OPENING YOUR SWIMMING POOL

A swimming pool start up normally ranges from between £100 and £200. You can save a little time and money by doing some or all of the work yourself.

From our own extensive experience, here is a good list for you to follow. It's pretty much the opposite of a swimming pool closing (winterisation).

For excellent swimming pool opening supplies you can go to our online store.

Here is a list of things you can do yourself to help lower the cost of opening your pool in the Spring:

• Remove and clean your Swimming Pool Winter Cover. Fold it up and put away for the season.

• Test pool water balance and adjust calcium, alkalinity and pH levels.

• Replace items such as ladders, automatic cleaners, baskets,gauges, plugs, etc...

• Inspect and test electrical parts and services to pumps, lights, heaters, etc...

• Lubricate plugs, fittings, valves and o-rings.

• check pipes, flood lines, prime-up, start-up and adjust filtration equipment

• Brush tiles. Scrub skimmers with cleanser.

• Sweep or blow off deck. Then hose off.

• Skim the Swimming Pool surface. Vacuum pool to waste. Be sure to keep an eye on the water level. Do not allow it to get below the skimmer.

• Super chlorinate to breakpoint levels with liquid chlorine.

• Brush the Swimming Pool walls and steps.

• Re-check chemical levels in 12-24 hrs. Adjust as necessary.

• Backwash filter if pressure gauge rises 8-10 lbs or if the flow is reduced.

Use a good quality pool water test kit. Replace test kit reagents every spring (annually) and follow pool water test instructions to obtain accurate results.

At the beginning of the pool start up, remember to allow some time for the water to balance out. Take it slowly and add only add one chemical at a time. Raise the chlorine but don't use pool acid just yet. Allow for one full turnover (usually 12 hours). Re-test, and make another adjustment if needed.

Spring Swimming Pool Start-Up Kit

Swimming Pool Start Up Chemicals Checklist:

Make sure that you have...

• Tile & Vinyl Cleaner

• Winter Cover Cleaner

• Metal Remover/Sequester (Revive, Sparkle Conquest)

• pH Minus or Muriatic Acid

• Calcium Hardness Increaser

• Chlorine Shock Treatment

• pH & Alkalinity Increaser/Sodium Bicarb.

• PolyQuat Algaecide

• Calcium Hardness Increaser

• Conditioner & Stabilizer

Pool Start Up Maintenance Checklist:

Make sure that you have...

• Leaf Rake

• Vacuum Pole

• Vacuum Head

• Vacuum Hose

• Vacuum Adapter for Skimmer

• Hand Skimmer

• Wall Brush

• Thermomter

• Timer for Pump and Filter

• Automatic Cleaner