Pool spring opening in Exeter
Professional pool spring opening services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£135
Typical Duration
1.5-2.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Swimming pool opened and prepared for summer. Cover removed, equipment reconnected, water chemistry balanced, and everything tested. From winter hibernation to swimming-ready in one visit.
First Warm Weekend? Get Swimming
Spring's here and you want to be in the pool, not spending three weekends wrestling with equipment and dosing chemicals while the weather stays nice without you.
💡 Pro tip: Open your pool in April before the first heat wave hits, not during it. Get the chemistry balanced while the water's still cool - much easier than fighting algae in warm water while everyone wants to swim.
Why Professional Opening Matters
Here's the difference between being swimming-ready in days vs. weeks of frustration:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ DIY Struggle |
|---|---|
| Equipment reconnected correctly | "Why isn't the pump working?" |
| Chemistry balanced first time | Weeks of adjusting, still not right |
| Problems identified early | Equipment fails mid-summer |
| Swimming within 2-3 days | Still murky after 2 weeks |
What You Get
☀️ The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Uncover | Winter cover removed, cleaned, stored properly |
| Reconnect | All equipment reassembled, tested, leaks checked |
| Balance | Water tested, chemicals added, shock treated |
| Clean | Vacuum if needed, skim surface, backwash filter |
📦 You're Left With
- Pool system running smoothly
- Water chemistry balanced
- Clean, clear water
- Ready to swim in 2-3 days
Pricing Guide
| Pool Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small above-ground pool, clean water | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Standard in-ground pool, good condition | 2 hrs | £110 |
| Pool needing green water rescue | 2.5 hrs | £135 |
Based on £60 minimum + £50/hr. Chemicals cost separately - budget £30-60 depending on condition.
Perfect For Your Pool If...
✅ Want to swim early - April/May opening
✅ Properly winterized - just needs reversing
✅ Don't know what you're doing - equipment is confusing
✅ Found problems - equipment damage, green water, leaks
Why Choose Us for Pool spring opening in Exeter?
Cover removed and cleaned
Equipment reconnected and tested
Water chemistry balanced properly
Swimming-ready in days not weeks
What to Expect
Step 1: Uncover & Assess
Remove the winter cover carefully (they're always full of water and debris), check the water condition, look at equipment for obvious issues. This tells me whether we're doing a standard opening or a rescue mission.
Step 2: Reconnect & Test
Reinstall pump, reconnect filter, put back drain plugs (which you hopefully labelled and didn't lose), fill to proper level, prime the pump, start the system. Check for leaks, verify flow rates, make sure everything that should work does work.
Step 3: Balance & Treat
Test water chemistry fully, add whatever's needed (pH adjusters, chlorine, algaecide if it's green). Shock treat the water, vacuum the bottom if there's debris, backwash the filter. Run the system while explaining what ongoing maintenance you'll need to do.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to open your pool yourself? Here's how to avoid the common disasters:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Pool cover pump (to drain cover before removing)
- Water test kit (essential, not optional)
- Pool chemicals (based on test results)
- Vacuum head and hose
- Skimmer net
- Bucket for priming pump
🎪 Removing the cover
- Pump off all standing water first (heavy and messy otherwise)
- Remove tensioners/weights from edges
- Pull cover off carefully - there's always more water than you think
- Hose it down, let it dry, fold properly, store somewhere dry
- Check for damage - repair now before storing
🔧 Equipment reconnection
- Find all those drain plugs you stored (told you to label them)
- Reinstall in pump, filter, heater, chlorinator
- Reconnect all pipework that was disconnected
- Check o-rings and gaskets - replace if dried out
- Fill pool to middle of skimmer opening
- Prime pump properly before starting (air locks cause problems)
💧 Water chemistry
- Test: pH, alkalinity, chlorine, calcium hardness
- Target: pH 7.2-7.6, Alk 80-120ppm, Chlorine 1-3ppm
- Adjust pH and alkalinity first
- Shock treat (triple dose of chlorine)
- Add algaecide if water looks dodgy
- Run pump 24hrs to distribute
🧹 Initial cleaning
- Skim all surface debris
- Vacuum bottom (even if it looks clean)
- Backwash filter after vacuuming
- Brush walls and steps
- Check and empty skimmer baskets
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Starting pump without priming (burns it out)
- Missing drain plugs and wondering why it won't hold water
- Adding all chemicals at once (they fight each other)
- Not running pump long enough after adding chemicals
- Testing water before it's circulated properly
- Swimming too soon after shock treatment
💡 Pro trick: If you open to green water, don't panic and drain it. Brush the walls and floor thoroughly to loosen algae, then shock treat heavily (4-5x normal dose), run filter 24/7, and backwash twice daily. Most green pools clear in 3-5 days this way. Much cheaper than filling.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🧪 Chemistry confusing? Honestly, it confuses most people at first. I'll show you what the test kit results mean, what adjusts what, and the correct order to add things. Give it two weeks of practice and you'll have it down.
Green water rescue? If your pool's a swamp, don't despair. I can usually rescue it without draining - heavy shock treatment, constant filtration, daily backwashing. Takes 5-7 days typically. Still cheaper and faster than draining and refilling thousands of gallons.
Equipment problems? I'll spot issues during opening - leaking valves, struggling pump, dirty filter. Some things are quick fixes (new o-ring, clean impeller). Others need parts. I'll be honest about what's repair vs. replace.
Heat pumps? These need careful startup - follow manufacturer procedure, check refrigerant, verify flow rates. I've got experience with most brands. If yours is complex or under warranty, I'll follow the book exactly.
Want a lesson? I'm happy to walk you through the whole process while I do it. Most people who have pools opened professionally the first year do it themselves thereafter - they just needed to see it done once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does pool spring opening involve?
I'll remove and clean the winter cover, reconnect all equipment (pump, filter, heater), refill to proper level, test and balance water chemistry, shock treat if needed, vacuum if there's debris, and run the system to make sure everything works. You'll be swimming within a few days once the chemistry's settled.
Will the water be green after being covered all winter?
Depends how well it was winterized. If it was done properly with chemicals and a good cover, the water's usually clear or slightly cloudy. If it wasn't winterized right, yes, it'll be green. I can usually rescue it without draining, but it takes more chemicals and time.
Do I need new chemicals for opening?
Almost always yes - chlorine, pH adjusters, shock treatment, and potentially algaecide if the water's dodgy. I'll test first and tell you exactly what's needed. Budget £30-60 for chemicals depending on pool size and water condition.
Can you open the pool if equipment was damaged over winter?
I'll identify any problems during setup and let you know. Cracked pump housing, split filter, seized valves - I'll spot them and advise on repair/replacement. Some things I can fix on the day, others need parts ordered. Always better to find out at opening than mid-summer.
How long until I can swim after opening?
Usually 2-3 days for the chemistry to stabilize after shock treatment and balancing. If the water was clear under the cover, sometimes 24 hours. If I'm rescuing green water, could be a week of treatment. I'll give you a realistic timeframe based on what I find.
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