How To Open Your Intex Above-Ground Pool In Spring (How To Get Rid Of Algae)

This post is all about what things you need to open your Intex above-ground pool in the spring. How to get rid of algae and prepare your pool for summer? Read on and I will share what pool products and chemicals we used to clean and get rid of algae.

The weather is getting warmer and it’s almost time to go swimming. If you have a pool, it’s time to open your pool before summer arrives. Algae grow when the weather is warm and spring is a great time to start and prepare your above-ground pool for summer.

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This is our first time opening our pool in spring. I winterized our pool using the SeaKlear winter pill. This pill only lasts for six months. I closed the pool in September and opened it in April which is about eight months.

When I opened our Intex Graphite Panel Pool this month, it was all green. I should’ve waited until October to close and winterize the pool. I checked it in March and the water was still clear. The lesson here is when I use the SeaKlear winter pill that it can’t be more than six months or the pool will be filled with algae.

Algae grow when the weather is warm. We’ve had very warm weather (almost 90’s) in April. If I waited too long the algae will get just get worse. So I decided to open the pool in April. In my opinion, it is better to open the pool sooner than later.

How To Open An Above-Ground Pool After Winter?

Opening an above-ground pool in the spring requires a few key steps to ensure the pool is ready for swimming. Here are some general steps to follow:

Remove the pool cover

Use a cover pump or hose to remove any water that has been collected on top of the pool cover. We did not have too much water on the cover so we just used a cup or bucket to drain the water. Once the water is removed, carefully remove the cover from the pool.

We have algae on the cover so we had to brush and clean it thoroughly. Let it dry before storing it.

Clean and inspect the pool

Use a pool skimmer to remove any debris that has accumulated in the pool over the winter. Use a pool brush to scrub the sides and bottom of the pool, and vacuum up any remaining debris. Inspect the pool liner for any damage or leaks.

I used this skimmer to remove any debris and bought a brush and vacuum kit to clean the pool. It took about 3 days of skimming and brushing to keep the pool clean.

Reconnect and test equipment

Reconnect the pump, filter, and any other equipment that was disconnected for the winter. Check for any leaks, and turn on the equipment to ensure it is working properly.

This was our first time opening our pool in the spring. I forgot how to connect the hoses to the pump so I had to reread the manual. I learned to take a photo or video of the hoses and pump connections so I’ll remember how to do it next time 🙂 Although, it was a fairly easy and straightforward process.

Test and balance the water chemistry

Use a pool test kit to check the water chemistry, including pH, alkalinity, and chlorine levels. Adjust the chemistry as needed to ensure the water is safe for swimming. I used liquid shock and that worked fine.

I bought 2 gallons of liquid shock last year for 50% off. I also used a pH increaser, pH decreaser, and Alkalinity Increaser to balance the water’s pH level.

Check the water level

If the water level is low, use a garden hose to fill the pool to the appropriate level.

Run the filtration system

Run the filtration system for at least 24 hours to ensure the water is properly filtered and circulated. I had to backwash the pump every 30 minutes because our pool was so dirty. It was green and there were so many algae.

We have an Intex sand filter pump that came with the pool kit. It’s 1500 GHP (gallons per hour) but it’s not strong enough to circulate the water. When we opened the pool it was filled with algae. I run the pump 5 hours per day (per Intex recommendation) to filter our 14000 gallons pool. It took 3 days to get rid of the algae and hours of skimming and vacuuming.

We finally upgraded our filter pump to Vevor 16-inch Sand Filter Pump. It’s so much more powerful than our old pump. It circulates water at 3500 GPH and has 1 HP.

Having a powerful filter pump and balanced water is key to getting rid of algae and keeping the water clear all summer long. Make sure you test the water and add the necessary chemicals to balance the water. You also need to skim and vacuum the bottom of the pool to get rid of leaves and other debris.

Winterizing the pool properly in the fall is vital to keeping the pool algae-free in the spring. This year, I will make sure to prep the pool well before closing. I already purchased two SeaKlear winterpill while it’s still on sale so I already have them when it’s time to close the pool.

Check out the video here: