Spring is always 
just around the corner and that means swimming pool opening time for countless London Ontario homeowners who opt to perform this thankless task for themselves.
Here are four quick tips on how you can have a better pool opening this spring.
1. If you use water bags and a tarp to cover your pool in the winter, before removing the tarp, stick a hose underneath it and raise the water in your pool as high as you can (without having it spill over the edge).
This helps keep your pool structure more stable and it also makes removing the winter debris accumulation much easier.
2. When you open the pool, you should definitely vacuum right away because the less time debris and organic material is in the pool the better.
Also, while you can feel free to add chlorine right away, you should hold off on the on other chemicals. Let the filter run for a good twenty four hours first.
3. After your pump has been running for twenty four hours, take a water sample in to your local pool store for testing.
By doing this you are getting a better and more accurate read on what is actually going on with your pool chemistry.
If you take your pool sample in too early, you may end up with incorrect readings which can increase chemical costs, back and forth to the pool store hassles and just the amount of time before your pool is “swimming ready” for you and your family.
4. Once you’ve shocked your pool, vacuum out the dead algae with your pool pump set to “waste”.
While vacuuming to waste does increase your water costs, if you don’t proceed in this manner, you’ll just be recirculating the algae in your pool. When this happens, you’ll be again increasing your chemical costs as well as complicating your overall pool chemistry.
Other than that, leave the pump running for a few days till the water is clear.
Good luck and have a great pool opening!
