1. Remove all the winterizing parts. Take off the cover and remove the plugs from the skimmers and returns.
2. Reassemble equipment. Reinstall all the drain plugs in your equipment and put in the baskets, handrails, ladders, eyeballs, and backwash hose if applicable.
3. Start up the system. Read our article on how to prime a pump! At opening, it helps to run a garden hose with all the valves open for a little while then shutting all but one valve to prime the pump. Before starting the pump, make sure that the multiport is set to either filter or recirculate and that all the return valves are open so water is able to flow freely!
4. Once the pump is running and fully primed we recommend vacuuming the pool to waste so that all the dirt/debris on the bottom of the pool doesn't go through the system. Set up the manual vacuum, turn off the pump, switch the multiport to waste and then VERY SLOWLY vacuum the pool. If you go too quickly, you'll stir up the settled dirt.
5. Once you've finished vacuuming, brush the walls and floors, clean skimmers, and net out any remaining debris.
6. Test the pH, alkalinity, and chlorine. Adjust pH and alkalinity based on results. Shock the pool with at least 1 lbs per 10,000 gallons. If the pool is pretty green you should double the dosage. You should also add an algacide and sequestrian agent like protect all supreme (salt protect for salt water pools).