delayed opening

VAwaterboy · 2025-05-12T20:12:06-0400

I would usually have opened my pool by now, but I have lots of work to do first: rebuild a retaining wall and re-set pavers in the equipment area, and then install a new heater. It is a late spring here: daytime temperatures in the 70s, but nights still getting down to high 40s and low 50s. (night-time lows should increase to 60s this week).

Here's my question: am I better off leaving my mesh cover on the pool for another week or two until all the work is done (resigning myself to a longer-than-usual period for the water to clear) , OR should I pull off the cover now and drop a portable pump with pipe extension into the pool to create at least some water circulation?

PoolStored · 2025-05-12T20:36:08-0400

Do you have a robot?

What do you mean by pipe extension?

No reason not to put the pump in, if it is pumping water up, you can even add some chlorine and it will dilute it rapidly.

VAwaterboy · 2025-05-12T21:02:10-0400

PoolStored said:
Do you have a robot?

What do you mean by pipe extension?

No reason not to put the pump in, if it is pumping water up, you can even add some chlorine and it will dilute it rapidly.

I have a Polaris, but can't use it until I have the system running normally. What I mean by pipe extension: I can put a sump pump on a step at the shallow end but my pool is 38 feet long, so that by itself would not do much. I can attach a long PVC pipe to the pump so it circulates water more towards the deep end. I did this once before when my pump was out of order for a few days. It sounds like you vote for removing the cover soon; is that right?

PoolStored · 2025-05-12T21:29:20-0400

VAwaterboy said:
It sounds like you vote for removing the cover soon; is that right?

Not really, I start my equipment and leave the mesh on for 1.5 months.
You can drop the sump in a corner and add some chlorine...it will mix, then switch to pipe extension setup.

VAwaterboy · 2025-05-12T21:56:10-0400

The only way I could put a sump pump into the pool would be to remove the cover first.

PoolStored · 2025-05-12T21:58:09-0400

VAwaterboy said:
The only way I could put a sump pump into the pool would be to remove the cover first.

You said mesh cover...does it have springs and hooks, or some other type of mesh?
...post a pic.
I can open just the corner and drop a sump with my mesh cover, I don't have to take the whole cover off....

VAwaterboy · 2025-05-12T22:25:25-0400

I could do that, but why?? I would want to see what the water looks like, which would mean removing the cover. What would be the benefit or advantage of leaving most of the over on?

PoolStored · 2025-05-12T22:36:44-0400

VAwaterboy said:
What would be the benefit or advantage of leaving most of the over on?

You can see what the water looks like in a corner with partial cover removal.
Cover will keep leaves and other organics out.
Cover will reduce UV induces FC demand.

Newdude · 2025-05-13T07:08:30-0400

Soft open and run the regular equipment under the cover. You can test and add by popping a couple springs by a return then put them back on when you're done. Its really easy.