The month of March, pool chemicals and opening your swimming pool

The month of March means more than just College Basketball, St. Patrick's Day and spring... It's March Madness not only for fans of basketball, but also for pool owners!

Why? The month of March is the BEST time to open your swimming pool. If you wait any longer for the temperature to rise higher than 65 degrees algae and other organics will start to grow. And with this unseasonable warm weather we've been experiencing in the United States this late winter and early spring, it may already be too late - you may have something growing in your water under that cover! So it's time to open your swimming pool... Do it now before it's too late!

So here's a run-down of the steps involved in opening your swimming pool with a chlorine system in the month of March:

1. Hook up your filter system and pump - be sure everything is hooked up properly.
2. Raise the water level to above the second screw in the Skimmer Gasket.
3. Fire up your Pool Filter System to circulate the water.
4. Look at your water. Is it clear or green? (If green skip to step #8)
5. If the water is clear, test the water for pH and alkalinity; 4 Way Pool Water Test Strips will help you achieve this goal.
6. Start adding Pool Chlorine tablets to gain the pH and alkalinity levels needed - a Spring Start-Up kit can help.
7. The water will need to be "shocked" with Blast Chlorine Pool Shock to ensure the chlorine is working properly.
8. Do you have green water? Follow the above steps until it's time to add chlorine tablets. With green water you need to step up the amount of Chlorine Tablets you are adding to six, seven or even eight tablets every three days. This will kill the algae, which will fall to the bottom of the pool.
9. With the increase in chlorine, it's recommended to also increase the amount of Blast Chlorine Shock added, typically a pound of blast for every 10,000 gallons of pool water. This will help keep the chlorine active in killing algae.
10. Now it's time to Vacuum out the algae that has fallen to the bottom.
11. With a Sand Filter, you could set your pump to "pump to waste", and vacuum the waste to the pump.
12. If you use this technique with an "element filter system", you will need to clean out your filter right away.

Now that the water is clean and clear, it's time to start your Pool Maintenance routine, such as adding Pool Algaecide, which will prevent growth, and Pool Conditioner, which will keep the chlorine from evaporating in the sun.

This process is for a Chlorine System; the video below offers details to help. Do you own a Perma Salt System or Aqua Smart System? View our Customer Support Videos on Opening a Swimming Pool to see how to open a swimming pool with these systems. It might be worth it to invest in a Chemical Quality Pack, which offers chlorine tablets, blast/shock, black algaecide and 4 in 1 chlorine tests strips. Family Leisure showcases a full offering of Pool Opening Chemicals; browse, shop and check out online without leaving your home! Or visit one of our several locations for tips, advice and much more!