How To Open Your Above Ground Pool

The first signs of spring are here: longer days, warmer temperatures, and budding plants and trees. Those signs also mean its time to start getting the pool open for the season. Although the temperatures might not be prime for pool parties and barbecues just yet, planning and putting in the work now will allow you to enjoy the pool that much more when the temperatures do rise. Opening your pool is a big job, but absolutely something you can do yourself. Whether this is you first DIY pool opening, or you just need a short refresher on the steps to take, we’ve put together this guide to get your above ground pool open for the season.

Throughout the winter lots of water, leaves, and other debris have most likely collected on the pool cover, so you will want to make sure it is all cleaned off before the cover comes off or all of it will end up in your pool. To remove the water on the cover you may want to use a special cover pump or a sump pump. Afterward, use a soft broom or skimmer net to remove all leaves and other debris from the cover. Make sure to use a gentle touch so no damage is done to your pool cover. 

With the pool cover clear of water and debris, get the help of a friend and carefully remove the cover. Take care not to drag the cover to prevent any tears. Some people prefer to fold it accordion-style to keep any remaining debris from falling into the pool.

Find a large open area clear of any sharp objects where you can spread out your pool cover to be cleaned. Wash the cover thoroughly but gently with a scrub brush or rubber broom and cover cleaner. Water tubes used for winter covers weight will also need to be drained and dried for storage. If you notice small rips or tears in the cover, go ahead and make the necessary repairs with a cover patch kit. Allow the cover to dry completely before storing it in a durable, tightly sealed plastic storage container during the off-season. With the cover now off the pool, you can untie and remove the ice compensator (or air pillow), deflate, clean and store with the cover.

Remove any winterizing plugs you used in your return lines. Carefully check all around your pool, and remove the plugs from all openings, including the return jets. Remember to reinstall the plugs in your pump, filter, heater, and any other equipment. Now you can reconnect any valve fittings that you removed last winter.

If you properly closed your pool for the winter months, you now need to reconnect all your pool equipment. This includes the pump, filter, heater, and anything else you have connected to your filtration system. As you reconnect each piece of equipment make sure to inspect areas for any damage caused by freezing temperatures over the winter and replace or repair any parts that may have damage. 

At this time, you may want to also reinstall your deck equipment like ladders, steps, lifts,  handrails, etc. that were removed during closing. Make sure to inspect them as well for any damage that may have occurred during the off-season and make any repairs or replacements needed so all equipment is ready for use when the time comes for pool usage.

Depending on how you closed your pool, you may need to add water to reach the proper level. (The pool water level should be about two-thirds up the skimmer.) If you need to add water, use a hose filter on your garden hose to keep stain-causing metals and minerals out of the pool.

Now that you have everything connected it is time to start up the system. Make sure everything starts properly, then take a walk around and look for any leaks or drips. You’ll want to make sure any leaky spots get patched. If things seem to be running well, let the pump and filter run for 24 hours. 

A couple of tips: 

1. If the pump fails to start, check that the power supply is good and the GFCI outlet is not tripped.
2. If you find your system is running dry, you may need to prime the pool pump. You can do this by shutting off your filter system, removing the pump lid, and adding water from your garden hose or a bucket of pool water to the pump strainer basket. This will give the pump the boost it needs to start pulling water. Put the pump lid back on, tighten it up, and restart the system.

Before you can add any start-up chemicals, you need to clean the pool. It is important to remove debris from the pool before balancing the chemistry and shocking the pool, because they can negatively affect both. To best clean your pool, thoroughly brush all pool surfaces to knock off clinging algae spores and other buildup. Then skim large debris from the surface. Last manually vacuum settled dirt and debris.

After the pool is cleaned and vacuumed, you can test the pool water to make sure all the chemicals are properly balanced. It’s not uncommon for chemical levels to change during the off-season and unbalanced water can affect pool health so it is one of the first things you’ll want to address. You can test the pool chemistry with an at-home testing kit, or you can take a sample of your pool water to your nearest pool dealer to have them test it for you if you need some help establishing a baseline reading. 

Pool chemistry testing kits will test your pool water for pH levels, Total Alkalinity (TA), Chlorine levels and calcium hardness. Levels should be approximately:

pH: 7.4 to 7.6

Total Alkalinity: 80 to 120 ppm

Free Available Chlorine: 2.0 to 4.0 ppm

Calcium Hardness: 200-400 ppm

Keep in mind however, every pool is different, so these levels mentioned above are more of a guiding tool. Make sure your levels are aligned to your specific pool.

When returning from the off-season, it is more than likely you’ll need to adjust the levels of several of the pool chemicals in your pool. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is with pool-opening kit that includes everything to get your pool open for the season. Many pool-opening kits include chlorine shock, stain and/or metal remover, clarifier, and algaecide. They may also include water test strips, phosphate removers, oil-absorbing sponges, and more. To help you take the guesswork out of the chemical quantities needed, many kits are packaged by pool size. You can always use these chemicals individually without purchasing a kit and should refer to any users’ manuals to make you always add the proper dosage of chemicals to your pool. 

Once the water chemistry is balanced, you’ll want to shock the pool. Shocking the pool will eliminate any remaining germs and contaminants in your water

After you’ve got everything ready, let your pool pump run for at least 24-48 hours. This way, all the water in the pool will run through the filter, cycling chemicals while cleansing it from any bacteria and making it safe to swim in. You may need to vacuum out again any debris that appears. Then, retest your pool water and if the results are where you want them to be, grab your swimsuit and jump in!

Although opening your pool can be a big job, it’s always a job that’s worth it in the end. Your pool will be ready for a bright and sunny pool season where many fun memories can be made with your friends and family, and more importantly, YOU can RELAX and enjoy the fruits of your labor!