Spring is here, and Memorial Day weekend is only a month away! Many homeowners have their pool openings scheduled, but there are a number of things you can do beforehand to reduce the amount of work that needs to be done and save money. Did you catch our blog last week on how to remove a pool cover? If not, make sure to read it, because that’s the first step in the process. This week, we’re going to talk about more spring pool opening tips!

Spring Pool Opening Tips

 
Expansion Plugs
Expansion plugs, also known as freeze plugs, are located in the skimmers and wall returns. These plugs are used to mitigate the effects of the freeze/thaw cycles in winter. Remove the plugs and put them in a plastic bag until next winter. If any are dry-rotted or cracked, make sure to replace them.
Reassemble Pool Components
Now it’s time to reassemble pool components including the filter, pump, heater, and chlorinator. Install the drain plugs into all of these components, but be careful not to over-tighten them. You’ll also want to reinstall the pump, skimmer baskets, and pressure gauges.
Filter – Move the filter valve to the filter position and open the air bleeder, which is found beneath the pressure gauge. Open all valves before the pump and all valves after the filter, and lubricate them if necessary.
Pump – Fill the pump basket with water, and replace the lid, making sure it’s secure. Check the pump for leaks, and makes such all valves are open. This means push-pull valves should be in the down position on a DE filter and in the up position on a Pac-Fab sand filter. If you have multiport valves, they should be on the filter position.
To contact Rhine Pools, please call 410-442-2445! You can also reach us using our contact form, and connect with us on social media on our Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ pages.