Critters
using your swimming pool as their own personal water hole is a common problem.
Whether it be ducks, raccoons or rodents, these critters can be hard to get rid
of once they have made your pool their home. But there are some ways to rid
your yard of them and not bring any harm to them in the process.
Ducks
can really make a mess of your swimming pool. I have a lot of first-hand
experience of this in my service area. Within a few days, a perfectly balanced crystal
clear pool can become a swamp with just two ducks swimming in it. The problem
is the waste. They are constantly excreting, and their waste is very acidic
so if your pool is a brand new construction just filled, I have seen some bad
stains from ducks in new pools. The waste will use up the chlorine in the pool
and very quickly the water will look more like a pond than a pool.
Dogs
are pretty useless in getting rid of them and they have little fear of humans.
If you do get them to fly away they will return within minutes. But it is not
hopeless. I have had very good success with keeping ducks out of a pool using a
$12.00 Alligator Float. The ducks just don’t like the looks of it and will not
go into the pool in most cases. Other pool guys also have said that Swan floats
are also effective. If the floats do not work the next step up is Floating Glazing
Balls or Pond Orbs. These are stainless steel balls that are 10-12” in diameter
and you would simply put 4-5 of them in the pool. As they float around the
ducks will soon leave, one customer said that the ducks don’t like their
reflection. Whatever the reason the floating stainless steel orbs are very
effective. They are a little pricey though at $30 apiece but if the floats fail
the floating orbs will succeed.
Raccoons
are a very big problem in my service area. For some odd reason, they like to
wash their food in the pool or spa water. They will enter the first step of the
pool or spa and usually will also defecate in the water. So you will wake up
the next morning and see Raccoon poop on the first step of the pool. This is
not only unsanitary but very annoying as it will happen night after night. The
solution is unsightly but effective.
Simply
lay large pieces of plywood across the step area of the pool. Make sure the
steps are completely covered. The Raccoons can’t get into the pool now and soon
will leave. They generally will not jump in a pool but walk in on the steps.
Cover the steps in your attached spa also, or they will move from the pool to
the spa. After 2 or 3 weeks they will leave and find another watering hole. You
may also have some success with placing a realistic-looking plastic snake near
the pool step area. I have one account that has had great success with a rubber
snake also.
Raccoons
also tend to bite your suction side pool cleaner hoses. Why they do this is a
mystery, but I have found countless cleaner hoses with Raccoon bites in them,
ruining the hoses and causing the system to suck in air. To prevent this you
will have to remove the cleaner from the pool and leave it out for a few days.
Rats
are a big problem for your pool and it is not just finding a dead one in your
pool now and again. They chew just about any wire they can get their teeth on. They
really like the warmth and safety of your pool heater. Once they get into your
heater they will chew all the wires. I have seen them destroy a control board,
temp sensor, and other vital parts. To prevent rats from entering use metal
screens around any opening larger than a coin the size of a quarter. Traps with
peanut butter in them work very well also. It is not much you can do to keep
them out of your yard, but keeping them out of your heater is essential.
If
your pool or equipment are gets invaded by any of these critters, try these tips
to get rid of them safely. I have found them effective on my pool route in the
past.
Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
YouTube Video Index: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html – A
list of all of my videos.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.