Did you know that the first official day of spring is March 20, 2018? That’s right, spring is finally here, and that means it’s time to open your pool. After months of bitterly cold weather, it’s time to get outside of the house and enjoy the exterior of your property. As you prepare to open your pool for spring, be sure to follow proper safety steps and keep your home insurance coverage in the back of your mind as you work to avoid any accidents.
10 Steps to Open Your Pool This Spring
Whether you are a new pool owner or you’ve chosen to open your pool on your own for the first time, follow these simple steps to ensure the process is a success.
1. Drain and Remove Your Pool Cover
If you use a winter cover or solid safety cover, you must first drain off as much water as possible before you can remove it. If possible, grab an extra set of hands to help you remove the cover. Clean and store the cover in a cool, dry place.
2. Raise the Water Level
Grab your garden hose and fill the water level in the pool back up to normal. As a good rule of thumb, the average water depth should hit about halfway up the tiles or right around the middle of the skimmer opening.
3. Reconnect All Pool Equipment
Since you already prepared your pool for the freezing temperatures in Delafield over the winter, you’ll now need to reconnect all of the equipment. Work to reconnect the filter, heater, pump and anything else that you previously removed. If you have an above ground pool, make sure that you reconnect the flexible plumbing lines as well.
4. Remove Winter Plugs
Take out all the winter plugs from the pool equipment and reattach all of the normal drain plugs. Do this for the pool pump, booster pump, heater, filter and cleaners. Adjust the chemical levels accordingly.
5. Turn the System On
This is a good time to turn most of the pool equipment back on. Turn on the priming pump, circulation, and filtration system. Have an air relief valve on your filter? Don’t forget to open it and bleed out any trapped air.
6. Test Pool Chemistry
After the pool circulation system has been left to run for a few hours, test the pool chemistry. Use a trusted test kit to check the pH, chlorine and total alkalinity level of the water.
7. Adjust Pool Chemistry
Make any necessary adjustments to the pool chemistry by starting with the total alkalinity. Next, you’ll need to adjust the pH balance chlorine levels. Finally, test and adjust the calcium hardness.
8. Brush and Vacuum
Once you’ve properly adjusted the pool chemistry, you’ll probably have some leftover debris in the water. Thoroughly brush and vacuum the pool to remove them, paying extra attention to the pool steps, equipment, and ladders.
9. Run Filtration System
Running the filtration system overnight will help to get rid of any leftover dirt, debris, bacteria, and algae that may still be floating around.
10. Shock the Pool
Eliminate all bacteria and contaminants that were able to build up over the winter months by shocking the pool. Be sure to follow the instructions and safety guidelines that are detailed on the chemical shock product of your choice.
Enjoy a Safer Pool Season with Comprehensive Home Insurance Coverage
Both your pool and any swimmers that you may have to visit over the next few months should be protected from damage or injury under your home insurance policy. Unsure of what type of coverage you currently have? Visit our local insurance agents at Billy Brown Insurance Services, Inc. online today for more information or to request a quote.
