Trying to learn how to open an above ground pool? Keep reading, this post explains it all.
If you’re reading this, then you’re probably in one of the following situations:After closing your pool for the winter,the weather is getting warm again, and you’re ready to go swimming. Problem is, you’ve never had to open your pool after closing it for the winter before. Or you might be a new pool owner in a similar situation, simply trying to learn how to open an above ground pool for the first time.
After closing your pool for the winter, the weather is getting warm again, and you’re ready to go swimming. Problem is, you’ve never had to open your pool after closing it for the winter before.
Or you might be a new pool owner in a similar situation, simply learning how to open an above ground pool for the first time.
Whether you’re a newcomer, here to learn, or just need a little refresher, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we show you how to open an above ground pool — from removing the cover, to starting up your pool equipment.
How To Open An Above Ground Pool
Clean your winter cover
Back when you closed your pool, you added an air pillow to the center and attached your cover. It looked great then, clean as a whistle. But now? Now it’s full of water, leaves, twigs, and whole bunch of other debris.
So how in the world are you going to remove your winter cover?
One step at time
–Use a pool skimmer or soft-bristle broom to fish out as many leaves and twigs as possible. You should be able to get about 90% of the debris out using this method alone. Avoid using rakes or tools with sharp edges, as they can damage and puncture your winter cover
-Then, once you’ve cleaned out the cover, use a submersible pump to vacuum out any water that has collected. If you don’t have a submersible pump, use an empty plastic bucket to remove as much water as possible.
Carefully remove the cover
Now that cover is clear, you can safely remove it from your pool.
Start at one side of the pool and carefully begin lifting the cover off the rim of the pool. Keep a slow, steady pace to avoid getting any leftover debris in the water.
IMPORTANT: Properly clean, dry, and store your cover before moving on to the next step
Lay your cover down in a soft bed of grass, then use a brush and some dish/car washing soap to clean off any grime stuck on either surface. This prevents both chemical and mold damage, in addition to preserving the life of the cover.
Hang your cover over a fence or close line to dry — once dry, store cover in a plastic container.
Remove winter plugs
There are a handful of plugs sealing the various openings around your pool wall.
Walk around your pool,removing any plugs you find, making sure to check return jets and the skimmer.
Depending on how you closed your pool, you may also need to remove the ice compensator from your skimmer, as well as the skimmer plate (if you used one).
Add water
If you’re learning how to open an above ground pool for the first time, here’s a good point to start at.
It’s likely you won’t need to add much water to your pool. But either way, take a minute to check that your water is at mid-skimmer level. If not, simply grab your garden hose and add water as needed.
Reinstall hardware
The pool is almost good to go, but how are you going to get in once it is?
Now is when you’ll want to reinstall your pool hardware and deck equipment, which for most above ground pool owners consists of a ladder or two.
Set up pool equipment
Now it’s time to set up your pool system — the team of pool equipment that keeps your water filtered, circulated, and warm.
Pool pump
-Reattach your pump’s drain plug, and ensure that the cover is securely attached.
Pool filter
-Reattach your pool filter pressure gauge in addition to any missing drain plugs.
Pool heater
-Reattach drain plug, check connection and inspect the unit for any damage
How to connect all of your pool equipment:
Attach a hose from your skimmer to your pump.
Then, attach a hose from your pump to your filter.
Next, attach a hose from your filter to your pool heater.
And last, attach a hose from your heater to your pool’s return inlet.
*If you have a chlorinator, connect it in this order: Heater > Chlorinator > Return inlet
Start up pump/filter system
Head over to your breaker, and power on your pool pump.
As it’s running, check that it’s receiving adequate power. Then listen for any strange sounds while keeping a lookout for any leaks or unusual behavior. If you run into any issues, this Pool Pump Troubleshooting Guide should have a solution for you.
But, the problem you’ll likely face is your pump running dry, which can easily be solved by adding a bucket of pool water directly to the pump.
RECOMMENDED: Backwash/clean your filter before running it regularly
When To Replace/How To Clean A Cartridge Filter
How To Clean A Sand Pool Filter
Clean the pool
Now here’s something you probably didn’t expect to come across while learning how to open an above ground pool.
As clean as the water may have been when you left it, most pool owners still need to do a bit of cleaning at this point, so here are the basic steps:
- Use your skimmer to clean out a leaves or debris floating on the surface
- Scrub the walls and floor of the pool with a brush
- Make pool maintenance easier for yourself with a good Pool Care Schedule
- Vacuum the pool floor to remove any leftover debris
- Never vacuumed before? Here’s a guide on how to vacuum your pool
Help, my pool water is cloudy.
How To Clear Cloudy Pool Water
Help, my pool water is green.
Add pool chemicals
First things first:
Grab your pool water test kit, and test your water. If you don’t have a test kit, take a sample of your water to your local pool store for a reading.
Check these three main levels to balance your water:
- pH (7.4-7.6)
- Alkalinity (100-150ppm)
- Calcium Hardness (200-275ppm)
But there’s probably one particular question you’ve also had in mind:
What chemicals do I need to open my pool?
Get the answer to that question and many others in our Pool Chemical Guide: Understanding Pool Chemistry
Once your water is balanced…
Add 2 pounds of pool shock per 10,000 gallons of water. This takes care of sanitizing your water.
Almost done
Now, we wait.
Set your pool system to FILTER, and let it run for a full day (24 hours). This will allow your water and chemicals to be properly circulated, ensuring crystal clear, soothing warm water when you return.
Congratulations, you just successfully learned how to open an above ground pool. But if you’re having difficulty, a reliable swimming pool service can have you swimming in no time.
Need a visual recap?
Check out this How To Open An Above Ground Pool video from TeddyBearPools
Have a few more questions about your pool?
Our Pool Owner Guide has the answers
