If you own a pool in Central New Jersey, you’ve probably wondered at some point: Am I doing this right? Should I open it earlier? Can I switch to salt? What happens if I just… skip the winterization this year?
We recently sat down with David Kagel, co-owner of Pool Bros, on the All About Real Estate with Ken and Jane podcast to answer exactly those questions. Here’s what every NJ homeowner with a pool needs to hear.
Open Your Pool Earlier Than You Think
Most homeowners assume pool season starts around Memorial Day. David says that’s too late.
“We start opening pools in March,” he explained. “At my old company, they started as early as February.”
Why so early? It comes down to algae. The sun is what makes algae grow — and in March and April, it’s not strong enough yet to cause the explosive green blooms that show up when you open a neglected pool in late May.
Opening early means:
- Less algae to fight. You’re getting ahead of the problem before warm weather sets in.
- Less stress on your equipment. Your filter and pump don’t have to work as hard to clear the water.
- More time to catch issues. If your pump burns out or a pipe is leaking, you have weeks to fix it before swim season. Open in late May, and every pool company in the area is booked solid.
“If you open it in May and your pump’s burned out, your motor doesn’t start, your filter’s not working — you’re going to call me or 20 other professionals and they’ll all give you the same answer: ‘I’m sorry, we’re booked for two weeks.'”
The takeaway: give yourself a head start. Open early, and you’ll spend June swimming instead of scrambling.
The Difference Between a Pool Opening and a Pool That’s Actually Ready to Swim In
Here’s something a lot of homeowners don’t realize: a pool opening and a swim-ready pool are two different things.
A standard pool opening means the cover comes off, the equipment gets started, and maybe there’s a courtesy vacuum. But after that? The water chemistry still needs to be balanced, the pool may be green or cloudy, and if you don’t know what you’re doing with chemicals, it can take weeks to get it right.
That’s where Pool Bros’ Complete Maintenance Package comes in. David describes it this way:
“We open your pool and then we just keep coming back until it’s actually swim-ready. If that takes one or two follow-up visits or five follow-up visits, we just keep coming back — because that way you’re not worrying about it.”
The Complete Maintenance Package includes:
- Pool opening
- Follow-up visits until the pool is swim-ready
- Weekly service from Memorial Day to Labor Day — water testing, chemical balancing, vacuuming, brushing, skimmer cleaning, equipment checks
- All sanitizing chemicals included
- Pool closing in the fall
The goal is simple: you shouldn’t have to think about your pool. That’s what Pool Bros is for.
What Homeowners Should (and Shouldn’t) Do Between Visits
We asked David what homeowners should handle on their own when Pool Bros is already doing weekly service.
His answer? Mostly nothing — with one important exception.
“If you have a tree almost growing on top of your pool and it’s dumping leaves into your pool every single day, it’s good to check your skimmer baskets,” he said. “That kind of stuff can damage your equipment.”
A clogged skimmer basket puts strain on your pump. If the basket cracks and debris gets into the motor itself, you’re looking at a costly repair. Staying on top of that one simple task — emptying skimmer baskets when there’s heavy leaf fall — can save you real money.
Beyond that, David’s advice is to just notify the team if something seems off.
“If you wake up in the morning and the pump’s supposed to be on and you don’t see the water moving, let us know right away. It’s not a bother. I want to come and help.”
One more tip: a robotic pool cleaner is a great investment for any homeowner, especially those who want a cleaner pool between weekly visits. It handles the bottom of the pool so you’re always swimming in clean water, not waiting for the weekly visit to clean up what the wind blew in.
The Truth About Salt Water Pools
Salt water pools are popular, and there are real benefits — but David also wants to clear up some common misconceptions.
The main advantage: Some people are sensitive to traditional stabilized chlorine tablets and develop rashes or eczema. Salt systems generate a different type of chlorine that many sensitive swimmers tolerate much better. If your dog swims in the pool daily and is losing hair from the chlorine, a salt system can help with that too.
The myth: “I have a salt pool, so I don’t have chlorine.” Not true. Salt systems work by using electricity to convert salt into chlorine. You still have chlorine in your pool — it’s just produced differently.
The other myth: “I have a salt pool, so I don’t need to balance my chemicals.” This one is actually dangerous.
“I see it online all the time,” David said. “People say ‘I haven’t had algae since I got it’ — but the real reason is they weren’t adding enough chlorine before. Now the generator is putting in plenty of chlorine. But the water might be corrosive or too high in pH, and that’s causing real damage to the equipment and the pool itself. You’re just not noticing it until it’s too late.”
Salt is corrosive — to your heater, to metal components, to above-ground pool walls. Salt pools actually require more attention to chemical balance, not less.
Cost to consider: Converting to a salt system typically runs $2,000–$3,000 depending on the system. It’s not a small investment, and it’s not right for every pool. If you’re curious whether it makes sense for your situation, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it honestly.
Winterization: The Most Important Thing You Might Be Skipping
If there’s one thing David wants every Central NJ pool owner to hear, it’s this: please don’t skip professional winterization.
“If there’s one thing you should probably hire somebody to do, it’s winterize your pool,” he said.
Proper winterization means making sure as much water as possible is blown out of the pipes, the right winter plugs are installed, and skimmers are protected before the first freeze. Miss a step, and you’re rolling the dice on burst pipes, cracked equipment, damaged liners, and repair bills that can reach into the thousands.
“A lot of homeowners either miss essential steps or just think they can put a cover on the pool to keep the leaves out. That can lead to really serious problems.”
David compared it to ignoring your gutters or skipping oil changes: the damage is invisible until it’s too late and very expensive.
If you’re buying a home with a pool in the fall or winter, David also recommends asking the seller for documentation that the pool was professionally winterized. It’s worth asking for — and a reputable pool company will have records.
Pools and Real Estate: What You Should Know
Thinking about selling your home? David works with homeowners preparing their pools for the market all the time, and his advice is consistent: get the pool in great shape before listing, not after.
“If you open it in March and anything needs to be fixed, you can fix it. Whereas if people open the pool May 20th and all of a sudden there’s a problem, you’re stuck in the mad rush.”
A clean, sparkling pool photographs beautifully and removes any uncertainty from buyers’ minds. A covered pool raises questions. A green pool kills deals.
Ready to Make Pool Ownership Feel Like a Luxury?
Pool Bros serves homeowners throughout Middlesex, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties. Whether you need a pool opening, a full-season maintenance package, equipment repair, or a salt system installation, the team is ready to help.
Call us at 732-593-7133 — we’re available 7 days a week, 8AM to 6PM all season long.
Don’t wait until Memorial Day. Call now and get ahead of the season.
Pool Bros is a licensed pool service company (NJHIC #13VH12777200) with a Certified Pool Operator on staff, serving East Brunswick, Edison, Monroe Township, Marlboro, Princeton, and surrounding communities in Central New Jersey.
