Summertime and your Swimming Pool
Summer can be a challenging time for your swimming
pool care. The days are longer, some regions have temperatures of over 100
degrees for weeks on end and the UV index is at the highest point. All of this
will make maintaining a pool much more difficult. Here are some helpful tips
for you so that you can make it through the Summer season with a sparkling
clear blue pool.
One thing that is often overlooked is the pool’s
filtration system. At the beginning of each season, you need to make sure the
filter is operating properly and is cleaned. I like to clean and inspect my DE
and Cartridge filters in March before the season starts here in California. If
the grids have tears or the cartridges are old this is the time to replace
them. One of the major problems that contribute to algae and pools unable to
hold a good chlorine level is a poorly running filtration system. So, make sure
the filter is clean and in good running condition.
During the Summer season algae can be a big problem.
It can bloom for several reasons, but the primary reason is not adding chlorine
to the proper level. Keeping your chlorine at 3.0 ppm to 5.0 ppm is a good
idea. If the chlorine zeros out during the week algae can certainly bloom. So,
check your chlorine level at least once a week or more and make sure you add
chlorine consistently to the pool.
If your Conditioner level, CYA level is too low the
chlorine will burn off quickly due to the intense UV rays in the Summer. Try to
keep your CYA level at 30-50 ppm and raise it if necessary. If the Conditioner
level gets too high, over 100 ppm then the chlorine becomes less effective. In
this case, you will have to literally keep the chlorine at 10 ppm each week just
to prevent algae growth. So, adjusting the CYA level in the pool is also a
critical factor in the Summer.
The water level is one thing that is often overlooked
during the season and it is one thing that can turn your pool green very
quickly. Older pools do not have the main drain and skimmer connected and most
of the older pools do not have the ability to turn off the skimmer if the water
gets too low. This means that when the water level gets below the skimmer, the
pool will begin to suck air. The pump will stop running and the pool water will
not circulate. So, until you add water and correct this the pool will in effect
stop running for that week. In 100-degree weather, this can easily lead to algae
and a green pool.
If you do see any algae in the pool you will want to
attack it aggressively. Failure to do this will result in a large algae bloom. Even
a small amount in the step area can bloom into algae all over the pool walls in
a few days. This is because the algae will use up the chlorine in the pool
which will lead to it spreading rapidly. The best defense is prevention. You
can start the season with a PoolRX in the pool, use a Poly Quat 60 or add Borates
to your pool to bring it to 30-50 ppm. All these steps will help prevent algae
in your pool during the season.
The point here is to be proactive with your pool care
in the Summer. Start with a clean filter. Keep the chlorine level up, tread
algae when you see it and fill your pool to keep the water circulating
properly.
Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
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