We are not rushing the calendar at all! It’s just time to get that To Do List together so you are ready when the weather is. We are fond of saying that it is never bad form to ask a friend or neighbor for help. Especially if they enjoy partaking of your backyard paradise, then it is completely acceptable to cut the work time in half by getting an extra pair of hands in to prepare for the Grand Opening!

Depending on where you live, you may still be scraping ice off your windshield, but the season always has a way of sneaking up, so be ready. You can at least take stock of what you need from the pool supply and home improvement stores.

If this is your first year with the pool and you feel any trepidation about how to open it for the new season, consult with your local pool supply company or better yet, bring a professional in. Take notes and ask questions.

A pool is one of the very best investments you can ever make for yourself and your family. You need to understand and be comfortable with its operation, so it can serve you well for a lifetime.

It is also a good feeling to be empowered and know how to detect potential problems before they become expensive repairs!

When Is the Best Time to Open Your Pool?

While every region of the country may be subject to crazy fluctuations at this time of year, watch your forecasts. A good rule of thumb to follow: it’s time to open your pool when the temperature is consistently above 70 degrees during the day.

What can happen when you miss this window is you could be looking at a more labor-intensive cleaning session than you’d like.

If your pool cover allows light through, for example, the warmer temps will promote the growth of algae. The sooner you open your pool when the air temperatures are optimal, the less you will be fighting the development of that chlorophyll-containing bloom.

Pollen is another war you’ll wage the longer you wait. In states like Florida you see that fine dust coating on every car. Vehicles look like they’ve been spray-painted yellowish green. You will want to open your pool as early as possible to avoid those grains from collecting in the pool water. When your pumps are on and running, they will do the heavy lifting by maintaining the circulation and getting the pollen up and out.

Pool Equipment Preparedness

• As part of this new pool season prep, don’t forget to inspect diving boards, ladders, and handrails for wear and damage. Although a pool is a structure designed for the great outdoors, it doesn’t mean that the add-ons don’t warrant a close look for safety.
• Speaking of safety, check all fences and gate locks to ensure they are in proper working order. If you have surveillance cameras and/or motion detection systems, these checkups need to go at the top of your pool preparedness list. If your pool is going to be open, you need to be ready for every possibility.
• While you’re at it, take the opportunity to give everything, including the stowed outdoor furniture, a good power washing/cleaning following the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Make sure you have the chemicals and test kits you will need for the season and of course secure them to keep pets and children safe.

Opening Your Pool

1. Drain/Clean the Pool Cover

• By prepping the cover to be removed, you will save yourself from more cleaning time – especially if you can blow those errant leaves from its surface. If you have a cover pump, that will certainly expedite this step!
• Then lay the cover on the grass and brush any remaining fragments to get this surface as clean as possible.
• You can sprinkle talcum powder on the dried cover to hinder the development of molds and mildews.
• Store it – according to the manufacturer’s instructions – in what is likely a cool, dry place. When you put the cover away clean, it will make things go more smoothly when you need to close the pool at the season’s end.

2. Restore the Water Level

• Bring it up to about the middle of the skimmer’s opening.

3. Reconnect the Equipment

• If you disconnected everything to protect your pool against winter’s frigid temps, you are next going to do it all in reverse in order to get your equipment back online. Take a look at everything first to make certain you see no evidence of corrosion. If you have doubt about the integrity of any hardware, do not hesitate to get a pool pro out to your home.
• Otherwise, you can remove any winterizing plugs you inserted when you closed it down and then replace the normal drain plugs. If you added antifreeze, make certain it is flushed out before removing return line plugs. Now you’re almost ready to fire up your heater, filter, pump, and any other add-ons.

4. Going Back Online

• At this point you are ready to prime the pump and turn up the circulation and filtration system. Do not forget to bleed air from your air relief valve.

5. Let it Run!

• Give your pool some time to get up to speed by running it for several hours so the filtration/circulation systems can do their work. Then it is time to use a test kit to check all levels and adjust accordingly.
• Once the circulation system has run for several hours, you will want to test your pool water for pH, total alkalinity, and chlorine levels using a good test kit recommended by your pool professional.

The Ideal Setting

We can’t help that we get excited this time of year! Even if there are days not yet nice enough to swim because there’s a lingering chill in the air, your pool is still your backdrop for fun. It sets the tone and ambiance for all the new memories you’ll get to make this season.

Clean off the patio and brush up that BBQ to get it humming. Open it up and get that shimmering backdrop ready for the party! Your backyard haven is open for business!

We are pool financing solution experts who also provide the means to install outdoor kitchens and any kind of backyard update or improvement you can dream up! Low rates and 20-year terms make the decision to install a pool one for which you will be forever grateful.

At Lyon Financial, we love the difference we can make for your family by providing something that puts years of memories within reach. Call 877-754-5966 for more information about installing your corner of paradise!