Delaware Pool Service

Pool Opening — What You Need to Know

📅 How Scheduling Works ▾
I schedule by week, not by a specific day or time. This allows jobs to be grouped by location to minimize drive time and keep the day moving.
→ The Friday before your week, I'll text you your day and where you fall in the route (e.g. "stop 3 of 6 on Wednesday").
→ You'll get an ETA text when I'm on my way.
→ Requesting a specific day or arrival time isn't possible. The route is built around geography and job complexity across all customers that week.
→ Jobs are typically scheduled Tuesday through Friday. Monday and Saturday are reserved for rain makeups and catch-up. I don't work Sundays.
🌧 Rain delays are real. If it's raining on your opening day, service will be paused. If the rain stops, I'll try to get back out and finish what I can — but some customers, possibly everyone scheduled that day, will get bumped to another day. You'll be notified either way.
🌙 After-dark arrivals happen. On long or complicated days, I may occasionally arrive after dark to complete an opening. Pool equipment works fine in the dark — I bring lighting — but it's worth knowing that's sometimes how the day ends up.
✅ What's Included ▾
What each tier includes
🥉 Basic — $375
Equipment startup (pump, filter, plumbing) + heater test fire.
You remove and store the cover before I arrive.
🥈 Standard — $425
Everything in Basic + I remove and store the cover.
🥇 Deluxe — $550
Everything in Standard + a light vacuum and debris removal to get the pool presentable at startup.
Best for pools that open clear. The vacuum is typically done on a follow-up visit once the water has had time to circulate and settle. If the pool opens green, vacuuming alone won't fix it — a full Green-to-Clean remediation would be needed instead.
🔵 Have an automatic cover? Cover removal isn't a service you need — it just rolls up. If you want a vacuum at startup, book the Deluxe. Basic is the right choice otherwise.
Optional add-on
🧪 Opening Chemical Kit
A startup chemical package sized to your pool, applied at the time of opening. The kit includes algaecide, clarifier, and stain preventer/metal remover — it does not balance your water. Full chemical balancing requires the pool to run and circulate first, and is not part of any opening package. This is optional — some customers prefer to handle their own chemistry or already have chemicals on hand. Pricing is based on pool volume and selected at booking.
Never included
✗ Full water balance or chemistry — the pool needs to run and circulate before it can be properly balanced
✗ Green pool cleanup — if the pool opens green, a separate Green-to-Clean service is required and quoted on-site
⚠ Opening ≠ swim-ready. Even a perfectly clear pool needs 24–48 hours of circulation and chemical adjustment before it's safe to swim in. Plan accordingly.
📋 Before I Arrive — Your Checklist ▾
These must be done before your opening day. If they're not, it may result in a rescheduled visit or additional charges.
☐ Water level — at the midpoint of the tile line or skimmer opening. If you're getting a vacuum (Deluxe), fill it all the way to the top — vacuuming removes water along with debris, and the level needs to be high enough that the equipment doesn't lose prime mid-job.
☐ Cover pumped off — no standing water or heavy debris on top prior to arrival. Do this the day before if needed.
☐ Breakers on — indoor breakers for pool equipment must be switched on before I get there.
☐ Garden hose accessible — a working hose near the pool.
☐ Gate access — provide your code in your booking, or leave it unlocked. Dogs must be kept inside.
☐ Equipment pad accessible — the pump, filter, and any other equipment should be reachable. If the pad is overgrown with grass, weeds, or bushes, clear it out before your opening day.
☐ Pool accessories accessible — skimmer baskets, return fittings, ladder, and cover bag should be by the pool or in a walkable shed. I won't empty a packed shed to find equipment.
💡 Good to Know ▾
🏠 No need to be home. Openings can be delayed by traffic, weather, or issues at a prior job. Waiting around wastes your time and costs you money. Go to work — I'll text you when I'm done or if anything needs your attention.
🔧 Equipment issues at startup are common — and normal.
Pump motors can seize over winter from sitting idle. Heaters get damaged by rodents chewing through wiring. Ants nest in electrical boxes and cause all kinds of problems. These are regular occurrences every spring season.

Don't expect it — but don't be surprised if it happens. Just because it worked fine last fall doesn't guarantee it'll work this spring, and if something doesn't start, it doesn't mean anyone did anything wrong. I'll document everything, show you what I find, and we'll figure out next steps together.
🟢 Green pool? If the pool opens green, it needs a full remediation before it's swimmable — this is a separate service quoted on-site.

If the water is green but relatively clear of leaves and debris, and the equipment is in good working order, cleanup usually takes around 3 visits. That assumes no major chemical complications — metals like iron or copper, CYA out of range, or elevated nitrates and phosphates all add complexity and can extend the timeline.

If there's heavy debris in the pool — closed green all winter, a ripped cover, or a cover that fell in — the cleanup timeline is very difficult to estimate upfront. We'll assess what we're dealing with and go from there.
🎉 Planning a pool party? Allow at least 1–2 weeks between your opening and the event. That buffer gives time for the chemistry to stabilize, any equipment issues to get resolved, and the water to actually look and feel right. Booking an opening the week before a party is a gamble — if something needs follow-up, there may not be enough time to sort it out.
📞 If I find something unexpected, I'll reach out before doing any additional work. You'll never be surprised by a charge you didn't approve.
💸 Sometimes things don't go as planned — and that's okay. If I arrive and can't complete the opening due to something on the checklist not being done (water level too low, gate locked, cover not pumped off, etc.), a $50 trip fee applies and the job gets rescheduled. It happens, no hard feelings — but it does cost time and has to be accounted for.

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