Maintenance Tips - Opening Your Pool

Opening your pool the right way is the first step to a season of carefree maintenance and swimming fun.
The steps below are basic guidelines.

  1. REMOVE YOUR POOL COVER (Skip this step for new pools) - If you use a solid cover, drain off the water - but not into the pool. Sweep the cover and clean it to prevent sticking and unpleasant odors. Store it in a dry place that's free of debris and protected from the sun and weather.
  2. FILL YOUR POOL - Your pool must be filled to the middle of the skimmer opening to properly circulate.
  3. CHECK YOUR PUMP, SKIMMER BASKET & FILTER - Make sure all equipment is clean and in working order. Start the circulation system and remove debris from the pool. Your filter is a very important part of your pool's maintenance program. If it's not working properly, the products you add won't do their job either.
  4. TEST SANITIZER & pH LEVELS - If you test the pool water yourself, use a Test Kit or test strips to check the free chlorine or total bromine residuals and pH levels. The chart below provides the proper levels you need to keep pool water in balance.
  5. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE - Now that you're into the swim of things, we recommend a routine maintenance Program. If you prefer a non-chlorinating system, we have that too!

 

Free chlorine residual

1.0 to 3.0 ppm
Total Bromine residual

1.0 to 3.0 ppm
pH

7.4 to 7.6 is ideal range
(7.2 - 7.6 is acceptable)
Total Alkalinity

125 to 150 ppm

Calcium Hardness:
Plaster & SoftSwim® pools

200 to 275 ppm
All other types

175 to 225 ppm

Water Quality Testing

Every pool has characteristics that must be regularly measured and adjusted. Most important are the pH and the level of active sanitizer. By testing these two factors at regular intervals, you'll understand how bather load, weather and product application affect the water. Test your pool water two or three times per week, using a Test Kit or test strips to check the free chlorine or total bromine residuals and pH levels.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of having your water tested to maintain proper water balance and greatly reduce the potential for problems. We suggest having your water tested at the time of opening your pool each season (please allow 24 to 48 hours for circulating prior to taking your first sample), then monthly throughout the season, and again 2 weeks before closing your pool each season.

How To Take A Water Sample

Circulate the water 24 to 48 hours before taking a water sample. Using a clean plastic container (or even better, one provided by your dealer), scoop about a quart of water at elbow-depth from the pool. Seal the container to avoid leaks and take it in for testing and analysis.

Test Sanitizer & pH Levels

If you test the pool water yourself, the chart above provides the proper levels you need to keep pool water in balance.