When Should I Open my Swimming Pool?
It’s getting to be that time of year when people start wondering about opening their pool. Whether you have an above ground pool or an inground pool, it’s an important thing to consider! Living in Iowa like many of us do, it can be a tricky question! Earlier is always better if you want to get a head start on having beautiful, clean, and SAFE water once it’s warm enough to get in and enjoy it, but there are a few different factors to consider.
If you open your pool too early, with our crazy Iowa weather, you may end up with problems. A good freeze or snow can sometimes come out of nowhere, and if your pool is up and running, you risk water freezing in the lines or pump causing a BIG issue. If you wait too long to open you pool (especially if you haven’t added any winter shock or algaecide), you may take off the cover to discover that your once beautiful water is now starting to turn green. Or IS green. Or worse…black.
Best recommendation? You want to open your pool and get it going as SOON as you feel comfortable that our last big freeze is beyond us. Knowing Iowa, that may be March, it may be April. If you are planning some sort of event (say, Memorial Day weekend?), make sure that you also plan to open your pool AT LEAST three weeks in advance. It *may* take that long, or longer, to get your water clean and clear, unless you’ve kept up with some maintenance through the winter.
Right now, looking out the window, I can see our uncovered above ground pools sparkling in the sun…and just a tiny hint of green in the bottom. They’ll be getting a dose of algaecide and shock to help hold them through until we open them in a few weeks.
What are YOUR plans, and how are YOUR pools looking?
Any questions? Just ask! You can write here, or you can call our service department, especially if you’re planning to have US open your pool. Whether you’re here or one of our readers across the country: if you’re planning on having a pool company open your pool, call and schedule it early–many are booked far ahead.
Thanks for reading! Here are some other articles that may interest you:
Help! What to do with a Green Pool in Winter?
Does it Matter Where I Buy my Chemicals?
100 Reasons for Cloudy Water
Jen Allen
Central Iowa Pool & Spa
jen@soakandswim.com
515-263-6900
