It’s April. Maybe early May. The sun is out. You walk past the pool cover for the 30th time and wonder… is it time?
You’re not alone. Every pool owner has that moment where they stand in flip-flops, staring at the water like it might bite.
Let’s figure this out.
What the temperature tells you
The general rule? Open your pool when daytime temperatures consistently stay above 60 degrees. Why? Because algae also love 60 degrees. If you wait too long, you’re inviting growth under the cover.
Opening early doesn’t mean you have to swim. It just means you’re getting ahead of the mess. And believe me, late openers deal with cloudier water and more chemicals.
Check the Old Farmer’s Almanac average temperature trends to decide when your area hits the sweet spot for opening.
Is it a weekend? Then yes, open the pool
Do not overcomplicate it. If it’s warm and you have time, that’s a green light. Waiting for the “perfect day” is how you end up panicking on Memorial Day weekend because your water looks like green tea.
Make a plan. Schedule a few hours. And maybe bribe someone with pizza to help you wrestle the cover off.
The only day not to open your pool is “someday”
There’s no badge for waiting. No trophy for putting it off until the last minute. Whether you open in March, April, or early May, what matters is that you start the process before it gets gross.
So yes, today might be the day.
Unless it’s raining. Then maybe wait until tomorrow.
