Steps for Opening Your Swimming Pool
Step 1. Remove Your Pool Cover
To make removal of your cover easier, be sure to drain as much water off the top
of the cover as possible. This task is made simple with a
cover
pump. Slowly remove your cover so that unwanted debris (leaves, twigs, etc.)
that has accumulated on your cover over the winter does not fall into your pool.
To further extend the life of your pool cover, thoroughly remove any dirt and
grime from your cover with a mild soap and rinse with your garden hose. To prevent
the cover form sticking or forming mildew, let it dry completely before storing
it for the swimming season.
Step 2. Connect Your Pool Equipment
If your filtration system was cleaned before closing your swimming pool in the
fall, then attach the hoses and open all valves. If your system needs to be cleaned
or the sand needs to be replaced, now is the time to do it. Follow manufacturer’s
guidelines to accurately ready your pump, filter and heater for the swimming season.
Be sure to lubricate all o-rings with water-based lubricant, free skimmer basket
and lint pot of debris and remove all winterizing plugs. If antifreeze was used,
vacuum out the lines or let it drain into the pool.
Step 3. Add Water to Your Pool
Begin adding water until ¾ of the pool skimmer is covered.
Step 4. Clean Your Pool
Once the pool is filled, it is time to skim and vacuum. Swimming pool chemicals
are much more effective if the pool is clear of debris.
Clarifier
will help your filter remove small particles that ordinary vacuuming can’t pick
up.
Step 5. Adjust Your Pool’s pH & Alkalinity Levels
pH is the most important component of your pool water. The pH level must be between
7.2 and 7.6. This can be accomplished with
pH
Increaser or
pH
Reducer. To keep your pool’s pH from fluctuating, maintain an Alkalinity level
of 80-120 parts per million (ppm). Use
Alkalinity
Increaser or
pH
Reducer to control your alkalinity level.
Step 6. Shock Your Swimming Pool
To effectively oxidize your pool water, add
Pool
Shock,
Super
Pool Shock,
Lithium
Shock or
Chlorine
Free Shock at a rate of 1 lb. per 10,000 gallons.
Step 7. Stabilize Your Pool
To prevent the rapid loss of chlorine, add
Stabilizer
at a rate of 2-1/2 lbs. per 10,000 gallons. Completely dissolve the required amount
of Stabilizer in a bucket of water and add to pool water.
Step 8. Sanitize Your Swimming Pool
To make swimming safe and economical, maintain proper levels of sanitizer with
In The Swim
® Chlorine or Bromine. The chlorine level must read between
1-3 ppm and bromine must be between 2-4 ppm.
Chlorine
can be added in tablet, stick or granular form.
Bromine
is only available in tablet form and requires an automatic feeder for dispensing.
Step 9. Add Algaecide to your Pool
Add algaecide as a preventative measure for keeping your water free of algae.
In The Swim
® offers several types of
algaecides
at different concentrations to help fight off those pesky algae blooms!
Step 10. Pool Start-Up Kits
Start-up kits
save you time and money! Each kit includes the necessary chemicals for getting
your pool ready for the swimming season. Start-Up Kits include:
- Chlorine Shock
- Algaecide
- Stain, Rust & Scale Preventor
- Clarifier
