Waterfront Spa & Pool Inc.

Spring is here, and with it the excitement of the swimming season! Now, just one thing stands between you and a watery good time – the pool opening. Of course, you can delegate this chore to your local swimming pool experts at Waterfront Spa & Pool Inc. – just contact the Waterfront Team to schedule your opening service(s) – ensuring a quality job that can save you time and work. In the case where you’d like to save a little money and tackle the opening yourself, these steps will help make sure your pool is up and running in no time!

Get it ready.

First, get out what you need. Pull all the chemicals you have left out of storage. Chemicals don’t last forever – if they were left out to freeze over the winter or they have expired expiration dates dispose of them properly and replace them with current product at Waterfront Spa & Pool Inc. Our 14th Annual Big Splash Sale happens early EVERY SPRING – a great time to pick up your season’s chemicals at a discounted price. We also have special pricing on maintenance equipment, pumps, filters, heaters, salt systems & uv systems PLUS there’s always good food, drinks, and great company! Sign up on our mailing list along the right-hand side of the page for information on all your backyard needs, to hear about when we will have sales, and to get coupons you can use in store!

Also, gather any hardware that was removed during winterization and get replacements for any missing parts. Waterfront has an extensive parts department, so stop in and check with us. If it is something we don’t stock we will order it for you and can usually have it in store within a couple of days at no additional charge.

Okay, so now you’re back from the store. Remove any standing water from your cover before opening it or removing it. Clean your automatic safety cover with a mild water & vinegar solution and a soft pool brush on the end of your telescoping pole. Remove your winter cover if you have one, set it out on the driveway or yard and clean it with the same  vinegar and water solution and a soft pool brush, rinse, turn over, clean the back side, rinse, and lay out to dry before folding and storing.

Get it together.

Assemble what needs assembling. Install your pump, filter, plugs, baskets, railings, diving board, and anything else that was removed for winter. Take out plugs that were installed in your circulation system (skimmers, returns, etc.) and install inlet fitting(s) (the eyeball-looking thing on the inside wall of the pool), plugs in pump and filter, baskets in pump and skimmer(s), and your filter cartridge.

Get it full.

Most pools need water in the Spring. Raise your water level to operational level – usually midway up into the skimmer inlet.

Get it running.

Install your cleaned cartridge filter(s) or add sand to the sand filter. Open the pump lid and any valves in your plumbing. Add water to the pump – we call this priming the pump. Replace the pump pump lid. Open the bleeder air relief plug, usually on top of the filter, to help relieve pressure and get the water circulating properly. Lite the heater pilot as directed on your heater. Flip the breaker to turn on the pool! Check to make sure you haven’t lost prime in your pump and that everything in your circulation system is full of water, not air, and circulating. Once a little water spits out the air relief plug on the filter, close the plug. Yay, you’re circulating! Check for any leaks. On the first day or two a few drops are no cause for big concern. As the weather and water heat up the o-rings and gaskets will swell and stop these leaks. If leaks continue get some Magic Lube from Waterfront Spa & Pool Inc. and lubricate the o-rings and gaskets. If they are checked, bring them in for replacement. add Natural Chemistry’s Hassle Free Pool Opening Kit available at Waterfront Spa & Pool Inc., which includes a metal remover so that when you add sanitizers they dont oxidize our heavy metal content and stain your pool liner, and a phosphate remover so that algae can’t form before you get your water chemistry into balance.

Get it crud-free.

Scoop out any debris you can – don’t rely on your circulation system to take care of this. Vacuum the pool, even if it’s cloudy or green, just blind-vac the pool bottom to remove as much organic material as possible. Let the pool circulate for 48 hours.

Balance it.

Bring in a water sample to Waterfront Spa & Pool Inc.’s water lab – we offer free water testing to our chemical customers. Let us know at the time of your test if your water is green, brown, or black, as well as how green, brown, or black. Like, can you see the bottom of the steps? The shallow end? The deep end? These indicators help us send you out the door with the best product for your situation. If the pool is anything but clear this is due to one or a combination of the following: 1) improper balance at closing, 2) algae growth or a dirty pool at closing, 3) closing too early, or 4) opening too late. Ask the Waterfront Team of ways to help open with a clean and clear pool for Spring, which helps cut costs of maintaining your pool!

Get wet.

When you’re maintaining a properly balanced pool it’s time to jump in! Enjoy the swimming season!

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