When is the Best Time to Open my Pool in Upstate New York?

National Pool Opening Day is quickly approaching us, falling on April 26^th of 2025, so our team wanted to highlight some best practices on deciding when to open your pool for the season in our region of Upstate New York.

When Should I Open my Pool for the Season?

In Upstate New York, the sweet spot to open your pool falls from late April to early May, as this gives you plenty of time to open, drain any excess water, and treat your water with any shock, chlorine, or other treatments. The average high temperature in Albany, NY for early May falls right under 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for getting the pool open and prepping your water.

Will my Pool Water Get Too Cold During the Night or on Cooler Days?

To avoid your pool getting too cold during the chilly late spring nights, you can use a solar cover during the night. This amplifies the warmth of your pool water, ensuring your water will stay warm for the below-average temperature days, and remains a comfortable temperature during the night.

Do I Need Anything Extra to Prep my Pool Water for Summer after Opening?

If you plan on opening your pool yourself, it is best to be stocked up with some essentials that may be needed. Chlorine, shock, algaecide, and water test strips are typically four of the main necessities that you will use when first opening your pool. If you want to double-check your pool water, bring in a water sample to us (from a pool that has been open/running at least 24 hours), as Alpin Haus offers free computerized water testing at our Clifton Park and Amsterdam Rt.30 locations, and coming soon to our High Adventure location in Latham!

There is a good chance that you may need to either add or drain some water from your pool as well, depending on if any rain water got in, or how much water evaporated over the spring so far. Rain, by nature, is acidic, and that acid will throw your balance out of whack by lowering your pH level, which results in its effectiveness plummeting. An elevated pH not only means that the chlorine in your pool becomes less effective, it also means that being in the water will be less comfortable, resulting in burning eyes and irritated skin. So, when the rain lets up, grab a sample of your pool water and stop by to see our water care experts.

You can read more about the impact rain has on your pool here.

Opening/Closing, Cleaning, and Extra Maintenance

At Alpin Haus, our pool experts serve the Capital Region of New York, meaning if you are looking to get started with your pool this season, but you are looking for some extra help, our team can come open your pool and take care of any season-prep and maintenance that you may need! Even if you are just on the fence about what you may need, feel free to read our pool services offered and reach out to our team here!