Opening & Closing Your Oasis FAQs
A pool is a major investment, and how you open and close it for the season determines how long that investment—and your liner—will last. Here are the answers to the most common questions about our seasonal services.
Pool Openings (Spring Start-Up)
When should I schedule my opening?
The "sweet spot" is usually once the daily high consistently reaches 15°C (60°F). Opening early prevents algae from blooming under the cover as the water warms up, which saves you money on chemicals later.
Do I need to drain the water from my cover before you arrive?
If you have a solid cover, yes! Removing as much standing water and debris as possible helps us get the cover off without dumping "winter soup" into your clean pool. If you have a safety mesh cover, no pumping is required.
How long until the water is clear enough to swim?
Every pool is different, but typically it takes 3 to 7 days of continuous filtration and chemical balancing to achieve crystal-clear water after a long winter.
What do I need to provide for the opening crew?
Please ensure your winter plugs, skimmer baskets, and eyeballs are poolside. We also need access to a working water spigot and power for our pumps.
Pool Closings (Winterization)
Why can’t I just throw the cover on myself?
Closing a pool involves more than just a cover. We use industrial blowers to clear all water from your underground plumbing lines and seal them with specialized expansion plugs. If water freezes inside those pipes, they will burst, leading to thousands of dollars in repair costs.
Should I keep my water level high or low for the winter?
For mesh covers, we typically lower the water level to 18” below the top of the pool. The rain and snow will slowly fill the pool back up. If we get snow over the winter the covers are designed to deflect up to 18” and will rest upon the pool water for extra support.
For solid covers, we keep the water level at normal operating level in vinyl-lined and fiberglass pools and just below the tile line in plaster pools. Special expansion plugs are installed in the skimmers to prevent them from cracking in the case of a hard freeze.
For plaster pools with mesh covers we offer the option of installing a cover pump under the cover on the top step of the pool so it keeps the water level consistently just below the tile line to prevent the tile from cracking due to the expansion of ice.
How do I prevent a "green pool" in the spring?
The secret is preventing sunlight into the pool. Solid covers are perfect for this. For mesh covered pools, we add a long-lasting algaecide that works in cold temperatures to keep the water clear until you’re ready to open again.
When is it "too late" to close the pool?
You should aim to close your pool before the first hard freeze—usually by late October or early November. If you have a heater, you can push it a bit later, but don't risk your plumbing!
Common Seasonal Concerns
"My cover has a small tear. Can it be used for one more year?"
If it's a safety cover, any tear over 2 inches compromises its weight-bearing ability. We recommend a patch or replacement to keep your family and pets safe.
"Do I need to run my pump after you close the pool?"
No. Once we winterize the lines and pull the equipment plugs, your system is "dormant" until spring.
"Can you open my pool if the water is still green?"
Absolutely. In fact, the sooner we get the system running, the sooner we can treat the water and get it back to blue.