Opening the pool this weekend? Here are tips from an expert

Many people are opening their pools this weekend and CBC has gathered these tips before you take the first plunge.

Make sure pool is clear underneath your pool cover, that there are no holes in the cover and start running the water pump right away, Ron Mailloux of Paradigm Pools and Spa said. If the water isn't clear, turn the heat down because warmer water can cause algae to grow.

The pump should run at least eight hours a day to turn the water over twice, but buying a variable speed pump can cut the speed and cost in half and keep it running all day long.

Chlorination comes in puck, liquid or salt form but the best choice can depend on availability. If a person works often, salt water might be the best choice, but a special pump must be bought up front. Liquid and pucks can be bought anytime, but they need to be poured or tossed in. However, people should not put chlorine in the skimmer basket because it can damage the plastic, Mailloux told the CBC.

Solar blankets, Mailloux said, can be a necessary evil because of Windsor weather.

"If you're heating your pool at 85 degrees as an example and we get a 65 degree night, if you don't have that blanket on you're going to lose," he said. "First of all you're going to lose water to evaporation, you get up in the morning lose half an inch of water and second, you lose all that heat you just paid Union Gas or Electric or whatever it is to heat the water."

He added whether it's a solar blanket, chlorine or water pumps, people should do research to find out what works best for them.