Opening an Above Ground Pool
It’s that wonderful time of year! The sun has returned, temperatures are seasonal and your above ground swimming pool beckons to be opened for Summer once again. Before you can invite the neighbourhood over for a swim and BBQ, there are a few things that will need to be done to ensure that your pump, filtration system and heater are running properly and the chemicals in your water are balanced. Doing this at the beginning of the season guarantees a full, uninterrupted summer of relaxation and fun for the whole family.
In this simple process you can have the opening procedures for your above-ground pool completed in just a couple of hours and if your chemicals are added correctly your family can be splashing around within just a couple of days.
Step 1) Remove your Winter Pool Cover
The first thing that you will need to do is remove all dirt and debris from the top of your Winter cover. It is best to do so when the cover is dry, which makes it easier to sweep away most of whatever has accumulated on top of it over the Winter. Failing that, you may wish to hose off your cover thoroughly, and then allow it to dry before folding it away for the Summer. Store the cover in a dry, rodent free storage area. Drain and rinse off your water bags (if applicable) before storing them.
A properly winterized above ground swimming pool can be readied for summer use very quickly, as clean water requires very little in terms of chemicals. By removing the cover carefully, the water will remain crystal clean. It is important to clear away all dirt and debris from the surrounding deck area to ensure that it doesn’t end up in your nice clean water. Once the winter cover is completely off, replace the drain plugs in the pump and filter. Remove the expansion plug from the bottom of the skimmer and returns, then fill the pool half way up the skimmer.
Step 2) Prepare your Equipment & Accessories
- Ladder & Accessories
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- Towel away excess petroleum jelly or oils used to coat exposed metal fittings over the Winter, and reinstall your ladders and above ground accessories, taking care that they are securely in place and in good working order.
- Pump, Filter & Equipment
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- Reinstall or re-assemble any pump, filter or other equipment, which was disassembled for the Winter.
- Power Up
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- “Power up” everything to be certain that all motors, fittings and systems are in good working order. Consult your manual or a professional to address any technical or electrical issues you may experience with your equipment.
- Be sure to have your pool heater checked early in the Spring and have any issues taken care of immediately with the help of an professional. Restore all circuit breakers, switches, time clock trippers, etc to normal operations.
- Prepare Your Sand or Cartridge Filter
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- Change your multi port settings to filter in order to insure the water begins cleansing immediately. Water should automatically drain into the pump baskets as the pump and filter are below water level.
- If your above ground pool became dirty through the winter season, the filter should be backwashed frequently throughout this process. You may also wish to replace or clean the sand in your filter at this time.
- Cleaning the sand can be done by using sand cleaning chemicals and flushing them through the system. You may also want to clean or replace your cartridge filter if you don’t have a sand filter.
Step 3) Add Your Opening Chemicals
After making sure that your equipment is properly set up, tested and is running properly, the next thing you will want to do is add your opening chemicals. Pool Supplies Canada own private label chemicals can be found on our website and purchased affordably. After adjusting the pH and alkaline levels, you will want to run your pump constantly for a couple of days until the desired levels are achieved. If your pool water is turning green, you may wish to purchase an algaecide treatment. Do not use any chemicals that have passed the expiration date, or attempt to dissolve powder chemicals. Follow all instructions carefully and use the necessary safety wear when handling the chemicals for your pool.
Step 4) Cleaning the Pool
Brush the sides of your pool until clean, and run your vacuum system to catch any dirt which may have settled at the bottom of the pool.
If you feel it's time for a new Above Ground pool cleaner you'll find that it has never been easier or more delightful with so many automatic vacuum cleaners available on the market. Visit our Above Ground Pool Cleaners page for more details on the fantastic cleaners we have available, like the Polaris Turbo Turtle, Hayward Wally the Whale, or Hayward Scuba Dave, all of which are very popular and make cleaning your Above Ground Pool easier then ever before.
Once the chemicals have settled and the Alkaline and pH balances are correct, you are ready to swim! If you want to add to the fun or spoil your kids, then you can find a wide assortment of toys, games and floats in our Toys section.