Spring seems to be here to stay and that means opening day is now in sight. It’s time to take inventory and make your spring cleaning list. You want to have adequate time to get everything you need. More people are staying close to home this year, and many are starting to see the benefits of having a backyard swimming pool. If this is your first summer operating a pool there is still a lot to do before you dive in. If you are a seasoned pool operator let’s review some important steps that can save you time and money in the long run.
Order your pool chemicals
This year it’s extremely important to place your orders early. With the increase in pool and spa owners and the global shipping delays, it’s time to consider placing those orders a few weeks earlier than you normally do. Check your inventory, if you have expired or improperly stored chemicals then make a plan to dispose of them safely. Not sure what you need to get your water ready? There’s more than just chlorine needed to balance your pool, you’ll need to treat your waters ph, alkalinity and calcium hardness as well. If you’d prefer to have a professional get your pool ready, check out this list of options in your area.
Clean up outdoors
Spring cleaning isn’t just for inside the house. Cleaning up the yard and dusting off the deck will help keep a lot of unnecessary debris out of your swimming pool. Its best to do yard and deck work while the cover is still on. Safety is paramount, this is a great time to inspect. To keep your family safe, check on the condition of your ladders, handrails, diving board and waterslide anchors.
Remove your pool cover
Don’t get ahead of yourself with this task, there are few steps to take before you roll back the cover. Clean all of the debris and excess water off of the top and let it thoroughly dry out. The more debris you can keep out of your pool the less work your filters will need to do once they are up and running. Ensuring your cover is dry before you store it away will increase the lifespan of your cover.
Clean your basin and fill your pool
These two tasks can be done simultaneously. Using a garden hose, start to fill your pool to operating level. At the same time, use a leaf skimmer and get any surface debris you can. Once leaves and twigs get into the water there will be some breakdown that will contaminate your water before the large pieces get to the bottom. Give the sides a good brushing and vacuum the debris that has settled on the bottom. Your filters will take care of the rest but it’s best to remove anything you can to increase the lifespan of your filter media and the units themselves.
Start filtration
Let the filters run for a day or so to mix all of the new water in with the old and then you’ll want to perform a test to see what needs adjusting. Before you add chlorine it’s important to balance your waters alkalinity and ph and calcium hardness. Once these levels are within range its time to shock your pool and wait for the chlorine level to fall. Once within range, you are good to take the plunge.
Enjoy your backyard pool this summer, but keep a close on your water quality every couple of days. If you are able to catch things before they get out of the safe range, then you can likely maintain your water without having to close your pool for long.