First Opening Season

The basics of swimming pool maintenance.
New swimming pool owner's questions.
Help getting started with daily pool care.
morbidglory
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Joined: Tue 09 May, 2006 12:01
Location: Ontario

First Opening Season

Postby morbidglory » Tue 09 May, 2006 12:17

We just bought a house last fall with a large above ground pool (23' x 15' approx. 8, 142 gallons).

We had a family member help close the pool for us. We will be opening it by ourselves, so we're a bit clueless on what we need to do to get it going now.

When we closed it, we drained the water levels bellow the skimmer, shocked the water, drained then added anti freeze to the sand filter lines.
We also pluged the skimmers and such.

What exactly do we have to do to get this going?
We know that the filter lines need to be drained, but not sure how.

Also, how long after it's opened would it be save to go in?
Any help would be appreciated!


John

Postby John » Sun 04 Jun, 2006 12:31

Remove your cover and fill the pool to the midway point of your skimmer. Unplug the lines and start up the pool. If all is well with the pump, filter and plumbing, check your chemistry.

You will need to shock the pool on start up because is has lain stagnant over the winter. There are winter algeas and spring algeas that will enter when you remove the cover.

Check the pH and TA and adjust accordingly, check you hardness and adjust to 200-400.

After shocking the pool you will need to wait until the chlorine level is betwen 1.0 and 3.0 in order to swim.

Once balanced, you should check your chemicals daily and adjust if needed, shock the pool based on usage, weather conditions (hotter areas will need to be shocked more, shock after rain storms, etc.) keep the pH in the 7.4-7.6 range, your chlorine in the 1.0 to 3.0 range TA in the 80-120 range and the hardness at 200 to 400 and enjoy your pool.

Perioodically, take a 16 ounce water sample to your local pool supplier and have them check it for you. Buy a GOOD test kit (not the test strips) and replace the kit each season. Enjoy!

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