Opening Pool Chemistry Checklist

Start by cleaning and circulating water to a full pool level, then test and adjust in this order: debris removal → circulation → alkalinity → pH → sanitizer/CYA → shock only if needed for clarity or algae.

This checklist is for reopening an existing pool that has already cured. If your pool is brand new or freshly plastered, use New Pool Startup Chemistry instead — a fresh plaster surface needs its own staged sequence during the first 28 days.

Checklist

• Remove cover; skim; vacuum to waste if heavy sediment
• Fill to normal level; start pump and filter
• Brush walls and floor; clean baskets
• Balance pH (target 7.2–7.6)
• Adjust alkalinity (80–120 ppm typical)
• Add chlorine to reach 1–3 ppm FC (or label range)
• Address CYA if outdoor pool and low
• Shock if water is cloudy, green, or CC is high

Step-by-step sections

Day 1: Mechanical cleanup beats chemistry—get water moving and filtered. Day 2–3: Fine-tune balance; don’t stack every chemical in hour one unless label allows.

If you see green water, use green pool chlorine guidance alongside filtration.

Common mistakes

• Dumping shock before knowing volume or current FC
• Ignoring CYA context on outdoor pools
• Short-circuiting filter run time during cleanup

Calculators

Pool volume · Chlorine · pH · Shock