Spring Time Swimming Pool Start-up Tips

If you live in the Maryland, DC, or Virginia areas and have a swimming pool, you may be wondering what you need to do to open your pool this spring. As you know, spring is right around the corner, and everyone wants their pool sparkling clean and ready for fun. Here are some useful tips to help you get your pool ready.

One of the first things you should do, before you begin any other pool service task, is to see if you need new vinyl liner replacement/vinyl liner installation. If your vinyl pool liner is not up to snuff, it needs to be replaced if you want to avoid problems. For those who may not be confident in checking their own pool liner, you can contact a pool service company to perform this important task for you.

If your swimming pool does not have a liner, you can proceed to these steps:

On a clear, nice day, remove your pool cover and wash it. Make sure it is dry before you fold it and store. Next, go ahead and replace any items that you may have removed such as ladders, plugs, baskets, etc.

Once you have these items in place, fill your pool (if needed) and then test the water. You will want to make sure that the water is balanced correctly.

Now is a great time to make sure that all of the electrical systems are working properly. This would include any lighting, pumps, and pool heaters. If you find an electrical problem, hire a professional to fix it if you are not familiar with working with electricity.

At this time, you want to make sure that your filter media is in good order and full. If you need to add material to the filter, it is best to do that chore now rather than putting it off. Make sure that you use the proper size and type of media per the filter manufacturer for the best pool cleaning possible. Generally, you should replace your pool’s cartridge element every 2 to 5 years. For most pools, sand filters will need the sand changed every 5 to 7 years.

Once these tasks are completed you need to flood the lines. Do this before you attempt to prime the pump or turn it on unless your model instructions say differently. You can use a garden hose to flood the lines in most cases. Once the lines have some water in them, start the pump and make adjustments to ensure that you are getting the proper flow of water. A part of your pool service at this time should be to check your chlorinator.

If you noticed any algae on the surface of the pool or in the water (if using last year’s water), treat the water with the proper type of algaecide. You may also need to skim off the algae with a pool service net. If there was algae in the water, you will need backwash to waste.

Remember that you will need to super-chlorinate the water before allowing anyone to swim. Also remember that you will need the chorine level to go back to normal before using the pool.

If you have a pool that is above ground, after checking to see if you need pool vinyl replacement, go ahead and attach your hoses and get your pump installed (if it was removed). You can also replace your skimmer baskets and check the pressure gauges.

Pool service also includes check the pump for any leaks or other problems. It is always better to check the pump right away as this is the only way to find problems before they can cause further damage. If all is well, go ahead and set your flow settings.

Lastly, you want to make sure that all of your safety equipment is present and in good working order. This would also include making sure that the pool deck is in good order as well.

If you prefer, you can have all of this work performed by a reliable pool service company, such as Subcomm Pools. We can also check your liner to see if you need pool vinyl replacement which is very important if you want to avoid some big problems. You can also ask us about our pool cleaning services. 

Many of those living in the Maryland, DC, or Virginia areas prefer to have a professional pool service company take care of their pool for them. What may surprise many pool owners is how affordable quality pool care can be.

Please do not hesitate to give us a call for a free estimate!