It’s been a long, cold winter in Rochester and we couldn’t be more excited for warmer temperatures. More sunlight, flowers blooming, and time for some outdoor fun! When we aren’t at the lake this summer, you can find us hanging out by the pool.

But before we can jump in, there’s a few things to remember when opening your pool for the season. It’s important to take these necessary steps to be safe, clean, and swim-ready.

1. Clearing, Removing, and Storing your Pool Cover
Make sure there isn’t water sitting on top of the cover — if there is, you can use a cover pump to get rid of excess water. Once this is done, you can remove the cover by pulling it over to one side. Try to prevent any leaves, dirt, or debris from falling into the water as you remove the cover.

Lay the cover out, spray it down, and let completely dry before folding and storing in a dry place.

2. Reconnecting and Turning on Pool Equipment
If you prepared your pool for freezing temperatures, you will need to reconnect your pool equipment. This includes the pump, filter, heater, and cleaners. Be sure to also check (or replace) drain plugs and return valve fittings that were removed for the winter!

3. Filling the Pool Back to Normal Levels
Use a garden hose to fill the pool back to its normal water level. Typically, this is at about the middle of the skimmer opening or halfway up the tile.

4. Turn the System On
Prime the pump and turn on the circulation and filtration system. Check all equipment for leaks or unusual noises. If you notice major issues, turn the system back off until you can make the necessary repairs.

5. Testing and Balancing Water
Once your pool has been on and running for a few hours, it’s time to check the water for proper chlorine, pH and total alkalinity levels. You can use test strips from your local pool store to properly assess this.

These are recommended levels for balanced water:
– Free available chlorine: 2.0 to 4.0 ppm
– pH: 7.4 to 7.6
– Total alkalinity: 80 to 120 ppm

6. Clean and Shock
Once the water is balanced, clean the physical pool by removing debris floating in water, and cleaning areas like pool steps, ladders, top of the lining, and lights. Next, you’ll need to run the pool pump overnight. The pool’s filtration system can get rid of any leftover dirt and debris.

Shocking your pool eliminates any remaining germs and unhealthy contaminants in the water.

Once these six steps are completed, expect to have a fun summer swimming and enjoying time by the pool!