Swimming Pool Smarts

May 22, 2019

Share this Article:

There is a large swimming pool in the backyard of a house.

Memorial Day has come and gone, but with the lingering chilly weather, many haven’t yet opened their pools for the season! If sunny optimism hasn’t cajoled you out of your home and onto the pool deck, take heart. You’ll be set to go with these Swimming Pool Smarts.



Clean and store the winter cover.

If necessary, use a sump pump to remove water from the cover. Brush off any additional debris and wash it before removal to avoid hauling additional weight or risking contamination of the pool. Make sure to lay the cover out to dry thoroughly before storing it for the season. However, we’d recommend you use a pool cover cleaning solution that allows for damp storage. It is almost impossible to get both sides completely dry, but you can prevent mold!

A large swimming pool with a blue cover on it.
A white plastic cap with a black rubber ring on a white background.

Swap out your drain plugs.


Let’s face it, this is Chicagoland and winter is wild. If you prepped your drains with winterized drain plugs, don’t forget to swap them out for the season!

Drain, clean, and refill the pool.


Preparing for a refill is an important step! If you choose to drain your pool, give the interior, any tile, skimmer mouths, and deck a once-over with the proper chemicals for smooth sailing this season.

A swimming pool with blue tiles and a hose coming out of it.

Inspect for necessary repairs.


It’s as simple as it sounds. Just make sure you have physically looked at pool equipment, pool coping, waterline tile, interior finish and the pool deck area. Test your controls. Make note of any leaks, noises, colors, or cracks. If anything looks off or out of place, call your maintenance company!

Weekly maintenance.


There is no substitute for regular attention. Check and adjust pool chemistry, skim the surface or empty the skimmer baskets, and rinse your deck, patio, or tiles. We all know how quickly these can snowball into larger projects, so exercise due diligence to get the most out of your pool in 2019!

A man is cleaning a swimming pool with a net.

Not ready to “weekend warrior” your pool this year?


We get it. Do you need regular maintenance taken care of by professionals? As fortune would have it, we have trustworthy friends in high places who can help you prepare for the season and advise you on best practices! If you could you use a hand, click here for a referral to one of our hand-selected partners.

Share with Us:

Two children are sledding down a snow covered hill.

Enjoy The Little Things

November 16, 2021
It’s hard to believe another season is coming to a close. November is a month of change. Trees change color and lose their foliage, temperatures drop below freezing forcing our plants to hibernate, and daylight hours minimize the daytime spent outdoors.
A fire pit with chairs around it in a backyard at night.

Toasty Marshmallow Evenings

October 18, 2021
Don’t let these shorter days and cooler temperatures spoil your outdoor living fun. Some of the best times are yet to be had this fall as we gather outdoors with family and friends.
A wooden pergola with a swing underneath it

Are You Ready For Some…

September 23, 2021
Cooler temperatures, shorter days, back to school, and football fever signal the beginning of Autumn and a reduced focus on outdoor living. But before you fire up that snow blower, let’s enjoy the crisp autumn evenings gathered around the fire pit rooting for your favorite team and recalling this past summer.
Share by: