If you have a pool in your backyard, it’s important to keep it maintained and clean so that everyone can enjoy it. One of the most common causes of water damage is due to the opening of pool umbrella holes which leads to the entry of rain and other elements into your pool. Depending on the size of your pool and how frequently you use it, it may be necessary to cover the umbrella holes with a pool screen. In this article, we will discuss how to open up the pool screen and keep the water safe and clean inside your swimming area.
Table of Contents
Step One: Get The Right Equipment
The first thing you should do before attempting to fix any issue with your pool screen is to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment. To ensure this, you should buy a quality pool screen, a pair of scissors, a small notepad and a tape measure. With these items in your hands, you can fix just about any type of pool screen with no trouble. Just make sure you don’t use an automatic pool cleaner with an intake nozzle as it may get clogged up quickly if not cleaned properly by an experienced mechanic like yourself.
Step Two: Measure The Hole
After you have your equipment ready, you need to proceed to measure the holes in your pool screen. Start by looking at the backside of your screen, and locate the holes using the edge of a pool stick or wand as a guide. Use the tape measure to make sure that the hole is the correct size for the type of umbrella that will be used to cover it. For instance, a smaller pool screen may be used for an inflatable kiddie pool while a larger one would be utilized for a typical pool area.
Step Three: Remove The Inner Brackets
Once you have the correct size and location of the holes, remove the inner brackets that hold the screen together. You can either do this manually or with the help of a nut cracker. Regardless, be careful not to damage the exterior of your screen while removing these items as it will affect its lifespan. Once you have removed the brackets, you can set your pool screen aside until you are ready to install it at a later date.
Step Four: Cut The Tape
After you have removed the inner brackets, cut the tape that was covering the hole to prevent any rainwater from entering your pool. Once this step is complete, you can secure the cover using the corner brackets that were attached to the pool screen. Make sure that these pieces are tightened securely before laying down the pool furniture ornaments such as lounges and chaise lounges.
Step Five: Reinstall The Brackets
Now that you have the pool screen in place, you can either proceed to the interior or exterior side of your pool area and reattach the tape to the bracket edges. Reinstall the brackets using the same method as step three and make sure that the tape is nice and tight around the entire perimeter of the pool area. You should also take the time to double check the front of your pool screen for any potential leaks before laying down your pool furniture.
With these instructions, you can easily open up the umbrella holes in your pool screen and keep your pool clean and safe. Remember to take your time so that you do this right the first time. If you are looking for an easy way to keep your pool clean, contact your local pool equipment store for more information on affordable pool screens and other related products.