How To Open An Above Ground Pool: First-Timers Do-It-Yourself Guide

Contemplating on opening your above ground pool by yourself for the first time? If you decide on that, then start gearing up with your pool supplies and follow the simple steps on how to open an above ground pool.

In no time, you’ll realize that your pool has been opened just like a pro would.

Opening your pool for the first time may seem a taxing job. But it could be a lot easier than you think if you familiarize yourself with the process.

Just be patient and enjoy doing the task. You have to keep the following pool supplies and equipment handy to facilitate a systematic way of opening your pool. Here is the list:

Using a pool cover pump, remove any accumulated water on top of the pool. Likewise, use a soft broom or a skimmer net to get rid of leaves, twigs, and other debris that may be on the pool cover.

Be extra careful in removing the pool cover to avoid introducing to the pool any water or debris left on the cover surface.

Immediately wash and clean with a cover cleaner (like this) and let it dry to extend the pool cover’s service life. To prevent any damage from critters and the like during the season, store your pool cover in an airtight container

Note: You will probably need a hand (a friend or anyone could do!) in taking off your pool cover.

Find and pull out the winter plugs from your skimmer and wall returns. Make sure that you remove the ice compensator if your skimmer bucket has one. Put back baskets in the skimmer and eyeball jets in the return lines where the plugs were pulled out.

Note: Direct your eyeball jets towards the bottom of the pool for proper water circulation.

Pool water normally drops during the winter pool closing so you may have to fill your pool back to its normal level.

Ensure that the ladder is clean and in good condition before securing it properly to the pool.

Ensure that the drain plugs, gauges, and other accessories are placed back in your filter system before connecting it to the pool.

You can start by connecting your drain hose from the skimmer bottom to your pump. Then connect the hose from the top of your pump to the filter port marked “pump”.

Finally, connect your return hose from the filter return port to your chlorinator or heater (if you have any) or to the pool return inlet.

Note: You can treat O-rings, threaded plugs, caps, and the pump lid with a Teflon- based lubricant to improve the seal and prevent them from drying out.

Before turning your filter system on, you may need to prime the pump to clear the system from all the air in it to keep it from running dry.

Ensure that your multi-valve port is in the “Filter” position. Turn your filter system on. Check the system, skimmer, and other hose connections for leaks and fix as needed.

Note: Check out your pressure gauge, if the reading is 10 psi higher than the normal operating pressure, then you need to backwash your filter.

Skim your pool surface, vacuum floor, and brush pool walls to make it debris-free before you add your chemicals. Less debris means less chemicals needed to add to your pool.

Shock your pool and add algaecide. After the chlorine is allowed to decrease from the pool shock, test chlorine to ensure that it is in the safe range (1-3ppm), then add a chlorine stabilizer.

Check the alkalinity, pH, and calcium hardness of your water using your pool test kit. Make sure that the indicators are at their proper levels.

• If alkalinity is below or above their ideal range (80-120ppm), adjust accordingly. Add alkalinity increaser or alkalinity decreaser to your water.
• If pH is below or above the ideal range (7.2- 7.6) you can add a pH increaser or pH decreaser, respectively.
• For calcium hardness, add calcium chloride if reading is below the proper level range of 180-220 ppm.

Note: In adding chemicals to your pool, make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations on how to add and how many chemicals to add to your pool. Take precautionary measures in handling the chemicals.

After at least 24 hours of running your pool, test your pool vater. Adjust chemical levels as needed.

If everything is balanced and you have a clear pool, congratulations, you have finally opened your above ground pool. Your hard work paid off and it’s time to reap your reward- enjoy swimming!

Let us know about your experience in opening your above ground pool.