How to open an inground pool for the summer

Before you know it, Michigan summer months will be upon us.  If you are itching to open your inground pool, make sure you are prepared and understand the steps to open the pool for summer.  Take a look at the steps our pool experts put together, and as always, contact your local pool specialists at Blockco if you have any questions:

Remove & Store Pool Cover

Whether it be a winter cover or safety cover, you will need to drain and clean the pool cover before opening your inground pool for the summer.  Depending on how much water has collected on the pool cover, you may want to use a cover pump to drain the water.  You can then sweep or use a blower to clear all other debris, such as leaves and branches.

After removing all debris from the cover, it’s time to remove and store it.  Make sure to brush off any remaining dirt, spray off debris, and let it dry before storing it in a cool, dry area for the summer months.  Sprinkling the cover with talcum powder or a similar product will help prevent unwanted mold and mildew.

Fill Water Levels Back to Normal

You can easily fill your inground pool water level by using a garden hose.  For most inground pools, you will want to remove the garden hose once the water reaches the middle of the skimmer opening or halfway up the tile.  As it can take a while to fill up an entire pool, make sure to monitor the water level on a regular basis – you don’t want it to overflow!

Turn On All Pool Equipment

If you winterized your pool due to Michigan’s freezing winter temperatures, it’s important to reconnect all your pool equipment before opening day.  Typically, this includes the pool filter, pump, and heater.  While you turn on equipment that was connected to the filtration system, remove any plugs in the skimmer and return lines used for winterization.  Make sure to remove plugs after all antifreeze has drained and replace them with regular drain plugs.

Test & Balance Pool Water

It’s important to test your pool water for pH, total alkalinity (TA), and chlorine levels with a kit you can purchase from your local pool store.  This will give you a report on how to adjust and control common pH and chlorine levels in your inground pool.  Ideally, you want your chemicals in the following ranges.  When making chemical adjustments, first start with the TA, and then continue with pH, calcium hardness, and chlorine:

• Total Alkalinity (TA): 80 – 120 ppm
• pH: 7.4 – 6.6
• Calcium Hardness: 200 – 400 ppm
• Chlorine: 2.0 – 4.0 ppm

Shock the Pool

After chemical testing and initial brushing & vacuuming of your inground pool, shocking the pool will help get rid of any remaining water contaminants.  Make sure to read the label and instructions before shocking your pool, as the amount of the product added depends on the pool size.

Have questions about reopening your inground pool this summer?  Contact your favorite, local experts at Blockco.  Our experts can provide tips to make sure you open your pool safely and effectively, so you can get back to Michigan summer fun sooner.