Hey Pool Owners!
It’s Greg, the owner of Crush Pools, and I wanted to share one of the most common questions I get asked, even after 15+ years in the business: When is the absolute best time to open and close my pool?
Most people wait until the weather feels right—late May for opening, early September for closing. But as a seasoned pro, I’m here to tell you that waiting is actually costing you time, money, and sanity!
The Pool Expert’s Secret: Open Early, Close Late
At Crush Pools, we always recommend opening your pool in early April and closing it in late October.
Why? The answer boils down to one thing: Sunlight and the dreaded green pool.
About 80% of our clients have safety covers, which is fantastic. However, many of these covers are older, lower-quality mesh covers (the thin, cheap ones that were popular when safety covers first came out). While they’re safe, they don’t block out the sun’s rays very well.
- The Problem: The longer you leave the pool closed in warm weather, the more time the sun has to penetrate that thin cover. Underneath, your water is warming up and creating the perfect breeding ground for algae—resulting in a swampy, green mess when you finally open.
- The Solution: By opening early and closing late, you significantly reduce the number of warm, sunny days your pool spends dormant under a thin cover. This is the single biggest step you can take to prevent a nasty, expensive green pool opening.
Busting the “Wait-for-Warm-Weather” Myth
I know what many of you are thinking: “I don’t want to open early because I don’t want to run my pump and heater when it’s cold!”
I totally get it, but let’s look at the reality:
- Pump Run-Time is Lower: Since the water is cold, the potential for algae growth is much lower. You don’t need to run your pump nearly as much as you would in July.
- Heater Use is Optional: You only need to run the heater when you’re actually planning to swim. If it’s April, you can keep the heater off until those first few warm weekends.
- New Pump Technology: If you’re concerned about electricity costs, you’re likely running an outdated pump. Upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient variable-speed pump drastically cuts down your hydro bill, making that “early open” worry disappear (plus, you get to look at your beautiful pool instead of a cover!).
In short: The cost of running your equipment for a few extra weeks is almost always less than the huge expense of chemicals and intensive cleaning needed to fix a green pool in June.
Your Next-Level Upgrade: The Right Safety Cover
If you’ve been battling green openings year after year, the issue is likely your cover.
At Crush Pools, we refuse to sell the old, low-level 5000 mesh covers because we know they set our clients up for failure. When it’s time to upgrade your safety cover, insist on a thicker 7000 or 9000 mesh cover.
Yes, it’s a slight increase in price up front, but these covers block out significantly more sunlight. The money you save on chemicals and extra cleanings will easily make up the difference before your first season is even over. It’s the ultimate investment in a headache-free pool life.
Ready to ditch the green pool anxiety for good? Book your pool opening with Crush Pools today and let us take care of everything so you can Just Swim.
