What you’ll need to Open Your In-Ground Pool for the Season

feet in poolWith the swimming season getting closer, many pool owners are beginning to make the necessary preparations to open up their in-ground pools for the summer season. As the weather warms, you and your family are increasingly itching to take a dip on a nice sunny day, but it’s important to get all of your preparations in order now if you’re able.

Having the necessary pool opening supplies on hand in the spring means you can open up as soon as that first nice day hits and you won’t have to spend the extra time purchasing chemicals and cleaning tools. Below is a list of what you should definitely have on hand for this summer.

  • Shock/Chlorine – A pool should ideally be “shocked” at least once a week once you’ve opened it. When you open the pool, you’ll want a chlorine shock to pour in so that the chemical levels within the water will be able to balance out after being stagnant all winter.
  • Water testing kit – Be sure to pick one of these up if you’ll be opening your pool yourself, as you’ll need a variety of different chemical tests for your water throughout the swimming season. The main tests a kit should contain are pH, chlorine, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness.
  • pH/Alkalinity – Once you pour the shock into the pool, you may need to use extra chemicals to balance out the water if you used too much or too little. By having increasers and decreasers on hand, you’ll be able to modify the pH or alkalinity of your pool to bring it to perfect swimming conditions.

At Little Giant Pool & Spa, we also provide pool opening services for in-ground pools in St. Louis, Missouri. If you’ve never opened a pool before or simply want to save some time with the process this year, give us a call today at (636) 271-2200!

4 Signs That Your Swimming Pool Has a Problem, Part 2

in-ground pool with lounge chairsOut of the 4 common signs that there’s an issue with your pool, some of them may not be easily detectable or even initially thought of when it comes to your in-ground pool maintenance.

  1. There is No Main Drain

Many in-ground swimming pools in Jefferson, Missouri are designed to draw in water from the main drain and the skimmer. In the past, it was more customary to cap off main drains as a quick fix, but such procedures are not adequate any longer. Some pools may also have a clogged main drain or may not even have one at all. Without a main drain, the pool will be working at half the capacity that it should be.

If your main drain is clogged or capped off, call us at Little Giant Pool & Spa to come in and fix the issue. If your swimming pool was built with no main drain, one of our pool technicians will be able to set up a system that will vacuum the pool in a way that replicates the main drain’s function.

  1. Your Equipment Isn’t Big Enough

Pumps and filters vary in size and power to meet the specific requirements of your particular pool. If your filter or pump is too small, the circulation will not be adequate and will put stress on all of the plumbing and equipment. If that’s the case, hire a technician in to install the right size filter and pump that are better suited for the size and type of pool that you have.

Little Giant Pool & Spa provides a variety of services for in-ground pools, such as opening, closing, and weekly maintenance. If you’re in need of any of our services, contact us today at (636) 271-2200.