Opening your backyard swimming pool for the season takes more than filling it up and jumping in. Larry Biscornet, president of LBI Swimming Pools in New Rochelle, N.Y., has been in the swimming pool business for 50 years, and he knows the importance of opening a pool correctly—both for the health of the swimmers and the pool. "If a swimming pool is opened properly, you can be assured of proper operation and chemical safety," he says. Here's your eight-step guide to getting ready for lazy summer afternoons.First, Biscornet says, never empty your swimming pool, even if you live in a really cold climate, unless you have no other choice, such as if you need to do structural work or your pool hasn't been covered and there are too many leaves at the bottom to remove. (Also: Get a cover. That's because draining the pool can bring big problems. For example, an empty pool in a high water table can lift out of the ground without the weight of the water holding it down.Biscornet says most pool owners aren't even aware of the risk.

"People think they're going to empty and clean their pool but they either do it in a very wet season when there's a high groundwater table, or their swimming pool actually sits in a high water table," he says. "When you empty a pool in a high water table, it's very possible that the pool will pop out of the ground like a boat." carpet cleaning machine singaporeThat could mean a complete pool replacement.best way to clean pet poop from carpetStart the process of bringing your pool up to shape with a "chemical open." cheap carpet cleaning hampshirePut the filtration system together, clean out all the baskets, and remove any plugs that you put in when the pool closed last year. aqua pool cleaning

For now, leave the cover on the pool while you're working on it.If the water level has fallen over the winter, top it off. Make sure to clean the filter before you turn it on. Clean a cartridge filter by removing the cartridge and wash with a hose. If you have a D.E. filter, you might need to take it apart, clean it, and reassemble it. pool cleaner organizerIf you have a sand filter, set the filter to backwash, which will clean the sand. dolphin pool cleaner faqThen turn it to the normal setting.Biscornet recommends having the water professionally tested. Take a water sample to a swimming pool store, Biscornet says, and they'll test the water for you, usually for free (and maybe some up-sell). "It's a good idea because they'll do a complete test," he says. "They'll test the mineral content of the water, along with the total alkalinity and the pH and the chlorine levels."

They'll tell you which needs to be adjusted and by how much.Time for some chemistry, based on your pool pro's analysis. Here are Biscornet's recommendations:PH levels between 7.2 to 7.4. The pH level dictates how much chlorine turns into hypochlorous acid in the water. Use soda ash to increase pH; muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate to decrease.Total alkalinity from 80 to 120. Alkalinity is a pH buffer—pH levels will be consistent if the alkalinity level is correct. Use sodium bicarbonate to increase alkalinity, muriatic acid to decrease it.Calcium hardness from 150 ppm to 250 ppm (parts per million). This is directly dependent on the hardness of the water. The softer the water, the more calcium it will absorb from its environment. "If you don't put [calcium] in the water, it will take it from the grout in the tiles," Biscornet says. "It will actually ruin a marble dust (a finish product), it will even effect vinyl." Adjust the calcium hardness by using calcium chloride.Chlorine from 1 ppm to 3 ppm.

A popular product for backyard in-ground pools are cyanuric-based tablets (the ones that look like large white hockey pucks). "Cyanuric acid inhibits the sun's ability to burn off chlorine," Biscornet says. "It's like a sunscreen for the water."You can put the tablets in your skimmer baskets, but their low acid content means they'll eat metal—a problem if your pool has a metal filter system or a heater with a copper heat exchanger. So Biscornet recommends getting a plastic chlorinator, which attaches to the filter system. Get a pro to hook this up.Don't dive in yet. The filter has to be cleaned every day until the water is clear. Expect the entire process to take about a week. You may have to add chlorine to keep it at the right level. Only when the water is clear and you can see the pool floor should you remove the cover. Remove the cover too soon and you'll end up with more leaves and pollen and debris to clean out.After you've removed the cover, time to vacuum all the leaves and debris from the bottom.

For the rest of the season, keep the filter clean, vacuum the pool each week, and test the chemical levels every day. Biscornet also advises having a pro test the water once a month.Water clarity depends mainly on three factors: 1. Proper chemical balance 3. Adequate daily circulation Your swimming pool water needs the combination of these three variables to stay crystal clear, algae free and ready for swimming enjoyment. A dirty filter can have a dramatic effect on circulation. As water passes through the filter, millions of tiny particles cling to the filtration elements. Eventually, these accumulated particles make it difficult for water to pass through the filter. A dirty filter can reduce pump efficiency by up to 80 percent. In other words, circulating your water for 10 hours a day when the filter is dirty is the equivalent of circulating the water for 2 hours a day when the filter is clean. Many times, a homeowner will find their water is cloudy and greenish, even though the chemical levels are fine, and the pump is running for an adequate amount of time each day.

A dirty or damaged filter is usually the source of the problem. How often should I run my Sand Filter? Run filter system for approximately 1 hour for every 10 degrees of outside temperature: Summer 8 to 12 hours per day, winter 4 or more hours per day. (If pool looks cloudy, run filter until pool clears- then go back to your regular schedule) How to Backwash a Sand Filter Most filter manufacturers recommend backwashing after a clean filter has built up 5-10 PSI of pressure, as indicated on the pressure gauge. Sand filters usually need backwashing every 1 to 4 weeks. Over backwashing can lead to algae problems in the heat of the summer due to the loss of important chemicals. Avoid backwashing within 12 hours after your pool has been chemically serviced. **Never move the backwash valve when the pump is running (this will break the parts inside the filter) 1. Turn off the pump 2. Turn the multi port or valve handle to the backwash position 3. If necessary, roll out your backwash hose or open valve on backwash line

4. Turn on the pump and run system for 1-3 minutes or until water in the sight glass or discharge hose turns clear 5. Turn off the pump 6. Place the valve handle in the filter position. 7. If necessary, redo the first steps, two to three times, this will shake up the sand and remove more dirt at each backwash cycle 8. Turn on the pump and open the air relief valve on the top of the filter to bleed all air from the system Maintenance for a Sand Filter Sand in the filter should be replaced or checked every 4 to 5 years. In painted pools, sand may need to be replaced annually. Please have the filter parts (i.e. laterals) checked for cracks or breaks any time the sand is removed, these parts are under the sand and can only be checked when the sand is removed. The efficiency of the sand filter, as measured by the largest-sized particle that can pass through it without being caught, is 40-50 microns. (A micron is a millionth of a meter.) How often should I run my Cartridge Filter?

Run filter system 1 hour for every 10 degrees of outside temperature: Summer 8 to 15 hours per day, winter 4 to 10 hours per day How to Clean a Cartridge Filter Clean filter cartridges every 2-6 weeks on average, depending on dirt accumulation and filter pressure (Best if preformed the day before scheduled chemical service) 1. Turn off the pump 2. Remove top half of filter canister 3. Remove cartridge element(s) from canister 4. Spray cartridge elements until clean 5. Replace clean elements 6. Turn on the pump and open the air relief on the top of the filter to bleed all air from the system Maintenance for a Cartridge Filter Have cartridge elements checked every year for wear and tear. Drawbacks for the cartridge filter include: Most cartridge filters are for smaller pools and spas containing approximately 12,000 gallons of water or less. There is no mechanical method for backwashing these filters – it must be manually disassembled and hosed off.

The cartridge elements need to be replaced as they become old and worn: about every 2 years, which can be expensive, depending on the size, style and brand of cartridge. Pools with cartridge filters tend to develop high dissolved solids levels (TDS) faster than sand or D.E. filters, because there is no water removal via backwashing. How often should I run my D.E. Filter? Summer 8 to 10 hours per day, winter 4 to 8 hours per day How to Backwash a D.E. Filter Most filter manufacturers recommend backwashing after a clean filter has built up 5-10 PSI of pressure as indicated on the pressure gauge. D.E. filters typically build up these pressure levels in approximately 1 to 3 months. 1. Shut off the pump 2. Turn the multi port or valve handle to the backwash position 3. If necessary, roll out your backwash hose or open valve on backwash line 7. If necessary, redo the first steps, two to three times, this will loosen up debris and remove more dirt at each backwash cycle

8. Place the multi port valve handle back in the filter position 9. Turn on the pump 10. Coat the filter grids with D.E. powder by adding the recommended amount through the skimmer. FRESH D.E. MUST BE ADDED AFTER EACH BACKWASHING! Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters use a powder called diatomaceous earth to strain out the small tiny particles that pass through the system. This product is very inexpensive and readily available at home and garden centers. Each time you backwash a D.E. filter, you will flush out both accumulated dirt and debris and spent D.E. from the filter canister. Failure to replace the canister with fresh D.E. can cause severe damage to the internal elements of the filter and will leave the filter virtually non-effective, since the earth is the primary filtering agent. There is a simple formula to figure out how much D.E. should be added to your filter. First, determine the size of your filter. The square feet of filtration area inside the filter canister determine filter size.