Seasonal & DIY

Spring Pool Opening Checklist

Houston pools rarely fully "close" for winter, but a spring reset still matters after a slower, lower-use stretch, and skipping steps tends to show up as an algae bloom a few weeks later. This site is dedicated to a single build method: gunite (shotcrete) construction, rebar cage, sprayed and hand-finished concrete, engineered bond beams, and a design that can be shaped to anything the lot allows, from tanning ledges to negative edges to integrated spas.

Modern white pergola over an outdoor seating area

Because most Houston-area pools keep running through winter at a reduced level, spring opening is less about reviving a dormant pool and more about resetting chemistry and equipment for the coming high-use season.

Remove and clean any winter cover
Clean off accumulated debris before removing a cover so it does not all dump into the pool at once, and inspect the cover itself for damage before storing it.
Clean baskets, skimmers, and the filter
A filter that ran through a slower winter season often has more accumulated debris than owners expect; clean or backwash it before the first full-chemistry test, not after.
Test and rebalance all four core numbers
Test alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, and stabilizer, not just chlorine, since all four tend to drift during lower-circulation winter months.
Inspect equipment before the first high-use weekend
Check the pump for unusual noise, the heater for proper ignition/function, and look for any visible leaks around equipment that may have gone unnoticed during slower winter use.
Shock the pool before heavy swimming begins
A shock treatment ahead of the first big weekend of the season clears any low-level algae or bather-load buildup before it becomes a visible problem.