Vernon Pool Opening

Spring Pool Care: What to Do & When 

Many pool owners try to open their water systems on a schedule but this isn’t always the best course of action. The weather in Vernon can be unpredictable. Closing down on the September long weekend can mean missing out on great swim days and opening up on the May long weekend can mean opening too early and experiencing damage caused by cold snaps. When the average outdoor temperature reaches 21 degrees, it is safe to open your pool for the season. 

In order to get the best results for a pool services, it is important to break openings down into a multi-step approach for excellent results inside and out. 

Step 1: Pulling back pool covers after the cold and rainy season usually means seeing green water and a ton of algae blooms. When water is green, it is impossible to get a full view of what is going on below the surfaces. The first step to restoring pool condition is to shock water to eliminate some of this discolouration and get a better view of what is going on in your pool. 

Step 2: You can’t achieve a clean pool if there is a ton of debris floating on water surfaces or sitting at the bottom. Getting rid of debris means skimming out floating items, emptying skimmer baskets, vacuuming pool bottoms and heavy scrubbing to remove any residue that has formed on pool walls, stairs and other areas. 

Step 3: During a pool closing, water levels were likely dropped to prevent freezing and damage. It is important to restore water and undo anything that was done on closing to make sure your swim space is ready for spring. You don’t need a special tool to restore water levels, all you have to do is grab a garden hose and let it run until pool water reaches the skimmer line. Winterizing plugs is common practice in fall so they will need to be opened back up to ensure that water can pass through smoothly. If any detachable components were removed, dried and stored for the off-season, they should be replaced and systems fired up. 

Step 4: Swimming pools are complicated structures with many moving parts. It is easy to become focused on pool water alone but overlooking the pool filter or circulation systems can lead to serious damage. Having an expert check your pool pump and filter means keeping it clean and in good, working order to avoid future damage. If a filter is clogged it will force water to work harder to pass through, straining your system and driving up energy bills. Keeping your pool clean benefits the swim space itself, as well as reducing daily operating costs.

A trained eye can also perform visual inspections of pools and surrounding areas to ensure that your poolside is safe. For example, a small tear in a vinyl liner leads to water loss and damage but it can be tough to spot these problem areas. A Puddle technician knows what to watch out for and even offers pool leak detection in the event that there is a problem. For pool equipment like staircases, railings and diving boards, a bit of loosening can be a health hazard so ask an expert to perform visual inspections to point out any obvious issues.