POOL OPENING
As soon as the springtime air surrounds us, so comes the time to
get your swimming pool up and running. Though some may find the
task overwhelming, following these five simple steps will help turn
a potential headache into a simple chore. Don’t have the time?
Call Ashton Pool and Spa to have a professional pool opening done
by our service professionals.
1) Remove the pool cover
Primarily, a pool cover provides the most cost-effective way of
protecting your investment from the harsh winter climate. A good
winter cover aids in
preventing organic debris from entering the pool. Begin by using
a leaf net to remove the debris from the surface of the cover. Usually,
the task of removing debris is somewhat easier while there is still
water on the cover, so do not totally drain the cover of water until
all the waste has been removed.
The cover can be cleaned one of two ways. First, you could wash
your cover while removing it by using a method called "fan-folding."
Take the two corners of the cover at the short end of the pool and
pull it roughly 4-5 feet onto the deck. Repeat the process over
and over again, folding the cover back into itself (like an accordion).
Take your brush and garden hose, and scrub the exposed five-foot
section as you fold. The second method involves taking the whole
cover and spreading it out on your front lawn. Wash the entire cover
before rolling it up with a pressure sprayer and a good brush.
It is important to store vinyl covers in water over the summer
months. Clean the cover using Bioguard’s Stow-Away—which
acts not only as deodorizer, but also contains preservatives that
protect the cover from forming mildew. Furthermore, Stow-Away does
not affect water chemistry and prevents the cover from becoming
rotten due to dryness. Now is a good time to check the cover for
any large or non-reparable holes. Any cover tear over the pool area
defeats using a cover in the first place!
2) Clean entire pool area
To clean the deck area, brush debris away from the swimming pool.
On the deck, use a high-powered pressure sprayer to remove any stains
left from organic dyes. Remove any debris from the pool surface
or floor as needed. Do not add chemicals while debris remains in
the pool water. Organic waste will eat up chemical and impede its
effectiveness; thus, costing you more money. Clean the water line
and coping with Off-the-Wall, a vinyl cleaner designed specifically
for pool surfaces. Do not use household cleaners on a vinyl liner,
irreversible damage to the liner can result and water balance can
be affected.
Once the waterline has been cleaned, begin adding fresh water to
the pool using a garden hose.
3) Assemble pool equipment
Pump/Filter: Coat any threads with Teflon tape and restore
any gauges and drain plugs on the pump and filter. Do not forget
to replace the strainer basket in the pump. Prime the pump by filling
the suction line with water.
Heater: To prepare the heater, replace any drain plugs
at the base of the heater, and reconnect both the pressure switch
and the thermostat if disconnected during the winter (recommended).
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for igniting the pilot
on the inside of the front panel.
Automatic chemical feeder: Set the feeder’s check
valve at a medium position and clean any waste out of the inside.
Apply Jack’s Lube to the cover o- ring to ensure a tight seal.
Do not use Vaseline on pool gaskets or o-rings, it erodes rubber.
Skimmer and returns: Remove any plugs from the skimmer
and returns. Remove any containers or Gizzmos from the skimmer and
replace the skimmer basket. Before replacing the eyeballs to the
returns, make sure to remove any foam rope from the return line.
Deck Equipment: Assemble diving board and install any
ladders or handrails. Check over all exposed nuts and bolts and
ensure they are in proper working order. Make sure to check the
rubber ends of the ladder to see if they are still intact. Otherwise,
an exposed metal edge on the ladder can cause a costly liner rip.
Look at your test kit. Reagents typically have a shelf-life of one
year, and do not store well if left outside for the winter. Replacing
them may be necessary.
4) Begin Circulation
Start the pump when the water level has reached the midpoint of
the skimmer opening. Set the multi-port filter valve in the "filter"
position. Operate the filter valve ONLY when the pump is turned
off. After flow is established, it is a good idea to thoroughly
backwash the filter. To backwash, turn off the pump and set the
multi-port valve to the "backwash" position. Let the filter
backwash until the water flowing through the viewing glass turns
clear. Turn off the pump and set the multi-port valve to the "rinse"
position. Pump the water for 15 seconds, then turn the pump off
and set the filter valve back to the "filter" position.
5) Balance Water
It is highly recommended to have a pool test done by our qualified
staff shortly after the pool has been opened. Once the pool is clean
and circulating, there are some chemicals that can be added immediately.
Use a quality algae inhibitor, such as Bioguard’s Back-Up,
as an initial treatment for the water. Inhibitor algaecides such
as Back-Up work efficiently at low or high pH conditions, making
it an effective inhibitor even when the water may not be properly
balanced.
Secondly, add an oxidizing shock compound such as Burn-Out or Burn-Out
35 to the pool water. It is important to establish sanitizing residual
in the water as quickly as possible in order to sustain safe and
clear pool water. Granular chlorine is of higher quality than liquid,
and is recommended especially for initial treatment following spring
opening. Always remember that the trick to keeping clean pool water
all season lies in your ability to stay ahead in your chemical treatments,
and not behind. If you need some help understanding water chemistry,
be sure to check out the Water Chemistry 101 section of this site.
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