Summer Pool Survival Guide with Terry Arko

Summer is when pool maintenance stops being predictable and starts moving fast, especially for pool service professionals managing large weekly routes. As water temperature climbs, everything accelerates: sanitizer demand rises, algae prevention gets harder, and balance problems show up quickly between visits. Terry Arco from HASA frames it as a shift from “walking to running,” and it’s a useful mindset for seasonal planning. Weather swings, early heat, and surprise cool spells can scramble the old calendar that once centered on Memorial Day. The best defense is preparation and smarter timing so you are not reacting to problems after they explode on day five or day seven of a service cycle.  

Warm water changes water balance in measurable ways, and understanding that helps you prevent surface damage and customer complaints. A key concept is the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI): temperature alone can move LSI, nudging water toward scale-forming conditions as it heats up. Calcium behaves differently in cooler versus warmer water, becoming less soluble as temperatures rise and increasing the potential for calcium carbonate scale. At the same time, carbon dioxide activity increases, which can amplify scaling tendencies when other factors also drift. Add biology to the mix and summer becomes even less forgiving: algae spores transition into active growth as the pool warms, and under the right conditions algae can multiply rapidly, which means your chlorine strategy must adjust before you see green.  

That is why proactive pool care in spring is one of the highest ROI habits for a pool route. Plan shock treatment while pools are used less, and many pros prefer liquid chlorine for control and speed. Check and manage cyanuric acid (CYA) early, especially if trichlor tablets have been the primary chlorination method and CYA has climbed. If dilution or partial drain and refill is needed, doing it before peak season is easier on your schedule and easier to explain to customers as “getting ready for summer.” This is also the time to evaluate phosphates, borates, and total dissolved solids (TDS) so you are not stacking algaecides, clarifiers, and enzymes later just to keep up. Early adjustments create steadier chlorine residuals and fewer emergency cleanups.  

Summer planning is not only technical, it is financial and personal. Chemical use can double or triple, so pool business budgeting should account for higher chlorine consumption and added balance chemicals, plus real-world price pressure from transportation and fuel charges. On top of that, drought restrictions can limit draining, making early-season water management even more important in areas like California and Arizona. Finally, the pro has to stay safe: heat safety is job safety. Hydration is not just water, because electrolytes matter for energy, focus, and avoiding dangerous fatigue. Simple options like adding lemon juice and a small amount of salt to water, or using electrolyte packets or trace mineral drops, can help, along with cooling breaks, working A/C, sun protection, and tools like a cooler or neck wrap. A better summer is built before summer starts.