When the weather finally starts warming up you can start thinking about pool parties, backyard barbecues, and entertaining family and friends. But before all this happens, you’ll need to open your swimming pool. Many people outsource this annual rite of spring, but with a little time and effort, you can actually do this yourself. And although there are many physical steps to take when it comes to opening a pool, there are only a few chemicals that need to be dealt with. So, it’s not as hard as one may think. For opening an above ground pool what chemicals are needed? Read more to find out.
Scale and Stain Remover
Water that’s been sitting stagnant over the winter allows rusts and scaling to form. If your area has relatively hard water (i.e. calcium heavy) you probably need to use this chemical on a regular basis. But even if you have soft water, you should apply a good dose when opening your pool. This will get rid of any existing deposits and prevent rusting throughout the rest of the year. This will also prevent your pool liner from discoloring, inhibit scaling and keep any metal components, such as ladders, rust free.
Algaecide
There are three types of algae typically found in swimming pools: green, yellow and black. And although these algae aren’t actually harmful to a swimmer’s health, they do reduce the clarity of the water and cause unsightly buildups which will cause your pool look grungy and unclean. Once algae have taken hold it’s very tough to get rid of completely, so it’s a good idea to thwart the problem at the beginning of the season before anyone is actually using the pool. Algaecide works by lowering the oxygen levels in the water making it impossible for algae to survive. Use a high concentration algaecide (40 to 60%) to kill any existing algae and prevent new ones from growing.
Chlorine
Chlorine is used in a swimming pool water throughout the season to kill bacteria, algae, microorganisms, and other organic matter. But when you’re first opening the pool, you’ll need to give it an extra dose of what you’d normally use to maintain the water. Double the amount will work well for water that’s been sitting stagnant over the winter. Granulated chlorine should be dissolved in water before application. Once you have a liquid chlorine solution, pour it around the entire edge of the pool ending up in front of the water return.
Water Testing
You’ll need to wait about two days for the chlorine levels to subside to a point where you can test and balance the water correctly. Use testing strips to ensure the chlorine has dissipated to a manageable level before taking a water sample for balancing the rest of the necessary levels.
Now that you know what chemicals are needed to maintain a pool, learn more about our above ground pool options, download a brochure.