Anyone else struggle with pool opening and closing each season?

[marryjonathan]

Hey everyone, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with the whole process of opening and closing the pool each year. It’s honestly always a bit of a headache for me. I usually end up calling in a pro for the opening because I just don’t want to deal with the hassle of cleaning out the leaves, checking the filter, and making sure the water is at the right level. But closing the pool? That’s something I always seem to forget half of the steps until it’s too late.
I’d love to hear how everyone else handles the seasonal changeovers. Do you DIY it, or do you just pay for someone to handle it? Any advice on what to avoid or things that have made it easier for you? I’ve read about using winter covers or adding chemicals, but it always feels like there’s so much to keep track of. Any tips for both opening and closing the pool would be a huge help!

 

[Lele.Z]

Hey everyone, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with the whole process of opening and closing the pool each year. It’s honestly always a bit of a headache for me. I usually end up calling in a pro for the opening because I just don’t want to deal with the hassle of cleaning out the leaves, checking the filter, and making sure the water is at the right level. But closing the pool? That’s something I always seem to forget half of the steps until it’s too late.
I’d love to hear how everyone else handles the seasonal changeovers. Do you DIY it, or do you just pay for someone to handle it? Any advice on what to avoid or things that have made it easier for you? I’ve read about using winter covers or adding chemicals, but it always feels like there’s so much to keep track of. Any tips for both opening and closing the pool would be a huge help!

I get you! The whole opening and closing process can be a pain, especially when you’re trying to keep track of everything. For opening, I usually have a pro help too, it’s just easier that way, especially when it comes to checking the filter and getting rid of leaves.

As for closing, I’ve started making a checklist so I don’t forget anything. I cover the pool with a winter cover, add the right chemicals to keep things from getting funky, and clean the filter before I call it a day. One thing I’ve learned is not to wait until the last minute to winterize; if you get the chemicals in early, the spring cleanup is way easier.

I’ve tried doing it all myself, but honestly, paying for a pro to open the pool is worth it for the peace of mind.

 

[Kevin Marsh]

I completely understand your point of view—especially the first few times, it can seem like a lot. I've been opening and closing my own pool for a number of years, and although it was daunting at first, using a checklist made a huge difference.

For opening, the biggest things I’ve learned:

• The most important lessons I've learned for opening are
• Algae can be avoided by starting early, before the water gets too warm.
• I cover my winter cover with a leaf net, which greatly simplifies cleanup.
• Before turning anything on, make sure the filter is clean and in good condition. saves a great deal of trouble.
• In the beginning, I also shock the pool and run the pump continuously for 24 to 48 hours, which speeds up the clearing process.

For closing, my top tips:

• To prevent cracked pipes in freezing temperatures, properly blow out the lines (I use a shop vacuum) and apply pool antifreeze.
• Invest in a good winterizing chemical kit; it will make balancing much easier.
• Invest in a high-quality mesh winter cover or safety cover; inexpensive ones simply don't hold up or keep things out.
• For the first few years, make a list of every step you take and use it for every season after that.
• After a few seasons, I finally got it down pat, but now it's a half-day job for both parties. If you're unsure, I suggest giving do-it-yourself a go one year with some reliable tutorials or YouTube videos; you might be surprised!

 

[syedsalman]

Hey everyone, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with the whole process of opening and closing the pool each year. It’s honestly always a bit of a headache for me. I usually end up calling in a pro for the opening because I just don’t want to deal with the hassle of cleaning out the leaves, checking the filter, and making sure the water is at the right level. But closing the pool? That’s something I always seem to forget half of the steps until it’s too late.
I’d love to hear how everyone else handles the seasonal changeovers. Do you DIY it, or do you just pay for someone to handle it? Any advice on what to avoid or things that have made it easier for you? I’ve read about using winter covers or adding chemicals, but it always feels like there’s so much to keep track of. Any tips for both opening and closing the pool would be a huge help!

I hear you. The whole pool opening and closing thing can get pretty overwhelming, especially with all the steps involved. I used to hire someone for the opening too, mainly because of all the mess and the unknowns, but now I do it myself.

For opening, I always make sure to clean the cover first and remove any debris before I pull it off. Then, I’ll check the water level, fire up the pump, and let it circulate. After that, I usually test the water a day or two later to make sure it’s moving well before adding chemicals.

When closing, the biggest thing for me is making sure the water’s properly balanced before I winterize it. I make sure to add winterizing chemicals and use a solid cover to keep debris out. I don’t rush it, I learned the hard way that skipping steps or leaving it too late just makes spring more annoying.

I also started keeping a checklist to follow, so I don’t forget anything. It’s made the whole process a lot easier to handle.

 

[Charlotte Robinson]

I make pool opening my Sunday fun-day ritual brew a latte, blast my favorite tunes, then lift the cover like it’s the curtain on a show. Somehow treating it like my mini celebration keeps me on track and actually excited to get it done

 

[Monica Cardona]

Hey everyone, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with the whole process of opening and closing the pool each year. It’s honestly always a bit of a headache for me. I usually end up calling in a pro for the opening because I just don’t want to deal with the hassle of cleaning out the leaves, checking the filter, and making sure the water is at the right level. But closing the pool? That’s something I always seem to forget half of the steps until it’s too late.
I’d love to hear how everyone else handles the seasonal changeovers. Do you DIY it, or do you just pay for someone to handle it? Any advice on what to avoid or things that have made it easier for you? I’ve read about using winter covers or adding chemicals, but it always feels like there’s so much to keep track of. Any tips for both opening and closing the pool would be a huge help!

It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed with opening and closing the pool. For opening, you can try DIY by removing the cover, cleaning the pool, checking equipment, testing the water, and adding shock. If that’s too much, calling a pro to handle it is perfectly fine. For closing, clean the pool, lower the water level, add winter chemicals, drain equipment, and cover the pool. To make it easier, stay on top of small tasks during the season, like regular vacuuming and checking chemicals, or hire a pro if needed. A good checklist will help keep things smooth!

 

[Nia Thompson]

Totally get where you’re coming from. I felt the same way for years. Opening always felt like a mess and cover full of nasty water, leaves everywhere, and trying to get the pump running again was never smooth. I used to call someone too just to avoid dealing with it. Eventually, I started doing it myself, but only after messing it up a couple times.

For me, having a checklist really helped. I just wrote down every step I did one year (even the dumb little things), and now I follow that every season. For closing, I make sure the water’s balanced first, vacuum everything, then drop the water level and blow out the lines. I also label all my stuff so I’m not confused months later.

Biggest tip: don’t try to do it all in one day. Breaking it into small chunks over a weekend made it way less stressful. Still not my favorite task, but it’s gotten easier.