale products on the third day. Then add your algicide on day four or five. This method will give all of the chemicals time to do their job without any negative interactions.
Avoiding these 5 mistakes can save you time and money as you open your pool. We also recommend that you purchase all of the chemicals and cleaning supplies that you need prior to starting your pool opening, so you don’t have to delay your project. We carry a full line of BioGuard chemicals for all of your maintenance needs. Come see us to get everything you need for an easy pool opening.