Pool Care Information

Opening Your Pool

This once-a-year task can be easy with the right products and procedures. Here are the basic steps to starting a new pool or opening one for the season. If you live in a climate where you completely close and cover your pool for winter, start with step 1. If you live in a milder climate where you just slow down your cleaning and sanitation maintenance, jump to step 6.

If you completely cover your pool for winter, start with step 1.

If you just slow down your cleaning and maintenance, start with step 6.

1. Fill the pool so that the water level is in the middle of the skimmer opening.
2. Remove the cover. Clean and dry it thoroughly before storage to prevent mildew and deterioration.
3. Remove all plugs and fittings from return lines. Re-install all equipment and accessories. Check the diving board, slide and stairs for wear, looseness and corrosion. Make sure the pump, skimmer and heater are working properly.
4. Check your filter for proper operation and clean the filter element.
5. Clean up. Skim the top of the water for debris. Brush the pool thoroughly and vacuum. Run the pool for 24 hours to recirculate the water.
   
   
6. Test for total alkalinity and adjust if needed. Wait 2 hours before proceeding to the next step.
7. Check pH and adjust to 7.2 – 7.6 if needed. Wait 1 hour before proceeding to the next step.
8. Check the water hardness for proper level of calcium and adjust if needed.
9. Check the chlorine stabilizer level and adjust to at least 30 ppm if necessary.
10. Apply Aqua Chem^® Shock with Clarifier or Chlorinating Granules Plus^® according to label directions for pool opening. Apply the product at night with the pump running.
11. In the morning, test a fresh water sample for the residual chlorine level and adjust to 1.0 – 3.0 ppm if needed.

For more information on filters, go to Taking Care of Your Filter.

It is recommended that pool filters be cleaned at least two times during the pool season – mid-summer and in the fall – and more often if needed.

Testing and Adjusting

For each of the following tests, take a fresh water sample from "elbow" depth. Test kits or test strips may be used. If using a kit, be sure to rinse the test vial thoroughly after each test. Replace your test reagents or test strips with fresh product at the beginning of each pool season. Older reagents and test strips can provide inaccurate readings due to conditions such as age, heat, high humidity, etc.

1. Test for total alkalinity and adjust if needed. It should be 80 – 125 ppm (parts per million) for plaster/gunite pools and 125 – 150 ppm for all other pool types. Run the filter during application and for several hours afterwards. Wait 2 hours before proceeding to the next step.
2. Check pH and adjust to 7.2 – 7.6 if needed. Run the filter during application and for several hours afterwards. Wait 1 hour before proceeding to the next step.
3. Check the water hardness for proper level of calcium and adjust if needed. Run the filter during application and for several hours afterwards. It should be 200 – 250 ppm for plaster/gunite pools and 175 – 225 ppm for all other pool types. If the calcium hardness level is above 250 ppm, add Aqua Chem Metal Stain & Scale Out to prevent possible scaling. If the calcium hardness level is above 500 ppm, drain off some of the water and dilute with fresh fill water to lower the level.
4. Check the chlorine stabilizer level and adjust to at least 40 ppm if necessary.
5. Apply an Aqua Chem Shock according to label directions for pool opening. Apply product at night with the filter running continuously.
6. In the morning, test a fresh water sample for the chlorine level and adjust to 1.0 – 3.0 ppm using your preferred sanitizer (granular, 1" or 3" tablets, floater, etc. For detailed information go to Sanitizers

For maintenance information, go to Pool Care/3-Step Maintenance Program.