After a long Pennsylvania winter, there’s nothing quite like that first weekend when the weather turns and you start thinking about the pool. But before anyone jumps in, there’s an important step between “covered and closed” and “clean and swim-ready” — and how well you handle the pool opening sets the tone for your entire season.
A proper pool opening isn’t complicated, but it does require attention to detail. Skip a step or rush through it, and you may spend the first weeks of summer chasing water problems that could have been avoided from day one. Work through it thoughtfully, and you’ll be swimming in clear, balanced water before you know it.
Here’s a complete spring pool opening checklist to walk you through everything that needs to happen — and what to watch for along the way.
Step 1: Remove and Store the Winter Cover
Start by removing any standing water or debris that has accumulated on top of the cover before you pull it off. A cover pump is the easiest way to handle standing water. Once the surface is clear, carefully remove the cover with a helper to avoid dumping debris into the pool.
Rinse the cover thoroughly with a garden hose, allow it to dry completely, and store it in a clean, dry bag or bin. A cover that goes into storage wet or dirty won’t last as long — and you’ll be glad to pull out a clean one next fall.
Inspect the cover while you have it out. Look for tears, worn grommets, or weak spots. If it needs replacing, now is the time to address it rather than discovering the problem at closing time.
Step 2: Reinstall Hardware and Accessories
With the cover off, it’s time to put everything back. Reinstall ladders, handrails, diving boards, slides, and any other hardware that was removed for winter. Check that all bolts and anchors are secure and that there’s no visible corrosion or damage. A loose ladder or wobbly handrail is a safety issue — replace any hardware that doesn’t feel solid.
If you removed your skimmer basket, return jet fittings, or winter plugs during closing, now is the time to reinstall those as well. Pull the plugs from the return lines and reinstall the return fittings before starting the system.
Step 3: Check the Pool Shell and Surfaces
Before you fill the water back to operating level, take a slow walk around the perimeter and take a close look at the pool’s interior. For vinyl liner pools, look for any tears, lifted seams, or areas where the liner may have shifted during winter. Small tears can often be patched, but catching them early — before they grow — matters.
For plaster or concrete pools, look for any new cracks, rough patches, or staining that developed over winter. Note anything that looks new compared to how the pool looked at closing. These are conversations worth having with a professional before the season gets underway.
Check the coping, tile line, and deck for any winter damage as well. Freeze-thaw cycles in Central Pennsylvania can be hard on grout and coping joints.
Step 4: Fill the Pool to the Correct Water Level
Most pools operate best with water sitting at mid-skimmer level — roughly halfway up the skimmer opening. If your water level dropped over winter (which is common), fill it up with a garden hose before starting the equipment. Never run the pump without adequate water in the system; running it dry, even briefly, can damage the pump seal.
Step 5: Inspect and Start the Equipment
This is one of the most important steps in the opening process. Before you turn anything on, inspect all of your equipment carefully.
Pump: Check for cracks in the housing, inspect the lid and O-ring, and make sure all connections are secure. The pump lid O-ring should be lubricated with a silicone-based lubricant at the start of each season — it’s a small step that prevents air leaks and keeps the pump primed properly.
Filter: Whether you have a sand, cartridge, or DE filter, check the tank, gauge, and multiport valve for any signs of damage or leaks. If the filter is due for service — a media change or cartridge replacement — opening time is ideal.
Heater: Inspect the heater for any signs of pest activity (rodents sometimes nest in heaters over winter), and check that the gas connections and venting are intact before firing it up.
Plumbing: Look at all visible plumbing lines and fittings for cracks. Even a small crack in a return line or union fitting can cause problems once the system is pressurized.
Once everything checks out, prime the pump, open the appropriate valves, and start the system. Let it run and observe — watch the pressure gauge, listen for unusual sounds, and check all fittings for leaks while the system is live.
Step 6: Test and Balance the Water Chemistry
This is where many pool openings either go smoothly or go sideways. Water that has been sitting under a cover all winter is rarely balanced and ready to swim — it needs to be tested and treated before the pool is safe and comfortable to use.
A proper spring water test covers all of the key parameters:
pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6. Low pH makes water corrosive; high pH makes chlorine less effective and can lead to cloudy water and scaling.
Total alkalinity should be in the 80–120 ppm range. It acts as the buffer that keeps pH stable, so getting this right first makes everything else easier to manage.
Calcium hardness should fall between 200–400 ppm. Low calcium can cause water to leach minerals from your pool surfaces; high calcium contributes to scaling.
Sanitizer levels need to be brought up to the appropriate range for your system — whether that’s free chlorine, stabilized chlorine, or a salt system — before the pool is safe to swim in.
At opening, most pools also benefit from a shock treatment to oxidize any contaminants, algae spores, or organic material that built up over winter. BioGuard® Pool & Spa products are a reliable choice for opening treatment — they’re a professional-grade line used by pool service technicians and formulated to work together as a system.
If you’re unsure where to start with chemistry, bring a water sample into any Goodall Pools & Spas location. Our team will test it on the spot and walk you through exactly what your pool needs — no guesswork required.
Step 7: Brush, Vacuum, and Clean
Even with a good winter cover, pools accumulate some debris, algae spores, and sediment over the off-season. Once the water is circulating and chemistry is underway, brush the walls and floor thoroughly to loosen anything clinging to the surfaces, then vacuum the pool.
Clean out the skimmer and pump baskets, and make sure circulation is strong from all return jets. Good water movement is essential while the opening chemicals are doing their work.
What to Watch in the First 48 Hours
The first 48 hours after opening are when most issues reveal themselves. Keep an eye on a few things:
- Water clarity. After shocking and treating, the water may look a little cloudy initially. With good circulation and proper chemistry, it should clear within 24–48 hours. If it doesn’t, retest and adjust.
- Equipment performance. Check the filter pressure periodically. A pressure that climbs quickly may indicate debris in the filter from opening.
- Leaks. Check all equipment connections and return fittings after the system has been running for several hours.
- Algae. If you notice any green tint developing quickly, address it immediately with an algaecide and shock treatment before it takes hold.
When to Call a Professional
Pool opening is something many owners handle themselves, and that’s completely reasonable. But if you’d rather hand it off — or if you’re dealing with a more complex issue like equipment that won’t start, persistent water clarity problems, or liner damage — professional help is worth it.
Goodall’s Service Department includes professional pool openings as part of the Ultimate and Platinum plans. Our certified technicians handle the full process — cover removal, hardware reinstallation, equipment startup, and water chemistry — so your season starts on solid footing without the weekend project. And because the same team cares for your pool throughout the season, they know your system and your water.
Start the Season Right
A little time and attention at the start of the pool season pays off in a big way. A pool that opens correctly runs better, requires fewer chemical corrections, and creates fewer headaches throughout the summer. Work through the checklist, get your water tested, and get that circulation running — the first swim of the season is worth it.
For pool opening services, water testing, BioGuard chemicals, or any questions about getting your pool ready for summer, Goodall Pools & Spas has knowledgeable teams at locations across Central Pennsylvania in Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Lebanon. We’re happy to help you get the season started the right way.
A Note Before You Dive In
Every pool is different. The steps outlined in this guide are meant to serve as a general reference for pool owners and do not account for every variable, equipment type, or site-specific condition you may encounter. If something does not look right, if your equipment is not behaving as expected, or if you simply want a professional set of eyes on things before the season gets underway, do not hesitate to reach out to a qualified pool service technician. When in doubt, call a pro.
