When Is The Best Time To Open Your Swimming Pool? - Solda Pools

When do people normally open their swimming pool? If you ask different pool owners, each will have their season in mind, and you could get confused. Don’t worry — the experts at swimming pool construction in Toronto can fill you in.

If you’re thinking of getting a swimming pool or you already own one and want to know when is the best time to open it up, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of opening your swimming pool in each season.

Spring Pool Opening

When spring has sprung, you might think it’s time to take the pool cover off and open it up. But maybe you should hold off just a little bit. Here are the pros and cons of opening your pool in the spring:

Pros

Have a long pool season

Most pool owners usually close their pools before fall arrives, usually in mid-to-late September. A spring pool opening in, let’s say March gives you about six to seven months of swimming. If you want to take advantage of the pool season, opening your pool in the spring is the way to go.

Cons

Pollen needs to be removed

When spring showers arrive in March and April, it produces pollen. Opening your swimming pool during these months, you’ll have to remove the yellow-green layer from your pool surface and empty the strainer baskets. If you let pollen build up in your pool, you’ll need to add more chlorine.

Summer Pool Opening

May and June is the usual time to kick off pool season for those who don’t mind waiting for the good weather to roll around. Summer pool openings do have their pros and cons, such as:

Pros

Great temperatures

June is when the sun is shining, and the weather is optimal for opening your pool. But if you’re planning to close your pool in the fall, you’re only going to get a good three months out of the pool season. So soak up the sunshine.

Cons

Too much sunlight causes algae

Probably the worse thing you can do is wait too long for the summer to open your pool because of algae. Here’s the thing, too much sunlight through a pool cover will eventually cause algae to show up in your pool. By July, the winter chemicals will have burned off in your pool, leaving the water unsanitized due to pool circulation causing breeding areas for algae to grow in your pool.

Fall Pool Opening

With summer winding down, the good news is that your pool could still be used. Here are the pros and cons of why.

Pros

Fall views

Keeping your pool open through fall is a great time to breathe in the cool air and enjoy the fall foliage in your backyard. You can relax at the end of a long day, soaking in a heated pool or spa.

Have off-season pool parties

Most people assume that pool parties are meant for only summers, but they’re a great way to add ambiance to a get-together during the fall. You can throw an off-season pool party, and the weather will be mild and cool. Float some candles, turn on the heaters, and enjoy a night under the stars while soaking in a warm pool.

Cons

Potential for damaging pool equipment

During the late fall, temperatures usually start to take a dib below the freezing mark. Don’t forget to run your water pump overnight to keep the pool water circulating. If you turn it off, cold temperatures could freeze your filter and water pumps, causing them to malfunction.

You need to clean it often

If you keep your pool open during the fall, you’ll have to clean it often by removing the leaves and debris that gets blown by the wind. The downfall is that you can’t leave debris and leaves to sit in your pool for very long, or it could get dirty, or worse; they can get stuck in your pool’s water filtration system.

Winter Pool Opening

Most people would think that keeping your swimming pool open during the winter is a bad idea, but it’s not unheard of. Here are the pros and cons of keeping your pool open during the cold season.

Pros

Take a warm dip in the pool

Want to escape wintertime blues? Take a dip in your pool and warm up. If you’re curious what a winter pool will feel like, install a gas heater or heat pump to keep your pool above warm temperatures.

Save on opening and closing

When closing down your pool for the winter, you need to invest in pool closing supplies such as winter pool chemicals, pool covers, and accessories. Additionally, if you have a contractor come over to winterize your pool, you’ll have to pay for their services and the chemicals as well. Keeping your pool open in the winter bypasses this process, and you can save big on pool closing and opening expenses.

Cons

No breaks from maintaining the pool

If you decide to keep your pool open during the winter season, you’ll have to keep maintaining it by refilling the pool to its water level and balancing it every week. Not to mention you’ll have to clean the filter.

Energy bill goes up

In the winter, your energy bill increases because of the increased electricity use. Having your pool open during the winter requires a freeze protection sensor for your pool pump, taking up a lot of energy. Next, heating your pool doesn’t come cheap. If you’re using propane, natural gas, or electricity, be prepared for a hefty energy bill during the winter.

At Solda Pools, we are a pool installation company serving Toronto and the GTA for swimming pools and spas. We exclusively install in-ground pools and spas only.

For more information on our swimming pool contractors, call us for a free consultation at 905-796-6500 or contact us here.