Get matched with top above ground pool installation pros in Pulaski, VA

Avoid the dreaded pool pop by only draining your pool during dry, temperate times of the year. If there is too much moisture or the threat of ice in the ground surrounding your pool, the pressure could disrupt the stability of your pool's floors and walls. Additionally, always open the hydrostatic drains in an inground pool toward the end of the design process.

If you wait until fall or winter, you might see sales on pools and pool materials, enabling you to save a good amount on this home improvement project. Sometimes pool servicing companies try to make space for next year’s inventory, or the materials are cheaper when fewer construction projects happen during colder months. 

Generally speaking, you should expect to wait 24 to 48 hours after filling a pool before you use it. However, the actual timeline depends on a few factors. Most importantly, you need to shock the water with chlorine or an alternative to swimming pool chlorine and let the concentration come down to a safe level before using the pool. Additionally, most water sources will be cold, and it can take days before the sun or your pool heater warms your water to a comfortable temperature. Alternatively, getting water professionally delivered could have you swimming in just a few hours.

Generally, you do not need to drain your pool to convert it to a saltwater system. The main exception is if you have used an antibacterial agent containing polyhexamethylene biguanide to sanitize your pool, as these sanitation products do not mix well with saltwater systems. If this is the case, you will need to start fresh. You can either drain the pool or treat the existing water with a high dose of chlorine to remove the antibacterial agent. If you choose the chlorine treatment, wait several days to allow the chlorine to work before proceeding with the conversion. If you are unsure whether this applies to your pool, consult a pool technician.