The Spring Pool Checklist You’ll Actually Use

There are two kinds of pool owners in spring: the ones who think they can wing it, and the ones who know better. If you want clear water, minimal drama, and zero mid-May emergencies, this checklist is for you. No fluff. No ten-step nonsense with made-up problems. Just the real stuff that matters.

1. Remove and clean the cover

Don’t yank it off like you’re starting a lawn mower. Pump off the water, clear the leaves, and fold it somewhere clean and dry. If your cover smells like a swamp, rinse it with hose water and let it dry in the sun. Mold doesn’t belong in storage.

2. Fill the pool to the correct level

Halfway up the skimmer. No guessing. Don’t test water that’s too low or assume it’ll sort itself out later. Your pool needs full circulation from the start.

3. Reconnect all equipment

Heater, filter, pump, chlorinator—get everything back where it belongs. Double-check that winter plugs are removed, and inspect for cracks or leaks. Don’t run anything until it’s fully reassembled and leak-free.

4. Clean everything (even the parts that look fine)

• Vacuum the pool
• Brush the walls and steps
• Skim the surface
• Wipe down tile lines and ladders

Algae spores aren’t visible. Clean anyway.

5. Test the water with something better than your instincts

Use test strips or a liquid test kit. You’re checking:

• Chlorine or bromine levels
• pH
• Total alkalinity
• Cyanuric acid
• Calcium hardness

Write the numbers down. Don’t guess. Don’t rely on last year’s memory. Water chemistry isn’t a vibe check.

6. Balance the water

Adjust pH and alkalinity first. Then sanitize. Then shock. Always in that order. If you mess with chlorine first, it might not work properly until the other levels are right. Chemistry matters.

7. Run the pump continuously for 24 hours

This isn’t the time to save electricity. Get the water moving, keep the filter running, and let everything stabilize. Clean water isn’t just about chemicals. Circulation makes it all work.

8. Backwash or clean your filter

Before and after the 24-hour run. If you’ve got a cartridge, rinse it thoroughly. If it still looks nasty, replace it. Your filter is not immortal.

9. Clean up around the pool

Clear out leaves, dirt, and anything else that’ll end up blowing into the water. Tighten loose handrails. Sweep the deck. If you’ve got a poolside jungle, tame it before your water becomes a leaf graveyard.

10. Check your pool toys and accessories

If it inflates, make sure it holds air. If it floats, make sure it isn’t covered in mildew. This is your final step, not your first. Clean water first. Fun later.

Print it. Bookmark it. Screenshot it. Use it every year. Because the best kind of pool season is the one where you never have to say, "Should’ve done that in April."