Welcome to swimming season! Winter is finally over and the long wait to open up your pool is right around the corner. You probably are looking forward to getting back out to your favorite spot for some fun in the sun with your friends and family or going for a refreshing dip after a long day at work. As eager as you are to start making new memories in your backyard pool, make certain to follow these vital steps before diving into the swimming season. If you’re careful to do everything properly, you’ll be all ready for a safe, relaxing time at the pool this summer.
Avoid Emptying Your Pool
Perhaps it seems a bit odd to start our “to do” list with something you shouldn’t do. Since emptying a pool is such a common mistake, however, we thought it was worth including at the beginning of the list. It may seem logical to completely empty your pool and start over at the beginning of the season, but many experts say it’s not advisable unless you have a pressing reason to do so. For example, if your pool has structural damage that needs to be repaired. Another reason for totally draining the pool would be if there’s a large buildup of leaves and debris that have accumulated from failing to cover it for winter.
Other than these types of drastic examples, you really shouldn’t need to take all the water out of your pool. If you do, it could end up causing major complications, such as your pool popping right up out of the ground if you live in a region with a high water table!
Many pool owners don’t realize that emptying a pool could actually cause damage. They assume that emptying all of the water is the best way to clean the pool. In reality, it’s not necessary to get rid of all your pool water in order to get your pool clean and sanitary. If your in-ground pool does come up out of the ground, it may need to be completely replaced! It’s really not worth the risk.
Start with Cleaning Your Pool
If you’re not going to completely empty the pool, you’ll need to work on getting both the pool and existing water clean. You can accomplish this by getting your filtration system up and running. Clean the filter baskets out and take plugs out that you installed at the end of last year’s pool season. You don’t have to remove the cover on your pool yet. In fact, leaving it on during this part of the process is a good idea.
It’s crucial not to cut any corners when it comes to getting your pool ready for the season. If you want to be able to swim as much as possible without needing to close your pool very long for extra cleaning and maintenance throughout the year, taking time to do things right in the first place is your best option. In our next article in this series, we’ll continue to lay out the proper steps for opening up your pool for the new season.
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