With warmer days on the horizon, pool owners across the country are making plans to get their backyard in order and enjoy some fun in the sun. However, getting an inground or above-ground pool ready for the season is no small task – it takes planning and a keen eye for maintenance needs. It also presents opportunities to upgrade equipment and components.

Keep these items in mind when opening your pool this season to help ensure a fun, low-stress summer in the water.

Clear the Cover

After months of rain and snow, most pool owners will need to clear water and debris from the top of their pool cover. Skip the bucket bails and simplify this task with an Intermatic cover pump.

Our WATERSPIDER® Series Cover Pumps remove water on the surface of pool covers using a unique multi-legged design. A great choice for both above-ground and inground pool covers, these solutions pump an impressive 400 gallons per hour, allowing for quick removal of accumulated water in a wide range of applications.  

Keep an Eye Out for Tears

Before restoring water levels to their in-season norm, inspect the pool cover and liner for any signs of damage, including rips, holes, and tears. By being proactive and making repairs at the start of the season (if needed), you can avoid extended ‘rest breaks’ during peak summer months when pool service professionals are most in demand.

Check Wiring and Reconnect Equipment 

Once you’ve inspected the pool liner and cover, reconnect pumps, filters, heat pumps, and other pool equipment on the pool pad (or work with a pool professional to do so). Be sure to check the wiring and functionality of all connected equipment. Address any fraying or loose wires and look to replace receptacle covers that may have been damaged over the winter.

If you notice significant damage to electrical equipment, it may be the result of one or more power surge events. A simple, lasting fix to this is to install a reliable pool and spa surge protection device, such as the Intermatic PS3000, at the electrical panel. Even if there’s no damage present, it can be a great time to proactively install a high-quality, cost-effective SPD to avoid issues down the road.

Look for Pool Pad Upgrades

Once your base pool and spa setup is restored for the season, take some time to review your equipment and make upgrades as needed. For example, you may want to replace an outdated single-speed pump with an energy-efficient variable-speed pump like the Intermatic APEX Series. Similarly, you may find that heat pumps or cartridge filters are nearing the end of their operating life and are due for replacement.  

Consider Ambience and Safety

Getting the pool ready also means getting the backyard ready for safe summer fun. May is National Water Safety Month, and keeping the pool area well-lit is a small but important piece of overall water safety efforts.

Enhance your outdoor aesthetic and promote pool safety by supporting low-voltage pool lights and landscape lighting with a robust Intermatic safety transformer, such as the COMBOCONNECT® Junction Box Transformer. The hybrid solution blends the simplicity of a standard junction box with the power of a 100 W low-voltage transformer and has a 20-30% smaller footprint than traditional solutions.

Verify Equipment and Lighting Schedules

In addition to checking the health of individual pool components, the start of pool season is a great time to review equipment and lighting schedules. This includes everything from pumps and filtration systems to nicheless in-water and landscape lights.

It’s also a great time to upgrade controls, such as installing a PE700 Series Wi-Fi Control. Available in 2- or 3-circuit models, the PE700 Series can be used to turn pool pumps, submersible lighting, auxiliary equipment, and more ON and OFF via the Intermatic Connect app. The versatile, all-weather control simplifies scheduling and is easy to retrofit into existing timer enclosures.

Get the Water Right

As a final step to the grand opening, it’s critical to get water chemistry right. Our new I-PURE Salt Chlorine Generator offers a convenient water sanitation solution that transforms ordinary salt into pure chlorine. The cost-saving solution is an alternative to harsh salt chlorine tablets and helps create a silky smooth water experience for pools up to 40,000 gallons.

Similarly, Intermatic filters keep water flowing and free of debris. We offer a range of cartridge filters, sand filters, and filter systems that support inground and above-ground pool and spa applications. Our flagship DE Series cartridge filters offer a low-maintenance filter solution that removes dirt and debris down to 5 microns.

Interested in upgrading your pool and spa this summer with Intermatic solutions? Check out our pool and spa catalog for an overview of our essential pool equipment and related solutions.