Warmer weather means it’s finally time to get your pool ready for the summer! But what is the best way to open a pool for the season? It is important not to miss any steps for the safety of your guests as well as the longevity of your pool and its features. To help you avoid any mistakes, the team at Brothers Grimm Landscaping has prepared some of the best tips for opening your pool.
Wondering how to open a pool for the season? You have come to the right place! Properly preparing your pool for a summer of fun will keep your guests safe and protect your property from any potential damage. The process includes timing, maintenance, and more. Inspired to amp up your pool or landscaping during this process? Explore the many outdoor design and maintenance services we offer!
When Is The Best Time To Open A Pool?
When to open your pool depends on the climate in your area. While spring is the best season to get your pool ready for the season, keep in mind that opening it too early or too late can potentially cause problems. If you open your pool while temperatures are still fluctuating day-to-day, you run the risk of an imbalance in your water chemistry. This can allow unwanted organisms to find a home. On the other hand, waiting too long to open your pool can lead to algae growth under the warmth of the sun.
So when is the best time to open your pool? Most experts agree that waiting until temperatures consistently hang around 60–65 degrees during the day is the best time. Unless you live in a warmer climate, this will likely land in the months of April or May!
Prepare Your Pool
Let’s get into the details of how to open an inground swimming pool for the summer months. While these duties are arguably the least fun part of having a pool, they are essential to ensuring your pool is functional for years to come. Just think of all the fun summer days you will spend outside once this preparation is over!
Removing The Pool Cover
When you open your pool for the season, the first step is to remove the pool cover. This might take some time as there will be standing water, leaves, dirt, and other debris on the cover. Use a leaf blower to clear off the cover and a pool cover pump if there is still significant standing water remaining. Once the pool cover is clear, you can carefully remove it from the pool.
Cleaning The Pool
Next, the best way to open a pool for the season is to start with cleaning! Pool covers keep most debris out of your water, but there will still be some that get in. Use a pool skimmer to get as much out as possible – you don’t want anything getting stuck in the filter once it’s activated. This is also the perfect time to clean the walls and floors of your pool. You will want everything to be squeaky clean for opening day!
Reinstalling Pool Features
Now you can start reinstalling all of your pool features. This will include your pumps, heaters, and filter plugs, as well as ladders, railings, and any of your other accessories. Anything that is needed to comfortably and safely enjoy your pool should be reinstalled at this point.
Inspecting And Turning On Pool Equipment
Before you turn on the pump, inspect all of your pool equipment to make sure it is working properly. If everything looks good to go, power on your pump and monitor its performance. Is your pump struggling to function as needed? You likely need to clean or replace the cartridge – they tend to last 1-5 years depending on how much water flows through it and how well you maintain your pool throughout the season.
Testing, Treating, And Shocking The Pool Water
Now that your pool is clean and your equipment is turned on, you can prepare the water for swimmers. The first step is to use test strips that determine the alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, and chlorine levels. Treat your water so it’s in the ideal ranges listed below:
- Alkalinity: Between 80 and 120 ppm.
- pH: Between 7.4 and 7.6 (slightly lower or higher is acceptable).
- Calcium: Between 200 and 400 ppm.
- Chlorine: Between 1 and 4 ppm.
Next, you should shock the pool by adding a large volume of chlorine, killing the bacteria in the water. Follow directions on the package for dosage and slowly add the shock to the water, walking the perimeter of the pool. Run the pump for six hours and then test the water again. The chlorine should read around 4 ppm and the other chemicals should be within the ideal range listed above.
Allowing The Pool To Filter
The last step in opening your pool for the season is simple – just let the filter run for 24 hours before allowing swimmers into the water. Once the cloudiness subsides and the water is clear, it should be safe for swimmers! You can test the chemicals one more time just to be safe. And finally… grab a cold drink and lounge by the water – you have officially earned it.
Revamp Your Outdoor Living Space
Now it’s time for the fun to begin! As you prepared your pool, you probably got ideas for how to improve your outdoor space. The team at Brothers Grimm Landscaping are experts at inground pool landscaping design and can create your dream outdoor oasis. Want to add exciting water features for your children or grandkids to spend all summer enjoying? Are you a foodie looking for an updated outdoor kitchen to cook for friends and family? Whatever you want to create – let’s dream about it together!
Enhance Your Outdoor Kitchen Space
Ever notice how everyone ends up hanging out in the kitchen when you have people over? Well, it’s officially time to enhance your outdoor kitchen space so people have a hangout outside too! Give your grill some company by building an extravagant outdoor kitchen.
A great first step would be to build out your cooking area with a bar and define the space with a pergola. If you’re a foodie, be sure to update your cooking options by adding an area for a pizza oven and meat smoker. And finally, don’t forget to include a comfortable, shaded area for guests to sit and eat!
Add Luxurious Water Features
Ready to add some fun water features to your pool? Make sure there is something for everyone to enjoy by enhancing your pool landscape design! Level up your pool by adding a water slide for non-stop fun and then a tanning ledge for guests to relax and catch some rays. You could also install a natural-looking pond or gorgeous waterfall, which will immediately elevate the look and feel of your property!
Elevate Your Yard With Custom Features
Details like thoughtful landscape design, a custom deck, or a retaining wall will add obvious elegance to your yard. Give your property a little extra attention this year and appreciate the inviting, long-term results. When your guests keep coming back, you will know why they are so comfortable at your place!
Create Ambiance With Outdoor Lighting
Don’t let the fun stop just because it gets dark – outdoor lighting is essential for enjoying your backyard all season long. Illuminate your swimming pool, landscaping, and al fresco entertaining spaces with lighting customized to your needs – from underwater lights for nighttime dips to hardscape lighting for added security. Our team of experts can create the ambiance you want!
Get Your Outdoor Living Space Summer-Ready With Brothers Grimm
Ready to dream big about your outdoor living space? Schedule a consultation with the experts at Brothers Grimm Landscaping and Design Company to get your outdoor space summer-ready! There are many pool construction companies out there – but no one can make your dreams a reality like our dedicated team!
