AFTER OPENING...

Your pool has been opened…

Now it’s your turn!

The technical portion of opening your pool has been completed, including INITIAL chemicals, and now it’s your turn.  The instructions that follow will help you continue the opening process and address most of the frequently asked questions or concerns that pool owners have.  Remember--the more closely you follow these directions, the sooner your pool will be crystal clear and ready for swimming.

 

STEP ONE:

Remove as much of the large debris from the pool floor as you can with a large leaf net. Removing the large debris will stir up the water and may make your pool look dirty, but it’s only temporary.  In a few hours, things will settle.   Resist the temptation to vacuum the pool if you cannot see the bottom.  You could suck up debris and other unknowns that will clog your skimmer, filter or underground pipes and cause expensive mechanical problems.

A word about vacuuming-

Vacuuming by us is NOT included in your pool opening unless you checked that box on your opening request AND paid an additional fee.  Even if you did specify vacuuming, we don’t do it the same day as the opening unless our service tech has determined the pool is clear enough.  We will come and vacuum when YOU call and let us know these two things: 

  • that your pool is filled to above the top of the skimmer (power vacuuming, which is what we do with special equipment, removes 3-4 inches of water and we need LOTS to keep your filter operating) AND
     
  • you can clearly see the bottom of the pool

STEP TWO:

Check your pH, chlorine and alkalinity levels using an accurate test kit such as Aquacheck®, available through us or other reputable pool dealers. Read the test kit carefully for information on proper levels.  You can calculate the amounts of chemicals for correcting levels by reading the instructions given on the chemical containers.   If these levels aren’t within the right range, your water will never clear no matter how much you vacuum or run your filter.

 

STEPS THREE AND FOUR:

Shocking (Step Three) and backwashing (Step Four) are done in conjunction with each other. Please read both before starting.

STEP THREE:  “Shock” your pool.

Shocking is the process of super chlorinating the water to kill off the bacteria and algae that built up during the winter.  Sometimes it takes many gallons/pounds of shock over a period of days to clear a pool, so don’t immediately think there is something wrong if things don’t clear up after the first shocking.  Depending on the condition of your pool, it can take a while.

IF YOUR POOL HAS A VINYL LINER OR IS COLORED PLASTER

Use lithium powder shock or liquid shock only.  Using calcium shock will damage the inside of your pool.

IF YOUR POOL IS WHITE PLASTER

Use any kind of chlorine shock, but calcium shock is formulated especially for white plaster pools and we recommend it.

HOW TO SHOCK YOUR POOL

  • Make sure your filter is running and leave it running each time you add shock.
     

  • Add EITHER 3-4 gallons of liquid shock directly into the pool OR 3-4 pounds of powder shock in the skimmer.
     

  • If the next day, your pool looks the same as when you began, repeat the step above and CONTINUE this process until the water is cloudy white, light green or clear.  Don’t worry about damaging the pool.  You can’t overshock a pool.
     

  • Consider adding an algaecide, such as Omni Algae 50 also. Directions for its use are on the container.

  •  When your pool is cloudy white, light green or clear, go on to step six.
     

STEP FOUR:  Backwash your pool.

IF YOU HAVE A DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (DE) FILTER

Run your filter 24/7 and backwash when your filter pressure is 8-10 pounds above your starting pressure.  Although the water probably looks better than when you started, if it’s at all green or cloudy, you must faithfully backwash.  Don’t worry about damaging your pool by over-backwashing. You CANNOT over-backwash a pool, but you can UNDER backwash and damage the filter.  Also, it may take many back washings.  This doesn’t mean your filter is broken.  It just means there’s lots of stuff to filter out.  

  • Remember that the filter MUST be off before moving the lever to any position; once you have moved the lever to the desired position, in this case either FILTER or BACKWASH, then turn the filter back on.
     
  • After each time you backwash and have put the lever back to FILTER position, add new DE to the skimmer, usually 5-6 pounds.
     
  • Carefully and regularly remove debris from your skimmer and pump baskets.  The clearer they are, the faster and more efficiently your filter can do its job.

IF YOU HAVE A SAND FILTER

Run your filter 24/7 and backwash 3 or 4 times a day.  Although the water probably looks better than when you started, if it’s at all green or cloudy, you must faithfully backwash.  Don’t worry about damaging the pool by over-backwashing.  You CANNOT over-backwash a pool, but you can UNDER backwash and damage the filter.  Also, it may take many back washings.  This doesn’t mean your filter is broken.  It just means there’s lots of stuff to filter out and sand filters are slow, sometimes taking much longer to work than DE filters.

  • Remember that the filter MUST be off before moving the lever to any position; once you have moved the lever to the desired position, in this case either FILTER, BACKWASH or RINSE, then turn the filter back on.
     
  • Carefully and regularly remove debris from your skimmer and pump baskets.  The clearer they are, the faster and more efficiently your filter can do its job.

 

STEP FIVE:

If you have followed these instructions for 4-5 days and you see little or no improvement, your filter may not be working properly.  Call us at our toll-free number 1-877-654-7665 to arrange a filter check.  Remember the filter is what’s clearing the water.  No amount of chemicals or backwashing will make a difference if the filter isn’t working.

 

STEP SIX:

Unless you have the problems in Step Five, your pool should be clear.  Most likely there is debris (dead leaves, algae, etc.) on the pool floor.  Small amounts can be vacuumed up with your own system, but if there is a lot or it’s large in size, the pool should be professionally power vacuumed.  This saves your filter from straining and assures that nothing gets in your pipes and clogs them. 

Congratulations!  You have completed your pool opening for this season!

We wish you a fun and trouble-free swim season, but rest assured if problems arise, we are here to handle any of your pool needs.