Pool care blog
Spring Pool Season Checklist for Southern California
· 6 min read
A step-by-step opening sequence that avoids the classic mistake of uncovering a pool into a week of algae.
Open earlier than you think
Most Los Angeles County homeowners wait too long. Once water temperatures pass roughly 60°F — often February here — algae begins growing under the cover. Starting up in early March is cheaper and cleaner than waiting until May and fighting a bloom.
Cover first, carefully
Pump standing water off the cover before removing it, then clean and dry the cover fully before storage. Dragging a dirty cover across the deck is how debris and staining organics end up in freshly opened water.
Reassemble and inspect
Reinstall plugs, drain plugs, baskets and the pressure gauge. Inspect o-rings and lubricate them. Check the filter media condition before startup — spring is the right time for a breakdown clean rather than mid-season.
Start up and balance
Prime the pump, purge air, verify flow and check for leaks at the pad. Then test and correct in order: alkalinity, then pH, then calcium hardness, then stabilizer, and finally shock and sanitize.
The first two weeks
Run circulation longer than usual, brush every few days and expect higher chemical demand as the water stabilizes. Filter pressure will rise faster than normal during this window — that is expected, and it is worth cleaning early.