Before You Arrive
- Confirm appointment with customer
- Review last season's closing notes (chemistry, equipment issues, repairs needed)
- Load truck: test kit, chemicals, vacuum, brush, cover pump, winterizing plugs bag
Phase 1: Cover Removal
- Pump standing water off the cover
- Remove cover anchors or water bags
- Remove cover carefully — minimize debris falling in the pool
- Clean and fold cover, or recommend replacement if damaged
- Store cover in a dry location (advise customer)
Phase 2: Water Level & Inspection
- Fill pool to mid-skimmer level with garden hose
- While filling, inspect the pool:
- Cracks in plaster or coping
- Tile damage or missing grout
- Staining on surfaces
- Debris on bottom (note for vacuuming)
- Remove winterizing plugs from returns, skimmer, and drain
- Reinstall drain plugs on pump, filter, heater, chlorinator
Phase 3: Equipment Startup
Pump
- Ensure drain plugs are installed
- Open suction and return valves
- Prime the pump (fill strainer basket with water)
- Start pump and verify prime
- Check for leaks at all connections
- Listen for unusual sounds
Filter
- Inspect filter pressure gauge (replace if damaged)
- Note clean starting pressure (baseline)
- Sand: Backwash for 2 minutes, then rinse for 30 seconds
- DE: Add fresh DE through skimmer after priming
- Cartridge: Inspect and clean or replace if needed
Heater
- Remove any critter nests from burner area
- Open gas valve
- Turn on and verify ignition
- Check for error codes
- Run for 15 minutes and check for leaks
Salt Cell (if applicable)
- Inspect cell for calcium buildup
- Clean if necessary (acid wash)
- Reinstall and verify output reading
- Set to appropriate output level
Automation/Timer
- Set pump run time (8–12 hours daily)
- Set heater schedule if applicable
- Check automation controls and remote
- Verify all valves actuate correctly
Phase 4: Water Chemistry
This is the most critical phase. Spring water is usually a mess.
Test Everything
- Free chlorine
- pH
- Total alkalinity
- Calcium hardness
- CYA (stabilizer)
- Salt (if applicable)
- Metals (iron, copper) — especially if water is discolored
Balance in This Order
- Alkalinity first — Adjust to 80–100 ppm
- pH second — Adjust to 7.4–7.6
- Calcium third — Adjust to 200–400 ppm
- CYA fourth — Add stabilizer if below 30 ppm
- Shock last — Double the normal shock dose for opening
Opening Shock Dose
Add 2x your normal weekly shock dose. For a 20,000 gallon pool, that's approximately 4 gallons of liquid chlorine.
Run the pump continuously for the first 48 hours.
Phase 5: Cleaning
- Skim all surface debris
- Brush all surfaces thoroughly
- Vacuum to waste (bypass filter — opening debris is heavy)
- Clean tile line if needed
- Empty all baskets
Phase 6: Customer Handoff
- Walk the customer through what you did
- Note any repairs or equipment replacements needed
- Set expectations: water may be cloudy for 24–48 hours
- Confirm weekly service schedule
- Send a service report with all readings
Document Everything
PoolOps lets you log all opening readings, take photos of equipment condition, and send the customer a professional service report — all from your phone.