As we shrug the last of winter off our shoulders, with the warm weather comes the lingering question, when is the perfect time for opening your swimming pool for the summer? Odds are that if you own a swimming pool, this is a question you may have asked yourself.

What month do you open your pool?

Statistically, the best time of year to open your swimming pool is in the spring, either in March or April, depending on where you live. Experts say that by waiting until temperatures start to climb above 65 degrees, you run the risk of waiting too long. Opening your pool in May or June when the weather is warmer allows algae and other organics to begin proliferating once temperatures climb to comfortable levels.

When are most pool owners opening their swimming pool?

  • March – 12.5%
  • April – 20.2%
  • May – 34.7%
  • June – 32.6%

While April remains the most opportune time to open a swimming pool; according to a recent poll conducted by Home Advisor, most swimming pool owners actually open their pool in May or June. Regionality and geography play a factor in when people choose to open their pool. Those who live in warmer climates tend to open their swimming pool earlier. For example in Atlanta, homeowners tend to open their pool much earlier than in say Boston where the majority won’t open their swimming pool til mid-summer.

During spring, pollen can cause problems in any body of water that isn’t properly circulated. Opening your swimming pool earlier in the spring provides a distinct advantage here. Allowing the equipment to operate means all of that pollen will simply be swept into the skimmer and captured by the filter instead of turning your pool into a big yellow eyesore.

Pool Opening & Dewinterizing Tips

In the spring, you’ll need to de-winterize your pool. Start by removing the water from the pool cover with one or more pool drain pumps. The float covers will keep some rainwater from accumulating over the winter, but nothing can stop it entirely. Unfortunately, the water will usually always be in the pool’s middle, which is the most difficult to reach.

With the help of a long pole like the one on your skimmer net, an electrical drain pump with a garden hose attached to the exhaust can be positioned in the center of your pool cover. At this stage, water will be pumped off the cover and discharged right through the hose. Turn the pump off and remove it once it begins sucking air instead of water. The pool cover should then be removed, and the cover floats deflated (if used), and stored away until next fall.

Fill the Pump with Water

Water should be added to the pool pump and filter. You may need to prime the pump once the pool is filled for it to work, but filling it at this stage will make it easier.

Fill the Swimming Pool

Fill the pool with water from your yard hose. Your swimming pool’s water is bound to be green and murky in appearance. Don’t be concerned with that. Once the pool is full, you can go through the steps of balancing your water chemistry and use a clarifier if need be. Don’t worry about turning on the pump until the pool has reached its normal level.

Many homeowners opt to open their swimming pool up themselves which is fine, provided that they know what they’re doing. Consequently, knowing the proper method of opening your pool can certainly save you a few bucks but improperly doing so can cause costly maintenance headaches.

Some homeowners may feel more comfortable hiring a professional pool contractor to open their swimming pool. The national average for hiring a pro to open a swimming pool is $225. In correlation to the expensive pool repairs, one may incur from opening their pool incorrectly, this seems a reasonable and affordable cost for most pool owners.

For those inclined to take the DIY approach, we provide some guidelines and best practices for opening your swimming pool. You may want to use a pool opening kit in conjunction with some of these instructions.

How To Open Your Pool

  • Drain any standing water and clean any debris from your pool cover.
  • Remove the cover (may require a helper), carefully fold it, and store it away for the season.
  • Reconnect your swimming pool equipment.
  • Remove any winterizing plugs from the skimmer and return lines.
  • Fill your swimming pool back to its normal level.
  • Turn on your pool equipment (pump, filtration system).
  • Test and balance your pool chemistry.
  • Brush and vacuum your swimming pool.
  • Shock your pool water
  • Add chemicals (enzymes, clarifier, algae control)

Allow your pool equipment to run for a few hours before testing your water chemistry. Use some test strips or a test kit to get the readings for pH, Total Alkalinity (TA), and Chlorine levels. Optimum values should be:

  • pH: 7.4 to 7.6
  • Total Alkalinity: 80 to 120 ppm
  • Free Available Chlorine: 2.0 to 4.0 ppm
  • Calcium Hardness: 200-400 ppm

Following these helpful guidelines is a surefire way to ensure that your pool is opened properly and will be in ready-to-swim condition.

Originally published by Pool Magazine.