Like with most things in life, timing is everything when it comes to getting that pool up and running for the summer. Although factors like climate and time constraints are sure to factor into your decision to open and close your pool, there are some basic guidelines that can be extremely helpful to ensure that you’re doing it just right. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you ponder making your pool operational for the swimming season.

Better to open too early than too late:

Although common sense might dictate that you hold off to make sure that the cooler weather has passed, you might want to consider taking the plunge and opening your pool at little early for several different reasons. For anyone with limited time to commit to opening a pool, opening early will leave you with a much cleaner starting point, as warmer temperatures can turn your pool into a mess of algae and force you to spend considerably more time and effort to get it open.

Additionally, springtime pollen can easily infiltrate a closed pool and make it more difficult to clean instead of letting your active pool filter handle it. You also might end up spending a considerable amount of money on chemical treatments if you wait too long, making it a great idea to get started as soon as daytime temperatures begin to consistently peak above 70 degrees.

Do it yourself:

With the list of tasks required to open a pool, it can be tempting to delay your opening or to hire a professional, which will typically cost between $300-$350 on average. For those who have some minor pool damage like a pesky crack, it can be even more tempting to hire a professional to help get your pool operational, adding further costs that can be completely unnecessary. For a fraction of what it will cost a professional to fix a crack, a strong adhesive and sealant combo like Underwater Magic can quickly solve your issue without even having to drain the pool, letting you get right back to your pool opening checklist. Designed to help commercial divers fix ships at port and sea, Underwater Magic white single tube even fits into a standard caulk gun and will have you quickly back on schedule without the costs and hassles of hiring a pro.

Be mindful of the water temperature when closing:

For those living in regions with more pronounced seasonal changes, you might want to be ready to close as soon as the weather starts to shift towards fall, particularly if your pool is anywhere near trees that produce a lot of leaves. A general guideline is also to watch to see if the water temperature is starting to consistently dip below 65 degrees, as this can be a clear sign that the days of pool season are limited.

You also have to be careful not to close up too early, however, as water temperatures that remain above 65 degrees can lead you back to problems with algae growth and leave you a tougher job come the spring. More than just relying on the daily high in air temperature, the water temperature can give you a much better gauge and let you start preparing for closing even while it still seems like pool weather during the peak of the day. Because you might want to close up shop as soon as water temperatures start to dip, it can be even more of an imperative to open your pool early in the season so you can utilize your pool as soon as you can.

Wrapping up:

Opening and closing your pool remains more art than science, as guidelines like water and air temperature can only give you a general idea of when to open your pool. Because many of us live in climates that see rapid swings in temperatures, pool owners need to be prepared to move quickly with opening or closing a pool whenever the right window presents itself, as you simply might not get the perfect conditions. By checking your metrics and being willing to utilize helpful products like Underwater Magic, however, you can get the most of pool season without having to rely on the expensive professionals.