How to Fill an Above Ground Pool
Tip
Fill your above ground pool on a hot, sunny day so the liner is warm and will stretch better.
If you have a high content of iron in your water, purchase a “fill stick” that attaches to your garden hose. This includes a micron filter and”green sand” filter and costs about $70.
Add chemicals just before dusk and use your filter at night to allow full chemical concentration.
Check your water twice a week and after heavy rains.
Filter your pool 3 to 6 hours a day once it is chemically balanced.
Warning
Make sure if you use bulk water delivery that its hose reaches your above ground pool so there is no damage to your lawn.
If your water is too low, the pump will suck air and if it’s too high it will not skim debris on the top of your pool water.
If you fill your pool from a well, make sure the iron content is low so you will not stain your liner.
If your liner is not expandable, it is not recommended to use bulk water as there will be too much stress on the liner.
You should only have to fill a new above ground pool once. After that you will only need to replace water lost because of evaporation, splashing, routine backwashing or re-opening in summer after winterizing your pool. You have to take into consideration several factors when deciding how to fill your above ground pool, such as how quickly you want to be swimming, wrinkle prevention in the liner, the cost of water and whether there are water restrictions in your area.
Steps
Call the water utility department and ask if there are water restrictions for filling new above ground swimming pools. Complete a written exemption form if required; obtain this from the water utility department.
Contact bulk water delivery service to determine if filling your above ground pool this way is a better option for you.
Check to make sure that you will have sunny weather and temperatures of at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit on the day you want to fill your above ground pool.
Hook hose to water outlet and fill your above ground pool to 15 inches while working out any wrinkles in the liner.
Fill the pool to the middle of the skimmer using your hose or have bulk water delivered.
Fill the container with water from the pool and take it to a local pool store for analysis.
Purchase chemicals to adjust the PH, alkalinity and chlorine levels.
Add chemicals to adjust alkalinity, allow filter to run for 3 hours, make sure that alkalinity is within normal range before adjusting PH.
Add chemicals to adjust PH and let filter run 3 additional hours.
Make sure PH and alkalinity are within specs using testing kit.
Shock pool with high concentration of chlorine and let filter run 15 hours.
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Writer Bio
Cindy has a B.A. from EMU. She was Director HR in a healthcare company for 10 years and received PHR certification in 2008. Cindy has a virtual gallery, www.wildflowergallery.com. She provides quality writing/design to healthcare providers. She Manages a fitness club and is a volunteer member of CERT.
