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Opening Your Above-Ground Pool

Opening Your Above-Ground Pool

Spring Pool Opening - An Exciting Time Of A Year!

After winters, we enter in a warm weather but even with the sunshine and warm water the pool isn’t quite ready for swimmers. Discounter’s Pool and Spa Warehouse is here to help you open your pool with the following easy-to-read instructions. With a little bit of effort, you will be on your way to having a clean pool and a stress-free spring opening!

1. Cleaning The Pool Cover

Drain as much water as possible from top of your winter cover before removing it. You can use cover pump to do so. Don’t forget to scoop or blow all leaves off the cover before removal.

2. Remove The Pool Cover3. Clean And Store The Pool Cover

Once you removed the pool cover, brush away the remaining debris from the cover. Dry the cover and sprinkle both sides with or talcum powder to prevent mold and mildew buildup.

4. Raise The Water Level Back To Normal

5. Reconnect Your Pool Equipment

6. Remove Winter Plugs And Re-attach Drain Plugs

7. Remove Winterizing Plugs From Skimmer And Return Lines

8. Turn Your System Back On

9. Add MetalFree To Prevent Staining

Add 1 liter of   for every 50,000 L of water to prevent copper or iron from causing stains or discoloration in your pool. These metals may have build up after a long winter season and could be in your fill water. Once you added , keep running the circulation and filtration systems for at least 2 hours.

10. Test Your Pool ChemistryAfter running the circulation system for 24 hours, test your pool water for pH, Total Alkalinity and Chlorine levels using a test kit. Following are the ideal levels for these chemicals:

  • pH: 7.4 to 7.6
  • Total Alkalinity: 80 to 120 ppm
  • Chlorine: 2.0 to 4.0 ppm

Each Discounter’s Pool & Spa Warehouse location offers free in-store water analysis. All you need to do is bring in sample of pool water. A trained expert will test the water and provide recommendations to balance your chemical levels.

11. Adjust The Total Alkalinity

Control the pH and chlorine levels in your water by adjusting the Total Alkalinity. If your Total Alkalinity is too high, you will want to use to lower the levels to the accepted range.

New Column New Column New Column New Column New Column
If pH reading is
7.2-7.6
7.7-8.0
8.1-8.4
Above 8.4
Add pH Decrease for each 10,000L
Acceptable Range
75 g
125 g
150 g

If the Total Alkalinity of your pool is too low, it will increase by using Omni Alkalinity Increaser.

New Column New Column
Total Alkalinity
Dosage Per 10,000 L
0-20 ppm
1.8 kg
20-40 ppm
1.5 kg
40-60 ppm
1.1 kg
60-80 ppm
0.7 kg
80-99 ppm
0.4 kg

12. Now, It's Time To Adjust The pH Balance

Once the Total Alkalinity is within its proper range of 80-140 ppm, you can now adjust the pH balance in your pool. Bringing the Total Alkalinity back to a normal range should have pushed the pH level close to normal, as well. If the pH is not between 7.4 and 7.6, not to worry.If your pH level is above 7.6, you can add . Wait 2 hours with the circulation system running and retest before adding more acid.If your pH level is below 7.4, use . To raise pH, add 100 g of per 10,000 L of pool water. Wait 4 hours with the circulation system running and retest the water.

13. Test And Adjust Calcium Hardness

Our pool’s calcium hardness level should always be above 150 ppm. If the calcium hardness is too low, you can bring it up by adding Hardness Increase. Just 100 g will increase the calcium hardness of 10,000 L of water by 10 ppm. Note: Never add Hardness Increase on the same day as or Alkalinity Increase. Always wait until the next day to add Hardness Increase.

14. Brush And Vacuum The PoolAfter your pool chemistry has been adjusted, there will still be some remaining dirt and debris from the winter. Now is the time to thoroughly and your pool, giving special attention to areas near , , or other equipment.

15.Run The Filteration System Overnight

16. Shock The Pool

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