If you are a home owner who has an in-ground pool in your backyard, then the warmer days of spring and summer are probably a welcome occurrence after a long winter. But before you can get ready to break out the swimsuits, tanning lotion and pool toys, you are going to have to go through the sometimes difficult process of making sure that your pool is all set and safe to open for the summer. This can be an especially tricky process if it is your first time doing it. However, the good news is that there are some simple steps and procedures that you can follow in order to make it as easy as possible so you can get your pool open and ready for a season of fun.
The first thing that you are going to want to do after you take the cover off of your pool is to inspect it visually. If you see any obvious cracks in the cement or anything else that does not seem right to you, be sure to contact a local pool contractor to have a second look taken at it before opening up the pool. Often times, inspecting your pool visually is best done by actually climbing down into the pool and walking all around it to look for large cracks or splits in the concrete.
If, after inspecting the pool, it looks to be in good shape, you will want to continue to prepare your swimming pool for the summer by cleaning all of the connections and pipes to and from your pool pump. Often times, there are special tools that you can purchase from your local pool supply store that make this process a lot easier. After all, debris can easily build up over the winter, so it is important to ensure that this is cleaned out and that you have new filters in as well. Taking these precautions with the pump can save you a lot of money in repairs down the road.
Once you have cleaned the pump and made sure that all of the connections are solid and do not have any leaks, it is time to add the water. Once it is added, it is important to treat the water with chemicals to ensure that it is safe to swim in and that bacteria do not begin to build up and multiply. One of the steps in this process is to add a shock treatment to the pool water the day before you officially open it. This will add the right amount of chlorine to your pool, which should be about five parts per million in the water.
Another precaution that you are going to need to take when it comes to testing the water is to make sure the pH level is safe. In a standard swimming pool, the level should read anywhere between 7.4 and 7.6. Anything above or below this reading means that the water is either too acidic or not acidic enough (also known as basic). There are simple tests you can buy from your pool supplier to check the pH levels in your water on a regular basis, which is something that should be done throughout the summer as well.
Once the water is treated, let it sit for a day or two before testing it one more time to ensure that the levels stay consistent. If so, then all you will need to do is to scrub and clean the steps and stairs to your pool before it will be ready to open for the summer. This is also a good time to clean, assemble and set up any add ons that you have for your pool, such as water slides, basketball nets, or anything else that you would like to have ready for the day you open your pool for the first time.
Overall, getting a pool ready to open for the summer can seem like a daunting task, but if you simply follow the steps above, you will have it ready before you know it and it will be time to get your bathing suit on, break out a cold beverage, relax and take a nice, refreshing dip in the pool.
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