Spring in the Tri-Cities hits different. One week you’re watching snow dust the Rattlesnake Mountain foothills, and the next the temps are climbing toward 70° and the kids are already eyeing the backyard pool. If you’re a pool owner in Richland, Kennewick, or Pasco, you know the feeling — that pull to get the water ready so you can enjoy those long Eastern Washington evenings.
Opening your pool the right way makes all the difference. A proper spring startup protects your equipment, keeps your water safe, and saves you headaches all season long. Here’s how to do it right — and how AquaZen can help if you’d rather leave it to the pros.
Step 1: Remove and Store Your Pool Cover
Start by removing your winter cover — whether it’s a safety cover, mesh cover, or solid tarp. Before you pull it off, use a submersible pump or a cover pump to remove any standing water on top. Leaves and debris can go onto a tarp so they don’t end up in your pool water.
Rinse and dry your cover thoroughly before folding and storing it. A clean, dry cover stores better and lasts longer. This is also a good time to inspect it for tears or damage that might need repair before next winter.
Step 2: Inspect Your Equipment
Before you fire anything up, take a walk around your equipment pad. Look for:
- Cracked or damaged pipes and fittings
- Worn pump seals or O-rings
- Corrosion around electrical connections
- Filter media that needs replacing (cartridge, DE, or sand)
- Any freeze damage from those cold Tri-Cities winters
Eastern Washington winters can dip well below freezing, so catching any freeze-related damage now — before you pressurize the system — is critical. If you see anything suspect, give us a call before you start the pump. A small repair now beats a flooded equipment pad later.
Reconnect any equipment you winterized (plugs, return fittings, skimmer baskets, etc.) and make sure everything is seated properly.
Step 3: Clean and Vacuum the Pool
Even with a cover, your pool likely has some debris, algae growth, or cloudy water after sitting all winter. Before you start balancing chemistry:
- Skim the surface to remove floating debris
- Brush the walls and floor to loosen algae and sediment
- Vacuum to waste if there’s heavy debris on the bottom (this bypasses the filter)
- Clean out skimmer and pump baskets
- Backwash your filter if it’s a sand or DE system
The cleaner your pool is before you start balancing chemicals, the easier the chemistry will be to dial in.
Step 4: Balance Your Water Chemistry
This is the most important step — and the one most pool owners get wrong. Proper water balance isn’t just about making the water look clear. It protects your equipment, keeps swimmers comfortable, and helps your sanitizer work efficiently.
Here’s what you need to test and balance, in order:
- Total Alkalinity (80–120 ppm) — your chemistry foundation
- pH (7.4–7.6) — affects sanitizer effectiveness and swimmer comfort
- Calcium Hardness (200–400 ppm) — protects plaster, vinyl, and equipment
- Cyanuric Acid / Stabilizer (30–80 ppm) — protects chlorine from UV breakdown
- Free Chlorine (1–3 ppm) — your primary sanitizer
- Phosphates — algae food; lower is better
Shock your pool after balancing to kill any lingering bacteria or algae from winter. Run your filter for 24–48 hours continuously after the initial startup.
Pro tip: Bring a water sample to AquaZen for a free water test using our WaterLink SpinTouch analyzer. It tests 10+ parameters in about 60 seconds and gives you a precise treatment plan — not a guess. No appointment needed.
Step 5: Start Up Your Pump and Filter
Once everything is clean and connected, it’s time to fire up the system. Prime the pump, start it up slowly, and check for leaks at all connections. Watch your pressure gauge — a spike in pressure could mean a clog or closed valve.
Run the system continuously for the first 24–48 hours to circulate and distribute chemicals evenly. After that, you can set your timer to run 8–12 hours per day depending on your pool size and bather load.
Let AquaZen Handle It For You
Rather spend your weekend enjoying the pool instead of opening it? We get it. AquaZen offers professional pool opening services for homeowners throughout the Tri-Cities area. We’ll handle everything — cover removal, equipment inspection, initial cleaning, chemistry startup, and a full water test to make sure you’re swim-ready.
Spring books up fast in Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco — especially once the warm weather hits and everyone wants to open at once. Reach out early to get on our schedule.
Stop by our store at 3121 Leslie Rd Ste 103 in Richland, or give us a call at (509) 502-8966. We’re here to help you make the most of every Tri-Cities summer.
