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Spring Pool Openings
Pool openings in the Northeast US
typically range $175-$300. You can often
save money by doing some of the
work yourself, i.e. removing the cover,
or vacuuming the pool.
Here is a
list of things you can do yourself to
help lower the cost of opening your pool
in the Spring:
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Remove, clean, fold and store pool cover.
-
Testing water balance; adjusting calcium,
Alkalinity and pH levels
-
Replacing stored items; ladders, auto
cleaner, baskets, plugs, gauges, etc.
-
Inspect
and test electrical service to pumps, lights, heaters,
etc. Load testing.
-
Lube plugs, fittings, valves and o-rings.
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Flood lines, prime-up, start-up and adjust
filtration equipment.
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Brush tiles and scrub skimmers with cleanser.
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Blow off, then hose pool deck.
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Skim pool surface. Vacuum pool to waste using
portable vacuum equipment
-
Super chlorinate to breakpoint levels with
liquid chlorine.
-
Brush pool walls and steps. Re-check chemical
levels in 12-24 hrs, adjust as needed.
-
Backwash filter if pressure gauge
rises 8-10 lbs, or flow diminishes
considerably.
Snowbelt
-
Remove the pool cover:
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Solid Covers:
Use a small cover pump to remove
rain and snow melt. As the water
is being pumped, "tighten up"
the cover by pulling on its
edges, so the water gathers into
one easily pumped area. A "bag
type" leaf net and your pool
brush on the pole can be used to
remove leaves and debris. After
water and debris is removed,
drain water bags (or remove
whatever is being used to hold
down sides of cover). Water bags
can be folded or rolled after
being hosed clean. Remove cover
quickly by fan-folding it into
3 - 5 ft folds on one end of the
pool. Take cover to open area
where it can be unfolded and
hosed clean. A sloping yard or
driveway makes this easier. When
cover is cleaned, allow to dry
or use blower to hasten drying.
Fan fold (accordion-style) cover
to facilitate its installation
in the fall. Roll tightly and
wrap with rope or twine to
prevent it from unrolling during
storage. Place in a dry, rodent
free location for its summer
storage.
-
Mesh Covers:
Use broom, brush, leaf net,
hose and/or blower to remove
leaves and debris from top and
edges of cover. Remove springs
from anchors with removal tool.
Use 3/4" pipe to lever springs
from anchors, if removal tool
cannot be located. Use 1/4" hex
key (Allen wrench) to put
anchors into the down position,
flush with the deck. It's good
practice to clean with hose and
lubricate with a light oil. Fan
fold cover (accordion-style) to
facilitate its reinstallation in
the fall. Use hose, broom or
blower to clean off cover as
it's folded. Fold it seam to
seam, then roll like a sleeping
bag and stuff it into storage
bag. Place on chair to dry for a
few hours before moving it
INDOORS for summer storage. If
storing outdoors, hang up off
the ground, and / or use moth
balls to repel rodents from
nesting in the cover.
-
Remove expansion plugs (Freeze Plugs) from skimmers and wall
returns
Put plugs in Ziploc bag and place near cover for
use. Discard any that are dry-rotted and/or cracked. Replace any wall fittings.
-
Reassemble filter, pump, heater, etc.
Replace drain plugs into pump,
filter, heater, chlorinator, etc. If
above-ground pool, reattach hoses
removed at closing. Replace pump and
skimmer baskets, pressure gauges,
pool ladders, diving boards etc. Use
thread sealant such as Teflon tape
on all threaded plugs, connections.
Do not over-tighten! If your filter
is a D.E. powder tight filter, make
sure clamp band is tight and
properly positioned. (It was
probably removed in the fall to have
the filter grids pulled out and
cleaned with a hose, so make sure it
was re-installed correctly)
Place filter valve to filter
position and open air bleeder
(beneath pressure gauge, usually).
Open all incoming valves (before
pump) and all return side valves
(after filter). Lubricate valves and
o-rings as needed. Fill pump basket
with water from pool or hose.
Replace pump lid tightly. Look for
leaks out of pump. Double check that
all valves and pressure relief
orifices are open. Place filter
valve in proper position. Slide
valves (push-pull valves) should be
in the down position on most DE
filters and in the up position for
Pac-Fab sand filters. Multiport
valves should be on the filter
position. {Or...the method I use is
to start the pump with the valve in
the Drain to Waste position, and
when water begins to run out the
waste line, shut off the pump. Place
valve into the Recirculate position and run
pump until water flows into the pool. Shut off pump, switch the valve to the Filter
position to complete the process.}
-
Turn on power to pump & start system
Watch pressure on gauge closely with
your hand on power switch! Turn off
if pressure rises above normal
range; usually above 30 psi. Recheck that all return side valves are open. If no pressure
builds up at all, and pump is not pumping, shut off power after 1 minute. Repeat priming
process mentioned before. If pump still won't prime up, try closing main drain valve, if present, and
starting off the skimmer alone. If pump still won't catch prime after 5 or so attempts,
check incoming pipes for air leaks. Repair as needed. Add 1 lb of DE powder per 5
sq. ft of filter area into the skimmer (only if you have a DE filter, of course). Do this
quickly, within 2 minutes of starting filter. If you have a cartridge filter replace
cartridge element every 2 years. Sand filters should have their sand changed every 5
years.
Once system is started, adjust
valves and return fittings for proper flow. Check for leaks around pump and filter; repair
as needed. Note start-up pressure on filter gauge. When psi is 10 lbs above this number,
backwash the filter. Empty pump basket also at this time, or earlier if you notice a drop
in filter pressure. If you have a heater, follow pilot lighting and test firing
instructions, usually printed on back of front heater door. Operate to test and adjust all
other equipment. (continued........)
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