If you’re reading this, then pool season is getting close. And whether you’re trying to open your pool for the summer, get a head start, or just research the process, you’re in the right place.
If you’re here, then you’re the DIY type. You want to open your swimming by yourself. And that’s a good thing.
Opening your swimming pool by yourself saves money, improves your pool care skills, and gets you in the water faster. For most, it only takes about a day, which means you can be swimming by this time tomorrow.
And that’s even easier when you have a Pool Opening Checklist to follow. Luckily, that’s what this post is all about
In this post, we walk you through the steps for opening your swimming pool. And at the end, you can download your own Pool Opening Checklist for free.
So let’s get started.
Want to download your Pool Opening Checklist now?
Note: This Pool Open Checklist works for opening inground and above ground pools. But for more detailed instructions, see:
Clean leaves, debris, and water off of your pool cover
Your pool cover probably gathered a nice collection of leaves and branches during the winter months. And now, you have to get rid of it.
To prevent debris from getting into the pool, take some time to properly clean off your cover:
- Start by first removing all of the water puddles with a submersible pump.
- Next, use a broom, or leaf blower to blow away loose debris.
- Last, sweep away whatever is left
Remove the pool cover
With the pool cover cleaned off, it’s time to uncover your pool.
For this step, you’ll need a friend’s help.
Start on one end of the pool, and begin unhooking the anchors.
Next, grab one corner of the cover, and have your friend grab the opposite corner.
Gently lift the pool cover, pulling and folding it towards the opposite end of the pool.
Try to go slow to prevent debris from spilling into the water. But if some of it falls into the water, don’t worry. It’ll be out of your pool soon enough.
Rinse and store pool cover
Once the cover is removed, give it a quick rinse with the hose.
If you have a cover cleaning solution, now is the time to use it. If not, a diluted bleach solution works too.
Here’s what to do:
- Fill a large plastic container to the halfway point with cleaning solution
- Soak the cover in the cleaning solution for a few hours
- Remove the cover and rinse it off with water
- Safely empty and dry out the plastic container
- Hang up cover to dry
After your pool cover has fully dried, fold it up and store it in a dry, plastic container with a lid. This prevents mold and keeps away damage causing pests.
Inspect and clean the deck
Before you move on to the pool, take a few minutes to get the deck back in shape.
Unless you’ve been maintaining it daily since you closed your pool, it probably needs a little work.
Here’s a quick rundown on how to clean your pool deck:
- Fill a bucket with deck cleaning solution
- How to make deck cleaning solution: 8 parts water, 1 part bleach, 1 part dishwashing soap
- Pour cleaning solution across the deck
- Scrub the deck with a hard bristle brush (or broom) as you apply cleaning solution
- After scrubbing, use a hose to rinse off the deck
- Use a TSP solution for spot treatments
For more on pool deck cleaning: How To Clean Your Pool Deck (And Everything Else Around it)
Remove skimmer plugs and winter guards
Walk around the pool and check each return fitting for winter plugs. Remove all of the winter plugs that you find.
Walk over to your skimmer and remove the winter guard, if you used one. Otherwise, open the skimmer lid and remove the compensator (plastic bottle).
Reinstall pool accessories
You know all of those great additions that make your pool exciting, and easy to use?
Like the slide, ladder, and diving board? Well, it’s time to reinstall them.
For rails, ladders, and diving boards, you’ll only need to secure a few bolts. To prevent the summer heat from rusting the metal, remember to apply a lubricant to the bolts.
This is also a good time to reinstall other swimming pool upgrades, like:
- Fountains
- Waterfalls
- LEDs
- Firepits
Related: 15 Cheap Ways To Upgrade Your Pool
Add water
Even if you properly winterized your pool, chances are, it still lost a little water while it covered.
Here’s a quick way to check if you need to add water to your pool:
- Is your water line below the middle of the pool skimmer? Add water up to mid skimmer level
- Is your water line at exactly mid skimmer level? You’re good, no water needed.
- Is your water line above mid skimmer? Remove water down to mid skimmer level
Check your pump, filter, and pool heater
It’s almost time to get your pool water flowing. But first, take a few minutes to get everything ready.
Preparing your pool pump:
- Reattach your pump’s drain plug
- Open up the lid and empty the pump basket
- Inspect the pump lid’s O-ring and valve seals for leaks or damage
- Replace damaged O-rings and reapply worn down sealants
- Add water to the pump for priming
Preparing your pool filter:
- Reattach your filter’s drain plug
- Reattach the filter’s air pressure gauge
- Set your multiport valve to “FILTER”
Preparing your pool heater:
- Replace the drain plug
- Confirm that your pool heater is receiving power
This is also a good time to reinstall any other additions you might have, including chemical dispensers and chlorine generators.
With your pool pump and filter ready for action, it’s time to bring your pool back to life.
Power on the filter system
Ensure that your multiport valve is set to “FILTER”.
- Apply power to your pump and observe how it responds.
- Keep an eye on your pressure gauge and watch for any unusual leaks.
- If the gauge reads a high pressure, then your filter might be dirty. To fix this backwash your filter, and if necessary, replace the media (sand, cartridges).
- If the pump doesn’t pull water but is receiving power, then it needs to be primed. To do this, open up the pump lid and add more water. Then, close the lid and try starting the pump again.
Once your pump is running how it should, leave it running for the next 24 hours. This is important.
Clean the pool
The cover is off, your water is flowing, and things are starting to look normal again. This is where the “fun” part begins.
Of course, that depends on your definition of fun. Then again, for many, cleaning up a pool is a fairly therapeutic activity.
And with the right approach, it’s pretty easy to do.
Here’s what you need:
- Pool skimmer
- Pool brush
- Swimming pool vacuum
- Vacuum hose
- Telescopic pole
Here’s what to do:
- Skim the surface to remove all leaves and floating debris
- Next, scrub the walls and stairs with your pool brush
- Finish off by vacuum the pool flor
At this point, the water might still be murky. This is okay.
Your pool filter and a few helpful chemicals will clear it up.
Balance your water & shock the pool
Now that your pool is physically clean, you’re more than halfway done. All that’s left now is “chemical cleaning”.
But don’t worry, there’s way less work involved here. Here’s what you need:
- Pool water testing kit
- Pool opening chemicals
- At least 2 lbs of pool shock
What chemicals are needed to open a swimming pool?
Here’s a list of the chemicals you need for opening a swimming pool :
- Sanitizer (Chlorine, Bromine, or Biguanide)
- Pool Shock (Granular Chlorine)
- pH Increaser and pH Decreaser
- Calcium Increaser and Calcium Decreaser
- Algaecide
- Clarifier
Before adding chemicals, take a few minutes to brush up on pool chemical safety. Pool chemicals are mishandled more often than you might think.
Here are some pool chemical safety tips to keep in mind:
- Avoid handling chemicals without gloves
- Avoid breathing in chemical odors
- Wash hands after using chemicals
- Clean up spills immediately
- Store chemicals in a dry, well-ventilated area
- Avoid prolonged exposure to chemical odors in closed spaces
- Store each chemical separately, in its own container
- Don’t mix chemicals to save storage space
- Follow all manufacturer instructions before use
With pool safety addressed, let’s move into how to balance your water.
Add the appropriate chemicals needed to balance your water according to these levels:
- pH: 7.2 – 7.4
- Total Alkalinity: 100 – 150 ppm
- Calcium Hardness: 200 – 275 ppm
- Cyanuric Acid: 60 – 80 ppm
- Chlorine: 2 – 3 ppm
How much shock is needed to open a pool?
For most pools, two 1lb bags of pool shock will be enough. But for a better explanation, check out our post on how to shock your swimming pool.
Related: How To Fix a Green Swimming Pool (Pool Algae Removal)
The last steps for opening your pool
Final stretch, it’s almost time to jump in.
Now, it’s all about the finishing touches.
For this step, finish wait out those 24 hours and let your pump finish clearing up your water. It’s important that your water is clear and easy to see through.
Here’s what to do on the next day:
- Retest the water and add any chemicals that are needed
- Scrub the walls to catch anything you missed
- Vaccum the floor for a squeaky clean finish
- Power on the pool heater
Keeping your swimming pool crystal clear for the rest of the season
Congrats, you did it! You opened your pool, and you did it in less than 2 days. You would have had to wait at least a week just to schedule an appointment.
Now that your pool is open and ready for swimmers, there’s only one thing left to do. Keep it clean.
In order to keep your pool water healthy and crystal clear, stick to a basic pool schedule.
By using a pool care schedule, you can cut your pool maintenance time in half and easily lower your swimming pool bills.
In the meantime, here’s a weekly pool care checklist:
- Skim the pool at least 3 times
- Brush the pool walls at least once
- Vacuum at the end of each week
- Test and balance water twice a week
- Backwash/clean filters once a month
Why you should use a Pool Opening Checklist
Want everything you just read in a compact and easy to follow resource? Does the idea of saving money and opening your pool for less sound good?
Fill out the quick form below to download your free Pool Opening Checklist
Use this checklist and a pool care schedule to make pool maintenance simpler than ever before.
If you liked this post, you might also like:
- 7 Cheap Ways To Heat Your Pool
- 20 Benefits of Owning a Swimming Pool
- 7 Best Tips To Lower Swimming Pool Bills By Up To 50%
