It’s a good idea to wait at least 24 hours after opening your pool before you swim in it. Pool opening often involves shocking the water, and the chemical levels need to come down a bit before it’s safe to swim. You can continue testing your water pH and chlorine levels if you’re in a rush. It’s wise to wait until your chlorine levels drop to under four parts per million (ppm) and you have a water pH of between 7.2 and 7.8. You can artificially lower your water pH to speed up the process.

Hire a licensed pool contractor in your area with ample experience in your particular pool design. Pool contractors will walk you through both the design and installation process. They will also recommend or hire a team of subcontractors to manage clearing the land, excavating for the pool, and adding all the design and electrical touches that make your pool run smoothly.

Yes, pool pumps use a significant amount of electricity, making them one of the biggest energy consumers in a home. A pool pump can use up to three times as much electricity as a refrigerator. Typically, a residential pool pump consumes about 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) for every hour it runs. Because pumps often need to run for about eight hours a day to properly filter the water, this can add up to an annual consumption of 3,000 to 5,000 kWh, which can cost between $480 and $800 per year based on average electricity rates.

The amount of electricity your pump uses depends on its size, energy efficiency, and daily run time. To lower your energy consumption, you can choose an energy-efficient or variable-speed pump, ensure it is correctly sized for your pool, and run it only for the minimum time required to keep the water clean.

If you want to get rid of an aboveground pool, one option is to hire a pool removal service to disassemble and dispose of it. However, you might also be able to sell it depending on the pool's condition and age, as well as the demand in your area.