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Above Ground Pool

How to Open an Above Ground Pool – 10 Steps Guide

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We are about to go through another scalding hot summer. What would be a better way to escape the heat than enjoying your backyard pool? However, the cold season has just passed, and your pool is not ready for use yet. At least, not until you learn how to open an above ground pool and execute these simple steps perfectly. Sounds tedious, doesn’t it? But we can’t avoid this task, so let’s begin!

how to open an above ground pool

Prepare Your Tools to Open Above Ground Pool

If you have the necessary tools prepared first, you will feel much less confused than jumping into the mission not knowing what to do.

  • Sump pump (or pool cover pump)
  • Skimmer net (or soft broom)
  • Pool cover cleaner
  • Chemicals
  • Test strips or a liquid test kit

Some helping hands will be helpful as well!

Be specific, what are the chemicals I need?

If you have purchased a chemical start-up kit, give it a check and make sure it includes the following products:

  • Stain, rust, and scale preventer
  • Chlorine shock
  • Algaecide
  • Clarifier
  • Sun Sorb: It absorbs body oil and lotion, basically non-living contaminants, and keeps your filtration and circulation system running smoothly.

Nonetheless, the chemicals for pH and alkalinity balances don’t come in this package. You will need to get some pH increaser and decreaser, alkalinity increaser, and calcium hardness increaser to be completely ready.

How to Open an Above Ground Pool?

Step 1: Give the pool cover a quick clean

After months of sitting idle, we won’t be surprised if the pool cover is heavy with leaves, twigs, debris. And your very first task will be clearing them all off with the broom or the skimmer we have prepared. Don’t rush! We don’t want to damage the cover that has been protecting your pool from little invaders.

For the accumulated water, we will use the submersible cover pump or sump pump to remove it. Trying to remove the cover with water and debris still on it is a risky move. You might accidentally ruin it and spill the dirty pile into the water.

Step 2: Remove the cover

It’s the perfect time to use some help. You will get the cover off much more easily with several people lifting it up and putting away together. Spread it out on the flat ground and give it an overall examination.

If it’s worn and torn, you can skip the next step and bid goodbye to your diligent cover. Otherwise, let’s see what we have to do with it.

Step 3: Wash and store the cover

Of course, a cover in its prime days deserves some care. We will give it a thorough rinse and scrub. Remember: use light chemicals and a soft brush to prevent any harm done to the cover and avoid an unwanted end. Rinse both sides with your garden hose and let it dry (a leaf blower can speed the process up remarkably).

When you deem it ready for storage, fold it up and keep it in a sealed bag or container. If you leave it exposed, it will be the most ideal target for bugs and rodents to attack.

Step 4: Redecorate the pool

You have removed every piece of accessory from the pool before closing it, and it’s the right moment to reinstall them. Rails, ladders, diving boards – welcome back!

Every responsible pool owner would clean the accessories before storing them in safety, and they wouldn’t mind repeating the process when putting them back in use.

Step 5: Refill the pool

No matter how you closed your pool, the water level will drop due to evaporation. It’s a simple step, but you might want to be careful and use a hose filter to get rid of the impurities and save yourself from more exhausting tasks. The water should reach the halfway mark of the skimmer’s opening.

Step 6: Remove winter plugs

There are winter plugs you have installed in the skimmer and the return lines. Take a tour around the pool and remove them all. The ice compensator and the skimmer cover (if you live in a place with a freezing cold winter) should be gone as well.

Replace them with the normal plugs and the return jets. Your pool cleaner, heater, filter, pump, chlorinator – don’t miss out any!

Note: If you have gone as far as to use antifreeze in the lines, make sure to turn the ‘Waste’ setting of your pump on and let it run for a minute to get the antifreeze out.

Step 7: Connect the equipment

First of all, ensure you have the plugs to the drains and the pressure gauges to the equipment put back.

Secondly, attach the hoses to the equipment:

  • Connect the skimmer to the pool pump
  • Connect the pump to the filter
  • Connect the filter to the heater, the chlorinator, and any other filter equipment
  • If you have none, connect the hose straight to the return inlet

Step 8: Get the system running

When you have given the system a boost, don’t forget to double-check the connections for possible leaks and drops.

Note: If the pump is running dry, you need to prime it a bit. It’s nothing tricky! Simply remove the lid and add a bucket of water, and the pump will have the needed motivation to expel the air and start pulling water.

Whether you have a sand filter or a DE (diatomaceous earth) filter, backwash it after you start the system as instructed by the manufacturer.

Step 9: Clean the pool up

As it’s most likely to be the first time you try to open your above ground pool, at this point, you might start getting a little confused since the water is far from sparkly. Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten it!

Again, you could really use some help to brush the walls and the little crannies of your pool. Don’t be stingy with your time and vacuum the pool as well. After skimming the surface, you probably will get all the leaves and bugs out of the water.

Step 10: Chemical treatment

Put your test kit or test strips to good use and see what your pool water is lacking or exceeding. If you want a baseline reading to follow long-term or simply have no time for chemistry tests, you can bring a sample to the nearest pool dealer and ask them to do the task.

  • Use 2 pounds of pool shock per 10000 gallons of pool water. It’s a double amount compared to the usual. With this strong sanitizer, you can be sure that your pool will be ready for swimming.
  • Check the alkalinity, pH, and calcium hardness of the water and adjust the indexes until they meet the standards.

Note: Don’t shock your pool during the day, as the sunlight might burn off the chlorine in the shock quickly.

Here’s the ideal chemical balance for a pool:

  • Chlorine: 0 – 3.0 ppm
  • pH: 4 – 7.6
  • Alkalinity: 80 – 140 ppm
  • Calcium Hardness: 200 – 400 ppm
  • Cyanuric Acid: 25 – 50 ppm
  • Total Dissolved Solids: 500 – 5000 ppm

How about some tips to make your work easier?

  • Dissolve the chemicals in a bucket first then add them to the water.
  • It’s important to add the chemicals in the water and not the other way around.
  • Keep the pump and filter running while you are pouring the solution into the pool.
  • If you can, try to add the chemicals somewhere near the return jets so the pressure of water might help to carry and dissolve them.
  • Pour the chemicals slowly so they can mingle and spread evenly instead of accumulating at a certain spot in the pool.

Step 11: Retest the water

Give the pool 24 hours and test the pool water once more for adjustment if needed. Make sure your filter and pump run during the wait.

If everything is at its rightful place, congratulations! You have successfully opened your pool!

open above ground pool
Open your above ground pool to enjoy the summer ;))

Conclusion

And that was how to open an above ground pool for the summer after months of being inactive. Now, there’s no obstacle between you and hours of relaxation in the nice pool. If you spare some time and plan regular maintenance, the pool and the equipment will always be in good shape, which will make everything easier when you need to repeat the steps again. Let us know about your experience!

How to Install An Above Ground Pool: An Easy Guide

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Summer is approaching. Many families are relying on a simple above ground pool for hours of fun activities and exercises. There are professionals and companies who will complete the installation for us upon request, but we sometimes wonder if we can do it by ourselves and save a fine amount of cash. The answer is yes. It’s actually not too complicated if you know what to prepare and how to install an above ground pool. We’ll talk about it in detail in this article. Keep reading!

how to Install Above Ground Pool

Install Above Ground Pool – What Tools Will You Need?

You should have these tools prepared before you get to work. If you don’t have them at home, ask a friend or rent from a hardware store. They are not hard to find at all!

Check your pool package according to the list of materials included. It rarely happens, but if something is missing, you would want to contact the provider and fix it right away. Also, we will try to sort the nuts or screws instead of letting them be and getting them mixed.

Install Above Ground Pool: Groundwork!

#Choose an area that is about 3 meters away from any tree. It goes without saying that the more even the ground is and the less obstruction hides underneath, the better. Depending on where you live, the local codes might vary, so make sure you are not violating them.

After having chosen an area for your pool, you will prepare the ground.

#Sod removal:

If your backyard isn’t green and lush with grass, it’s your luck. Because we can’t install a pool on a grassy base. A pool will stay with you for a long time, and the grass will rot. The remnants will damage your pool liner. Plus, grasses can also be the reason for bumpy and uneven ground, and we don’t want our pool to feel less than smooth.

In addition to removing the sod, you also need to make sure the area is clear from all obstruction and rake away all the rocks, roots, and debris.

#Keep the site leveled:

You can rent a transit to check if the area is leveled. Alternatively, use a long wooden board with a carpenter’s level on top to measure the levelness. If it’s not even yet, dig the higher spots out instead of piling up more soil on the hollow spots.

Why? If you fill the lower areas up, the fill will be kind of loose unless you have some machinery help to compact the soil firmly, since the force of your hands won’t be enough to ensure a tightly compacted ground against tons of water.

install above ground pool

#Find the crucial points:

To put a structure up, you would want to map out the basics of it. Let’s start with where the edges of your pool would be, measure the width (or the radius), and divide it by two. Stake the tape measure at this center point you have determined.

After that, you will pull the tape measure to the edges mentioned above and mark them on the ground. Now, we have proper measurements, not accurate but approximate.

How even does it have to be? The entire area should have only one inch of overall difference at maximum.

How to Install An Above Ground Pool

#The bottom ring

The pool walls will sit inside of it. The bottom ring includes plates, stabilizers, and rails in general. However, different types, brands, and sizes of the pool might have minor points in their instruction you should pay attention to. We will learn how to identify these components first:

  • Plates are made of metal or resin.
  • Stabilizers have a crimped side and small rails.
  • Rails are straighter and larger.

As instructed, lay these alongside the site and start assembling them. You will slip the rail into the plate up to the dimple. To have a precise assessment, evaluate several spots on the bottom track for round pools and diagonal lengths for oval pools. When you deem the size correct, stake the ring in place and proceed to the next step.

#Support the base

It’s an important step that keeps your pool base stable and level for a long time.

Each plate has to be within ½ inch of each other. It’s not a must, but you should use patio blocks under the bottom plates and make sure they are flush with the ground and level with others in every direction.

To bring in the sand, we will remove one bottom rail. Remember to mark them so you can put them in the correct position once you are done with the sand. You might need 1 – 6 yards of sand, depending on the size of your pool.

Spread the sand evenly and avoid spilling it over the bottom rails, or the wall won’t be steady.

#Install the pool wall

First of all, we will unroll the wall. While you are at it, place the top plates to provide support and position the skimmer cut on the upper portion of the wall. Put the wall in the central track of bottom plates and spread it around the ring.

In the unlucky case of the wall not perfectly lining up, don’t worry. Adjusting the bottom rails will solve the problem.

Install the pool wall

#Bolt the wall together

You should get several pairs of hands to help you out. They will also prevent the wall from being knocked over before you get to fixate it.

  • Bars for single-row walls have rivets attached to them beforehand, and you will secure them using bolts and nuts. Each spot made for them needs a fill, or your wall will face the risk of breaking.
  • Put the parts on the line in pairs (one inside and one outside of the pool) and use nuts and bolts to connect them.
  • You mustn’t let the wall bars touch each other.
  • Build a 6 – 8-inch cove on the inside of the wall and carefully pack it with the trowel. Try not to leave scratches on it!
  • Use a few layers of duct tape to cover the heads of the bolts, and your liner won’t get holes.

What if the wall feels like it’s floating? You might have some dirt in the bottom track. Lifting the wall and cleaning the track with the shop vac should do the trick. However, if you can’t lift the wall, unfortunately, you need to disassemble the structure to do the cleaning.

The holes don’t align! Don’t try and drill new holes. First, check on the structure, then stick the screwdriver through a pair of holes to keep the wall’s ends lined up.

#Install the liner

Liners are quite vulnerable to physical damage, so you’d better be very careful. Before doing anything else, spread the liner under sunlight for several minutes to make it easier to lay out. We highly recommend doing the liner on a warm day. With that said, you shouldn’t pour cold water all over the liner right away either.

  • Dampen the sand and tamp it before raking it evenly for a level base.
  • Lay the liner out. You either wear socks or leave your feet bare. Don’t stomp on the liner with your shoes.
  • Push the wrinkles and folds to the outside. We can’t possibly avoid all wrinkles, but do try your best to limit them.
  • Install the stabilizer rails on top of the pool wall. After that, you can remove the landscaping stakes.
  • You won’t have another convenient chance to level the ground of the pool and remove the debris. Keep your eyes opened and focused!
  • If the liner is a bit larger in size than expected, you should roll the excess part up and fixate it with tape rather than trying to trim it. A trimmed liner is very difficult to re-install.

How about the different types of liners?

  • Snap Bead liners, as the name says, snap into an exclusive ring around the pool. They are on top of the wall.
  • V-Bead liners have the stabilizer rails to hold them in place, no coping needed.
  • Unibead liners can be either of the two. It appears as a V-Bead, but if you remove the top portion, it can become a Snap Bead.
  • Overlap liners are hung over the wall by plastic coping strips.

#Install plates, rails, and covers

You have done the hard part. If done correctly, these pieces will easily click into their rightful places. The only thing you need to mind is whether the top and the sides are leveled.

  • Top plates above the uprights: You keep them tightened with screws and use a level to ensure they are straight.
  • Top rails around the pool: Once the pieces are in place, tighten the screws all in one go.
  • Top covers upon the uprights

#Fill the pool up

install an above ground pool

You can do this with a cup of your favorite drink and wait for the last steps to be done.

  • Fill the pool halfway first, and start installing the skimmer and the filter as instructed.
  • Add the safety warnings to preserve your warranty. If you don’t have these labels, contact the manufacturer for free new warnings.
  • Fill the rest of the pool. The water should be 1/3 to ½ way up the skimmer.

Last Saying

And that’s how to install an above ground pool. It’s a lot of work. we must say, but it can be a great chance for family members and friends to bond while creating something big together. Use this guideline well and follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely, and you’re ready for a whole summer of endless fun. Thank you for stopping by Swim-City!

How to Drain an Above Ground Pool – Ultimate Guide

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Need to know how to drain an above ground pool? This article will show you almost everything you need to know to drain your above ground pool the right way.

Before we start, I would like to emphasize that draining above ground pool isn’t something you need to do every week, month, or even quarter. Usually, we drain our pool to refill it with clean water and perform maintenance methods.

Like everything else, the water in your pool is bound to get dirty after a long time, and the cement might have several cracks that you need to fix. Pumping the whole of the water mass is the only choice you have. For more details, let’s proceed!

How to drain above ground pool

When should you drain your aboveground pool?

#To change the water

Do you close your pool habitually? Do you use chemicals to balance the water? Those techniques are good but not enough.

Over time, dry leaves, dirt, and contaminants will accumulate in the pool. They will reach an extent where filterer won’t be much of help anymore. Therefore, your swimming pool maintenance can’t run smoothly, and the disaster begins.

Manufacturers try to make their chemicals safe for skin but when the chemicals can’t fulfill their duty, particles of mineral will grow and develop on every surface possible. This process might as well ruin the liner material.

Now, we can’t go on and keep adding more chemicals to balance the chemicals that have already been there. That’s basically covering a stain by applying another stain with a different color on it.

At this point, draining the pool and replacing the not-so-clean water with fresh water is probably the only solution for you.

#To clean the pool

If your water is high in calcium or metals, the deposits will become visible after several years, even if you deionize the water or have efficient solutions for calcium hardness levels.

Let’s pay more attention to the calcium deposits. They can cause severe consequences to the surfaces and the equipment, which will be expensive. The best way to handle them is by washing them away by acid. And to do so, you have to drain the pool.

#To repair the pool

Holding a giant mass of water and sitting under the hot sun will undoubtedly put the pool under risks. The weight of the water will tear the vinyl liner and crush the concrete after a long time in use. Not only that but the paint coat also suffers damage from the high temperature during summer.

We want our pool to be clean and pleasant on the eyes. Hence, patching the liners and repainting the surfaces are something to consider. Again, we need to drain the pool to do that.

Note: As we have said above, draining an above ground pool is a task for long-term usage, so you might want to utilize the chance and do as much maintenance as possible.

How to drain an aboveground pool?

First of all, make sure you have every good condition.

The right weather:

Of course, we won’t try to drain our pool when it’s raining heavily. However, a scorching hot day won’t be ideal either. With that said, if you are living in a tropical country with high temperatures, waiting until autumn or winter is a better choice.

Why? The materials used for building a pool are suitable for an aquatic environment. It means exposing them to the hot sun will make them vulnerable.

Prepare your supplies:

As stated above, we shouldn’t leave our above ground pool dry for too long. Have your repair kits and tools ready and get to work as soon as you can. Moreover, what if we have an unexpected thunderstorm?

Switch automatic timers off:

Make sure none of them turns on when you are draining the pool. Most of the devices are water-cooled and meant to work underwater only. Your pool lights, for example. Without the water surrounding them, they will overheat and break quickly.

The most important notice is for the pump. If it runs when not being submerged in water, it will take some air in and undergo serious damage.

Plan the disposal of water:

There will be a massive amount of water to dispose of, so where will you direct it to? Some places prohibit draining pool water into gutters, but your yard isn’t likely to hold thousands of liters of water. Let’s not forget the issues those pool chemicals might cause to the grass and the plants.

The sewer clean-out is a common choice, yet it depends on the restrictions your city has. Double-check with the authority responsible for water to avoid unwanted fines.

Let the chemicals dissipate:

Wherever you choose to dispose of your pool water, the usual etiquette is making sure the water is chlorine-neutral, pH-neutral, and not exceeding the required chemical levels in your city.

To achieve acceptable levels of chemicals, you might want to stop adding chemicals and start testing the water until it reaches the standards. There are neutralizers if you want to speed up the process.

#1 To drain the above ground pool completely:

There are two main reasons for use to drain the last foot of water out of an aboveground pool: to repair it or to store it for winter. The process for each is a little different from the other, but the first steps are similar.

#Get a submersible pump:

drain-above-ground-pool-with-pump

You can easily find a submersible pump for rent from a hardware store, though it’s pretty much affordable if you would like to own one instead.

Ensure the power cord is long enough for the distance from the outlet to the center of the pool’s floor. Water will be everywhere, hence it’s best to not use any extension cord.

Also, the drainage hose should be enough to reach from the pump to where you dispose of the water.

Control the process:

Hoses and cords must be connected and fixated if you don’t want more flooding issues to deal with.

Turn off the submersible pump and remove it:

The submersible pumps only work with a remarkable dose of water. When the water level gets too low, the pump won’t be able to drain any of it from the pool. It’s time for you to switch off and remove the pump.

#If you drain the above ground pool for repairs:

  • Do what you need to do: But remember to do it quickly so you can refill the pool soon!
  • Refill the pool: Put the hoses in the pool, turn the spigots on, and watch the water rising.
  • Get the pool pump working again: When the water level reaches the middle of the skimmer, you can remove the hoses and turn on the pump.
  • Add the chemicals and enjoy: Unbox your liquid test kit and test the pool water while adding chemicals to be sure about the balance of the water. If you don’t have time for it or don’t want to do it yourself, getting a sample of the water and taking it to a trusted pool dealer will solve the problem.

#If you drain the pool for storage:

  • Remove as much water as you can: You can vacuum or sweep the last bits of water out of your above ground pool. For a more thorough method, you can also strip the liner from the frame and flip it over.
  • Dry the liner: A leaf blower will dry your liner up in no time unless you have lots of towels to use and wipe the liner dry. There’s an option of air-drying as well, yet leaving the liner out in the hot weather will possibly have it faded and ruined.
  • Fold the liner and store it: It would be great if you have a partner for this! Lay the liner on a surface (not an overly hard one!) and fold it as neatly as you wish. Mice will love to chew on your liner, so don’t throw it around carelessly, or get ready to say goodbye to it!
  • Protect the pool frame: If you plan to let the pool rest for a long time, you will need to refer to instructions from the manufacturer and store the parts somewhere clean and dry. If you want to leave the frame untouched, find a tarp to cover it from the upcoming winds, storms, or any unfavorable type of weather.

#2 To drain the pool partially:

If you are simply trying to get the chemical concentrations right, you won’t need to go as far as getting the last ounces of water out of the pool. It saves you from the extra expenditure.

#Prepare a siphon:

You can cut 6 – 8 feet from your garden hose and immerse the entire length in the water. After that, cover one end with your hand and pull it out of the pool. Keep it below the pool surface.

If you don’t want to cut anything, simply attach the hose to the spigot and fill it with water.

#Drain the water:

For the former method, remove your hand from the un-submersed end and the water will flow.

For the latter, you will wait for the hose to be full before submerging it in the pool and removing your hand (or the clamp) for the underwater end. Once done, quickly lower the hose to the ground and also free it from any clamp. The water will go through the hose now.

Last saying

Nevertheless, there are some situations where you can’t handle the whole process without an expert’s advice:

  • Your area has high groundwater.
  • You aren’t sure which type your pool is.
  • You don’t know about the equipment in your pool so well.

Otherwise, you’re ready to complete this challenge! Again, be sure to have every necessary tool ready and not violate any regulation. Spread the word(s) to your fellow pool enthusiasts because not everyone knows how to properly drain their pool!

Hope that you already know everything you need about how to drain an above ground pool with this article of Swim-City.com. If you have any question or idea, feel free to share with us.