POOL START UP TIME!

  • Freeform Swimming Pool and Freeform Spa

In order to kick off your swimming season, it’s important that you open your pool the right way in order to have great swimming experiences for the rest of the year. Whether an experienced pool owner or a novice to the process, here are a few tips from the professionals to ensure you get it right:

Prepping
Before you do anything, remove any plugs that were in place to protect your pool during the cold season. This includes all suction and return lines. Then, fill you pool to the appropriate water level to ensure that your pump is filled and primed. After this safety check, you can start the pump and watch for confirmation that your water is moving. Look for any leaks around equipment that could be a sign of deterioration of your pump. A seal leak can ruin your pump’s motor if it goes unnoticed.

Test Stage
Once your pool is running, the next task on your list is to test your water’s chemical levels. If your pool has been closed, you will most likely need to make adjustments. You can test your water yourself at home or can take a sample to your local professional for help. The ideal levels you want are as follows:

  • Chlorine should be between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm
  • pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6
  • Alkalinity should be between 80-120 ppm
  • Calcium hardness should be between 150-225 ppm

Chemical Dosage
Next, you will need to adjust your chemicals after the test stage. Two rules of thumb to keep in mind for correct strategy: only add pool chemicals to water that is moving as circulation is key in how your pool absorbs and utilizes these additions and only add chemicals to your pool water (never add water to your chemicals!). When making the necessary adjustments, we recommend adding the chemicals in small increments with your pool running.

Second Test Stage
As you make your way into the thick of swimming season, it is critical to stay on top of maintaining balanced water. This means that at least once a week you should perform a water chemistry test and make adjustments if necessary.

Cleaning and Keeping Up Movement
After establishing balanced waters, be sure to set your pool pump to run. Circulating your waters during the daylight hours when sunlight hits the surface can help lengthen your chlorine’s life while also keeping your pool the most sanitized. Be sure to also vacuum and skim your pool regularly to keep out dirt and debris that can eat into your chemical’s lives and make your pool cloudy or dirty!

With these start-up steps, you should be well on your way to having a great swimming season. If you need any help along the way, at Aqua Pool, our professional staff is ready to assist you.