A sequenced, checkable startup plan tailored to YOUR pool — circulate before testing, balance in order, shock last.
| Total Alkalinity (TA) | 80–120 ppm |
| pH | 7.4–7.6 |
| Calcium Hardness (CH) | 200–400 ppm |
| Cyanuric Acid (CYA / stabilizer) | 30–50 ppm |
| Free Chlorine (FC) | 2–4 ppm |
Opening a pool after winter is a sequence, and the order is the whole point. This tool builds a tailored, checkable plan for your setup — in-ground vs above-ground, mesh / solid / no cover, chlorine vs salt, spa, and heater — then walks you through it in the correct order: clean & store the cover, reinstall fittings and remove winterizing plugs, top off water, start the pump and circulate before you test, then balance alkalinity first, pH second, calcium and stabilizer third, and shock last. Tick each item as you go; progress is saved in your browser. Enter your dimensions and any current test readings and it will also estimate starting chemical doses.
A 32 ft × 16 ft rectangle with a 4.5 ft average depth: volume = 32 × 16 × 4.5 × 7.5 = 17,280 gal (rounded down to 17,200). Suppose the post-circulation test reads TA 60 ppm and pH 7.2.
These are estimates — the tool uses the pool-industry 7.5 gal/ft³ factor and rounds to match published dosing charts. Always follow the label on your specific product.
Circulate the water 8–24 hours first, then test. Adjust total alkalinity to 80–120 ppm first because it buffers pH, then pH to 7.4–7.6, then calcium hardness (200–400) and cyanuric acid (30–50), and add shock LAST in the evening with the pump running.
Overwintered water is stratified and stagnant, so a test of it gives false readings. Running the pump 8–24 hours mixes the water so your test reflects the whole pool before you dose any chemicals.
Yes. Remove the freeze/winterizing plugs from the skimmers and returns (and any heater drain plugs) and reinstall the return eyeballs before priming. Starting the pump with plugs in causes no circulation, air locks, or a cracked heater.
A heavy opening dose is about 2 lb of cal-hypo shock per 10,000 gallons. If your stabilizer (CYA) is high, increase it (add about your CYA percent more). Always add shock last, in the evening, with the pump running.
After. Shock is always the last chemical — its high chlorine degrades or precipitates other additives and bleaches test reagents, so balance alkalinity, pH, calcium, and stabilizer first, then shock.
After the water is balanced and circulating. At opening, inspect and clean the salt cell and verify salt is 2,700–3,400 ppm, but leave the generator off until alkalinity, pH and the rest are in range, then switch it on.
These are estimates and a general sequence, not lab-precise dosing. Always test with a fresh kit or strips and add about three-quarters of any calculated dose, retest, then top up — it's far easier to add more than to remove. Dose constants are industry rules of thumb (baking soda 1.5 lb/10k per 10 ppm TA; soda ash 6 oz/10k per 0.2 pH; calcium chloride 1.84 oz/10k per 1 ppm CH; CYA 13 oz/10k per 10 ppm; cal-hypo shock ~2 lb/10k). Actual product strength varies — always follow the label on your specific product, which overrides these numbers. Volume math assumes a roughly constant average depth and a simple rectangle/oval; kidney, L-shaped and varying-slope pools differ (treat volume as ±10–15%). The tool uses the industry 7.5 gal/ft³ factor (true value 7.48; <0.3% error). Never mix chemicals or add them at the same time — add one at a time, pump running, and wait 15–30 minutes between additions; never combine calcium chloride with soda ash/bicarb. Always add chemical to water, never water to chemical. Targets shown are general residential outdoor ranges (CDC/industry consensus); indoor pools run CYA near 0, and your local health code or builder may specify different targets. Wait 48–72 hours after adding CYA before retesting. Not professional advice — if you see green/black algae, a cracked heat exchanger, a non-priming pump, or cannot get chemistry stable, consult a licensed pool professional.
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