Opening Your Pool
When it's time to open your pool for the swimming season, choose HTH® Pool Care products to prepare your water. There are two essential elements to ready your pool for the season: ensuring the equipment is in proper working order and balancing the water.
Preparing the Pool Water
- Test the water using the HTH® Multi-Purpose 6-Way Test Strips, or other HTH® 6-Way Test Kits.
- Adjust the TA, pH, FAC, and TH to the ideal levels recommended in the Balanced Pool Care Chart (see below).
- If needed, stabilize the water using HTH® Stabilizer.
- Shock treat pool water with an HTH® shock product.
- Continue routine maintenance for the entire season to keep your pool water clear and clean.
BALANCED WATER
PARAMETER |
WHEN TO TEST |
IDEAL RANGE |
|
pH |
Every Day |
7.2 - 7.8 |
|
Free Available Chlorine (FAC) |
Every Day |
1 - 4 ppm when using as sanitizer |
|
Total Alkalinity (TA) |
Once A Week |
60 - 120 ppm |
|
Total Hardness (TH) |
Monthly |
Acceptable: 200-1000 ppm, Ideal: 200-500 ppm |
|
Cyanuric Acid (CYA) / Stabilizer |
Twice a season |
Ideal: 20-50 ppm, DO NOT EXCEED 90 ppm |
Preparing the Equipment
- Remove any water and debris that have accumulated on your pool cover during the winter.
- Take off the pool cover. Clean the cover to prevent mildew and premature deterioration.
- Reconnect all plumbing and electrical connections for the pump, filter, and circulation system.
- Make sure the skimmer(s), filter(s), pump(s), drain(s) and other equipment are clean and free of winter debris.
- Use a leaf skimmer to scoop up all surface and submerged debris.
- Clean the pool floor and walls with a curved wall brush.
- If necessary raise water level to middle of skimmer.
- Make sure all hoses and electrical hookups are in working order.
- Turn on filter pump and check the circulation system for leaks.
- Check the skimmer, drain and filter to make sure they are functioning properly.
- Use a pool vacuum to remove any remaining debris.
- Run the filter for 12 hours.
