Opening Vinyl Pool: First Time

[Snoobug]

Omg I have no idea what I'm doing. I need help. Please tell me there are videos to watch. Not worried about balancing chemicals.

Need help with:
- Getting inground winter cover off
- What to do with the anchors
- Getting returns ready & whatever other piping pieces situated

 

[B.lu]

Omg I have no idea what I'm doing. I need help. Please tell me there are videos to watch. Not worried about balancing chemicals.

Need help with:
- Getting inground winter cover off
- What to do with the anchors
- Getting returns ready & whatever other piping pieces situated

I'll be following along because I might try to open my pool on my own as well

 

[Orion7319]

Omg I have no idea what I'm doing. I need help. Please tell me there are videos to watch. Not worried about balancing chemicals.

Need help with:
- Getting inground winter cover off
- What to do with the anchors
- Getting returns ready & whatever other piping pieces situated

I can answer one question without seeing pics or anything. The anchors for the pool cover just screw down flush with the pool deck. You should have two tools for your cover. A pipe with a handle and an Allen wrench. The pipe has a notch on it, face the notch end towards the pool and rotate it to pop off the anchors. When you get the cover off screw the anchors flush with the pool. It’s a two person job to get the cover off and folded up, but takes less then 20 minutes or so.

 

[Newdude]

Welcome back Sis !!!

Several of the anchors will be tricky. If not at first, then once some have come off. I got the notchy piece in place and kicked the bar with the inside of my foot while twisting the bar for those. You'll have to figure out your way.

Get us some pics of the equipment pad. The skimmer and return plugs come out lefty loosey. Eyballs screw back on the returns and skimmer baskets drop in place.

Drain plugs go back in the pump, heater and filter. Check or download the manuals to see the locations.

Fill the pump basket with water, put the lid back, open the valves appropriately and let er rip.

 

[Casey]

I just opened my pool all by myself. Even took my cover off too. I have a mesh cover so I didn't have to drain it. I did the long side by the slide first and threw the anchors onto the cover n did the short sides of the pool one at a time walking back n forth pulling the cover as I went to the other long side of the pool n then I drug it out and let it dry n folded it up to put it in a tote. I used a dolly to get it from the pool yard into the basement. I had to use the noggin to figure out how I was going to get it done alone.

I then put my SWG back on. Make sure all your unions are screwed down tight because they'll be gushing water (returns) or sucking air (Just went through this yesterday n today) if they aren't. If you have a heater bypass, I'd close the valves off to keep the water from going into the heater until its balanced. Make sure your valves are open to recieve water to your pump and flowing freely out of the returns. Find your pump plugs and install them at the bottom of the pump. Your PB probably put them in your pump basket. Get your eyeball fittings ready for installation once you remove the plugs that are in your current return holes. Once everything is open line wise, you can pull the plugs, (install the eyeballs) and the gizmos in your skimmer and the pool lines will start to fill with water. It'll sound like its gulping and glugging. Take the lid off the pump basket, fill it with water and fire that baby up. It you lose water in the pump basket, shut it off n do it again.

 

[Casey]

I'll be following along because I might try to open my pool on my own as well

It was so stupid simple. I'm not sure why people pay $400+ when at least 2 people can do it in an hour. Heck... I did it in 1hr 20min by myself.

 

[SunnyP2000]

are the unions hand tightened or use some kind of channel lock? just preparing myself before I open my pool for the first time.

 

[wireform]

Lube every and all gaskets and hand tighten only, don't use tools if possible.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Lube every and all gaskets and hand tighten only, don't use tools if possible.

thanks

 

[Casey]

are the unions hand tightened or use some kind of channel lock? just preparing myself before I open my pool for the first time.

While some would advise against tools, I used a tool to "g-e-n-t-l-y" tighten them because I didn't have a lot of strength in my hands to tighten them. I had water gushing from 2 of my 4 return unions and I couldn't hand tighten them on my own so I closed the valves and went on a mad dash to the garage to grab them. I forgot to tighten the one before the pump n was sucking air on that one. It's all good now.

 

[wireform]

While some would advise against tools, I used a tool to "g-e-n-t-l-y" tighten them because I didn't have a lot of strength in my hands to tighten them. I had water gushing from 2 of my 4 return unions and I couldn't hand tighten them on my own so I closed the valves and went on a mad dash to the garage to grab them. I forgot to tighten the one before the pump n was sucking air on that one. It's all good now.

I did say "if possible"

 

[Casey]

I did say "if possible"

I'm a weakling. My strongest muscle is my mouth.

 

[Newdude]

These are the pliers you need. HD has $23 and Harbor Freight has them for $20. One stubborn union is all it takes to need them, or you can use them all the time and be gentle. When i finally broke down and bought a pair, i kicked myself for being so cheap and using a strap wrench for 5 years.

16 inch ajustable pliers

 

[B.lu]

Lube every and all gaskets and hand tighten only, don't use tools if possible.

sooo I might be disproving the old saying 'there are no stupid questions' but, do you mean something like WD40?

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Not WD-40.

A silicone o-ring/gasket lubricant. See link below.

Pool Lube - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

--Jeff

 

[Newdude]

sooo I might be disproving the old saying 'there are no stupid questions' but, do you mean something like WD40?

Please. Pretty please. Please for the LOVE of all things holy, ask.

Anytime

Ever

You mess something up that you didn't fully understand and we have multiple problems. Yes i said we. You know DARN well how invested we are in you. Or Sonny or Snoo. Or whoevs. *We* will have multiple problems. And we will of course help fix them all. But you know what i'm saying.

You want a silicone based lubricant. Hayward Jacks magic lube comes in a small toothpaste like tube and one BB sized bit is all you need at a time. It schmears like crazy. Use them blue gloves we all have laying around, its misearble trying to wash off a waterproof lube. It will last for several seasons so i never bothered to try the cheaper ones when the real one was $13. You can amazon it or hit up the pool store.

 

[kimkats]

Loving the help and willingness on the thread! Also SO glad to see friends coming back home!!!!

Kim

 

[Snoobug]

This is amazing!!!! You guys are awesome!

 

[Snoobug]

I ordered the Aladdin pool lube and pool cover anchor tool thingy! The pool company wanted to charge $414... I spent $45. Everything should be here Tuesday! Maybe we'll get it open next weekend!

 

[V___25]

You can do it!! It was stupid easy - my spouse and I did it last year as total newbs. Getting the cover off those anchors is the hardest part and takes some muscle. If we had a heater, ours would be open soon.