Every pool owner looks forward to spending their summers at the side of their pool or enjoying the clear waters with friends and family. Once winter is over, it’s time to start thinking about opening your pool up for the season. If you closed down your pool properly in the fall, opening it up is a fairly easy process, and you’ll be able to enjoy your pool in no time!

Remove the Cover

The first step to opening up swimming pools is removing the cover. Remove debris like wet leaves first, and drain any water that has accumulated on top of the cover. Then take off the cover and clean and dry it thoroughly before putting it into storage. This reduces the amount of bacteria and mildew that will grow on it and contaminate your pool next year.

Raise the Water Level

In cold climates, it’s generally best to drain the water below the level of your skimmer when winterizing your pool. Some water will also escape by evaporation over the course of the winter. Once the cover is gone, you can raise the water back up to its proper level. Check for leaks, especially in above-ground pools.

Reconnect Your Equipment

The most complicated part of the opening process is reconnecting all your pool equipment such as the filter, pump, and heater. You’ll also have to put in other parts such as the skimmer and drain plugs. If you closed down your pool yourself, you should already be familiar with the setup and it should be easy to reattach everything. If you aren’t sure what needs to be connected, have a pool company perform this step for you or show you what needs to be done.

You can also begin reinstalling equipment such as ladders, slides, and diving boards at this time. Inspect everything as you install it to make sure it is in good condition and that there are no cracks.

Turn Your Equipment On

As soon as everything is connected, turn your pool equipment on so you can begin circulating and filtering the water. You may need to prime your pump before it starts to get all the air out of the system. Make sure everything is working correctly and that there are no strange sounds, leaks, or other signs of a problem.

Clean Your Pool

Pools in cold climates that are properly treated to combat bacterial growth are often fairly clean when they are opened in the spring. Neglected pools or swimming pools in warmer climates, on the other hand, may be a mess of algae and fallen leaves when you lift the cover. Skim debris out of the water and thoroughly vacuum the sides and bottom once a day until the water has cleared.

Remove the Cover

The first step to opening up swimming pools is removing the cover. Remove debris like wet leaves first, and drain any water that has accumulated on top of the cover. Then take off the cover and clean and dry it thoroughly before putting it into storage. This reduces the amount of bacteria and mildew that will grow on it and contaminate your pool next year.

Raise the Water Level

In cold climates, it’s generally best to drain the water below the level of your skimmer when winterizing your pool. Some water will also escape by evaporation over the course of the winter. Once the cover is gone, you can raise the water back up to its proper level. Check for leaks, especially in above-ground pools.

Reconnect Your Equipment

The most complicated part of the opening process is reconnecting all your pool equipment such as the filter, pump, and heater. You’ll also have to put in other parts such as the skimmer and drain plugs. If you closed down your pool yourself, you should already be familiar with the setup and it should be easy to reattach everything. If you aren’t sure what needs to be connected, have a pool company perform this step for you or show you what needs to be done.

You can also begin reinstalling equipment such as ladders, slides, and diving boards at this time. Inspect everything as you install it to make sure it is in good condition and that there are no cracks.

Turn Your Equipment On

As soon as everything is connected, turn your pool equipment on so you can begin circulating and filtering the water. You may need to prime your pump before it starts to get all the air out of the system. Make sure everything is working correctly and that there are no strange sounds, leaks, or other signs of a problem.

Clean Your Pool

Pools in cold climates that are properly treated to combat bacterial growth are often fairly clean when they are opened in the spring. Neglected pools or swimming pools in warmer climates, on the other hand, may be a mess of algae and fallen leaves when you lift the cover. Skim debris out of the water and thoroughly vacuum the sides and bottom once a day until the water has cleared.