How Long After Pool Opening Can You Swim?

After taking off your hot tub or winter pool cover, you may be greeted by cloudy or algae-filled water, signaling the need for pool opening maintenance!

After you store your winter cover away, wash your pool walls, vacuum up any debris or waste, add pool chemicals, hook up the necessary equipment and other accessories and ensure it's all working properly, you are likely eager to start swimming. But how long do you need to wait to swim after opening your pool for the summer season?

When Can I Swim In My Swimming Pool?

The length of time that you will need to wait to ensure it is safe to swim depends on the pool chemicals you are adding. Pool chemicals can differ significantly in their strength and safety, some being perfectly safe, whereas others can potentially burn eyes and skin if they are not circulated thoroughly.

This blog explains how long you should wait before swimming after adding pool chemicals. Follow our recommendations below to ensure it is safe to swim after the swimming pool opening.

The Waiting Times For Adding Chemicals To Your Pool Water

The chemicals you are adding to your swimming pool or hot tub will affect the time you need to wait to swim. To help you determine when it is safe to cannonball into your newly-opened swimming pool, we have broken down some general guidelines.

Adding Water Balancing Chemicals

After opening your pool and taking a water sample, you may find that your pool water may be imbalanced. Adding pH and alkalinity chemicals will be necessary to get your pool ready for swimming.

Once you have added a clarifier and other water balancing chemicals, you will need to wait approximately 20 minutes to let it move and filter through the pool. After the 20 minutes have passed, you can kick off pool season with a swim!

Adding Liquid Chlorine

Chlorine is essential to eliminating organic bacteria in your pool. If your pool's free chlorine levels are below the recommended 3 and 5 parts per million, you will need to add liquid chlorine shock.

Chlorine pool shock is an incredibly strong chemical that can cause skin and eye irritation. The general rule is to wait 6-8 hours with the pump on after adding chlorine to ensure the filtration system has adequate time to filter it throughout the pool. Even if you wait the recommended time, we suggest testing the water to make sure the chlorine levels are around 5 ppm.

Adding Muriatic Acid

Muriatic acid is a versatile pool chemical typically used to lower your pool's pH levels. However, it is also strong enough to kill mold, remove rust stains, and eliminate calcium deposits and other remaining debris.

We recommend that pool owners add muriatic acid after they re-fill their pools with a garden hose. They should then let it filter through the water for approximately 30 minutes before entering the pool.

Adding Calcium Chloride

If your pool water hardness levels have dropped below 125 ppm, you will need to add calcium chloride. Calcium chloride will help you raise calcium hardness, but it will delay your swim.

After you add calcium chloride, you will need to wait approximately 6-8 hours before going for a dip. We suggest that you lounge on the patio, check your pump pressure gauge, or clean your winter cover while you wait for the calcium chloride to disperse.

We recommend waiting until the floc has time to bind to the particles and sink to the bottom. There is no specific length of time for this process, so watch your water closely. You could also follow the instruction tips on the back of your flocculent bottle.

For professional pool opening in Toronto, contact People for Pools at 647-710-8926, 1585 Britannia Rd E, Unit B3 Mississauga, ON L4W 2M4, and ensure your pool is ready for a refreshing swim this season.