So, how to open an inground pool?
Well, in this post, I would be walking you through some of the best and most effective ways to open an inground pool quickly.
Moreover, whether you’re just starting out or are seasoned played this comprehensive guide on opening an inground pool would be of great help for sure.
Lastly, I along with my consulting team have put loads and loads of effort to come up with 14 idiosyncratic steps that would help you to open an inground pool within an epigrammatic span of time.
So, without any further ado, let’s begin…
How To Open An Inground Pool | Beginner’s Guide
The easiest way could be to hire a consultant like me to help you open your inground pool still I would request you to refrain from it until and unless you’ve got a scarcity of time.
I’m a DIYer myself and so I highly recommend my clients to do most of the jobs on their own, of course, if time permits.
Trust me, opening an inground pool is easier than you can even think of.
Tools and Gears Requirements
Yes, you heard it RIGHT!
You need to be well prepared with the list of tools that you would be needing for the entire process.
It is highly recommended that you’ve your tools handy.
- Pool Cover Pump
- Pool Brush
- Pool Net
- Pool Cover Cleaner
- Pool Shock
- Algaecide
- Chemical Testing Kit
So, I’m assuming that you’ve all the tools handy with you, and if that is the case, then it’s time to get started.
How To Open Your Inground Pool Quickly
So, here I come with the beginner-friendly steps to help you open your inground pool in an epigrammatic span of time without any hassle.
Trust me, in spite of you being a newbie, you’ll find these steps easy to expedite.
Leaves and Water Removal from Your Pool Cover
First and foremost, you need to remove leaves and water from your pool cover, and you shouldn’t skip this step at all.
It’s quite obvious that over the winter, leaves, debris, dust, and rainwater tend to collect over the pool cover and weigh it down.
So, it is solely your responsibility that the aforementioned things are removed from your pool cover in such a way that the cover becomes crystal clear and clean.
At the same time, if you’ve been using an automatic pool cover pump then definitely, you’ll NOT face any problem.
However, if that isn’t the case, then it’s highly advisable that you get one as soon as possible.
Pool cover pumps come in different types and depending upon your requirement and budget you can select one.
Once you’ve it handy go ahead and plug it in and allow it to get the cover as dry as possible.
The good thing about using an automatic pool pump cover is that it will allow you to remove the cover without any hassle.
Also, it will keep the debris and dirty water from getting dumped in your pool.
In case, you’re looking for an alternative way then I would suggest you should use a leaf net to scoop the leaves and debris.
Once the pool cover has dried, all you need to do is to use a pool brush to sweep unwanted leaves and debris if left on the cover.
Another good way to remove the leaves is by taking the help of a leave blower.
Winter Cover Removal
I’m assuming that you’re done with cleaning the pool cover including the removal of dust, debris, and leaves.
So, now, it’s high time that you remove the pool cover slowly and gently from the top of your pool.
Fold the cover in such a way that it gets completely folded at the end of the pool.
As per my knowledge and experience, it would be difficult for you to expedite the entire process alone so my advice would be to ask for helping hands.
While folding the cover it is your responsibility to ensure that the debris and leaves don’t fall into the pool so that the cleaning process can be shortened.
Clean and Stow Away Your Pool Cover
So, this is another important step and needs to be addressed in a correct and effective way.
First and foremost, you need to lay the cover out flat on a soft surface away from your pool just like a lawn.
Now, with the help of a garden hose, you need to spray your pool cover.
Once done, you need to brush away debris.
In case, you’ve got a scarcity of time and want to skip the aforementioned time-consuming task then you can take the help of some of the cost-effective cleaners available on the market.
Furthermore, if you’ve decided to use a cleaner then the work will become easier for you as all you need to do is to connect the bottle to your water hose, spray it on and let it work.
Once it’s dry, all you need to do is to store it safely in a sealed container.
Fill Up Your Pool
If you’ve been a pool owner for quite a few years and have seen few winters then definitely, you would’ve observed that a portion of pool water gets evaporated in spite of you NOT draining the pool water, right?
Trust me, even though you’re using the superlative quality pool cover still a certain portion of pool water would definitely evaporate and it’s next to impossible to stop it.
So, you need to fill your pool with the required amount of water.
Winter Plug Removal and Skimmer Basket Re-installation
In case, you’ve installed winter drain plugs then you need to uninstall them before you re-install all the skimmer baskets and return jet fittings.
It’s an important step and you can’t afford to skip it.
Deck Equipment Re-Attachment
In this step, you need to re-attach your pool equipment such as diving boards, ladders, and rails in their appropriate spots.
Don’t forget to lube the bolts before attaching them to prevent rust or any other unprecedented condition.
Filter and Pump Setting Up
You need to set up your pool pump and filter correctly.
In case, you’re doing it for the first time then my suggestion would be that you should take some professional help.
Power-On Your Filter And Pump
In this step, you need to re-install your drain plugs.
Also, don’t forget to use a pool gasket lubricant on any 0-rings to protect them.
Once you’re done with the aforementioned steps, the next thing that you need to do is to power up and ensure that the system works right henceforth.
At the same time, you also need to ensure that there aren’t any loosely attached fittings.
Moreover, being a pool owner it’s your responsibility to ensure that all the wires are grounded properly.
And, the pump is filling water properly.
Backwash Your Filter
Well, if you’ve got a sand filter or a DE one, it’s a good idea to go ahead and backwash your filter in order to achieve an optimum result.
Moreover, adding some extra bit of DE to your DE filter would definitely help it to get a fresh start.
Pool Cleaning
As the name suggests, in this step, you need to clean your pool, that is, get rid of dust, debris, algae, bacteria, etc present in your pool.
With the help of a pool net, you can clear out the floating dust and debris.
Also, scrub the pool surface and corners to ensure that they are crystal clear.
Shock the Pool
I highly recommend that you should use a chlorine shock product for shocking your pool.
Furthermore, you should ensure that enough shock is added so that the chlorine level is raised above 3 ppm.
In most cases, a full bottle of liquid chlorine would do the trick for you.
In case, you’re planning to use solid granules then I think an entire bag of normal size would be more than enough.
Depending upon the size of your pool you need to select the chlorine shock product quantity.
Pool Chemistry Testing
For pool chemistry testing, I suggest you should use an effective water chemistry testing kit.
Moreover, you need to expedite the pool chemistry testing in the correct way so that the reading obtained regarding alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, and chlorine levels are perfect and error-free.
Moving further, you need to adjust these levels in an appropriate and effective way.
In case, you want to save time then try a start-up chemical kit that comes with all the essential chemicals that you might be needing.
If you’re still not sure whether you would be able to expedite the aforementioned process then definitely, you should take professional help.
Even you can take the water sample to a local pool supply store and get the testing done.
Add Algaecide
An imbalance in your pool chemistry can lead to a cloudy or green pool.
Getting rid of algae is very important for keeping the pool water clean and safe.
It is very important that you keep a track of algae and other bacteria growth on a regular basis.
All you need to do is to purchase a high-quality algaecide and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Final Step
So, once you’re done with all the aforementioned steps, it’s high time that you should allow the pool’s pump to run for 24 hours.
For the debris present at the bottom of your pool, you need to vacuum them up using an effective pool vacuum system.
Again, you need to test your pool chemicals and balance them if NEEDED.
Encourage swimming only when your chlorine level reaches above 2.0 ppm.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
I hope after expediting all the aforementioned steps, you would be in a position to open an inground pool.
However, if you still face any problem after opening your inground pool then definitely, you should take it on a priority basis and resolve it at the earliest.
Taking professional isn’t a bad idea at all.
Failing to do so can cost you not only time but money as well in the longer run.
Why my pool is losing water?
Definitely, losing pool water is an important issue and needs to be handle with care.
There could be numerous reasons for losing pool water and if you’re not trying to resolve it then the issue will only aggravate.
It is NOT possible to talk about all the causes of pool water loss.
However, I’ll try to the best of my capabilities to highlight some of the major reasons that are responsible for pool water loss.
Line Leaks
Definitely, line leaks are one of the most common causes of losing pool water.
This happens when your pool is consistently draining to the bottom of the skimmer.
Well, if it’s draining to the bottom of the return jets, it could be a return line leak.
Unfortunately, as a beginner, you wouldn’t be able to fix both these issues easily so my suggestion would be to take professional help.
Light Leaks
If you find pool water to be draining down to the lights then you need to check light fittings and conduit pipes and repair them if needed.
Lining Leaks
If the aforementioned isn’t the source of the problem then you probably have to check for the leak somewhere in the liner.
These mostly occur around the ladders or step baskets.
Floor Leaks
In case, the pool water is draining very quickly then a floor leak could be the obvious reason.
Moreover, the floor leak could be resolved only with the help of professional help.
Is your filter working properly?
Let’s have a quick look at some of the below points.
DE/Sand Filter Cracks
The presence of sand or DE in the pool or near the filter might be due to the damage in the filter.
Take them apart and check for the cracks or holes if ANY.
Dirty Filters
A lack of pressure symbolizes the presence of specks of dirt in the filter.
To check the pressure, you need to take the help of a pressure gauge.
A dirty filter can also lead to inadequate filtering of pool water.
In simple words, backwash them and add DE or sand as needed.
If still, your filter has a problem then go for acid wash or professional help.
In the worst case, you might need to replace the filter.
Is your filter or pump leaking?
In case, you find the filter tank dripping, then you need to tighten the fittings.
Nonetheless, if the tightening of fitting doesn’t work then you need to examine it carefully.
Also, check for holes in your filter.
In the worst case, you need to replace the filter.
It’s A Wrap
First of all, I would like to thank you all for being with us till the end.
I hope you would’ve thoroughly enjoyed the comprehensive guide on how to open an inground pool.
Well, if you’re NOT used to the entire process then definitely, it will take some time for you to get used to.
But, at the same time, expediting all the aforementioned steps correctly would pave the way to a safe and clean pool.
Lastly, share this piece of information with the ones who are in need of it.
After all, sharing is caring, isn’t it?
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