Owning a swimming pool–above-ground or inground–is awesome, but it can be stressful at times. Opening the pool is probably the most stressful time. Will the water be clear, cloudy or (please no) green? Will the equipment work? Did all the parts make it through the winter unscathed by the elements and little critters? All you want to do is play some swimming pool games and relax. I hear you loud and clear, and can help you get to the relaxing faster, or at least in a less stressful manner. Here are 5 things you can do to make opening your pool less stressful.

FILL THE POOL BEFORE REMOVING THE TARP

Opening day can be time consuming. It can take hours and hours to get that water line halfway up the skimmer. Don’t take a day off work to get this done. Just slide that hose underneath the tarp and fill it up a couple hours per day leading up to the big reveal. Bonus: It’s also easier to take the tarp off and keep the nasty grit and grime that’s gathered there through the winter with the water boosting it up.

HAVE SOME EXTRAS ON HAND

Ever seen someone cruising across a lake on a Jet Ski? That rooster tail spraying in the air is awesome! It isn’t so cool when it’s coming from the hose you just hooked up to your pool pump. If you don’t have an extra hose on hand, you’ll have to stop everything and run out to the store and hope they have them on hand. The rooster-tail issue is for above-ground pools mainly, but regardless, it’s always good to have an extra of those things that can (and usually do) malfunction. 

LET LEAKS LIE

You know the expression “let sleeping dogs lie?” Same goes for leaks. Not major ones like the rooster tail, but for small, drip leaks in and around your pump or heater, give them a minute or two to stop on their own. Sometimes all it takes is a slight twist or turn, too. Don’t rip apart your system right away when there’s a minor leak. 

GET SOME SWIMMING POOL GAMES THEY LOVE

As this article implies, a lot of time, energy and money goes into maintaining a pool. So make sure your friends and family use it all swim season long and actually enjoy it while they’re at it. One swimming pool game that’s worth it is Squire Pool Game! It’s made of high-quality material that lasts multiple swim seasons. There’s a version for inground and above-ground swimming pools. There are different versions of the actual game depending on skill level, so it’s the perfect swimming pool game for kids and adults. The Squire targets can also be used as floating drink holders for pre-game hydration or post-game celebration! 

CLEAN YOUR FILTER AFTER THE FIRST WEEK

Even if you can’t see it, there is a lot of dust and grime you brush off the sides and bottom of your pool in that first week. Clean your filter by spraying it out with your hose or you’ll soon be sucking up all that stuff for it to cycle through your system and end up back in the pool again. 

ENJOY OPENING DAY AGAIN

Pools are awesome. And it’s the little things that can make it less stressful. These five things can really help so keep them in mind the next time you open up your pool:

• Make sure to fill that pool before you remove the tarp. Trust me. This is a game changer! 
• Have some extras on hand, especially hoses, so you don’t have to waste an hour or more running to the store. 
• Let it leak for a little bit. Maybe it’ll stop on its own. 
• Get a swimming pool game for kids and adults you can pull out of the bin year after year that your friends and family will enjoy. Squire Pool Game is that game.
• Clean that filter after that first week. Your water will be clearer for weeks to come. 

Happy opening day!