For those of you who rely on calendars to inform you of the changing of the seasons, you may be a little surprised when you step outside your Phoenix abode and are hit in the face by extreme heat. In Arizona, we use calendars as ways of marking off the days until the cool weather returns, and we know summer officially arrived back in April with the advent of temperatures that reached the century mark! Because of the extreme summer temps, many Arizonans also know how to extend their outdoor play time as they spend hours hanging out by the pool. Unfortunately, the higher utilization of our watery playgrounds also means more pool maintenance. New Image Landscape and Pools knows your pain, and as such, we have created this guide to summer pool maintenance tips in order to help you spend more time in the water and less time hanging out by the equipment trying to keep the pool clean and safe!
A Little Extra Effort
Summer swim season is one of our favorite times of the year, but as we stated earlier, more use leads to more effort in keeping our pools swim ready! The warmer water is a perfect environment for algae and bacteria growth, so running the pool pump and filter helps to continuously turn the water over during the heat of the day to keep it from getting stagnant. You’ll know if you aren’t running the equipment long enough by the appearance of algae growth in the top 8 to 10 inches from the surface. Another thing to look out for is sun exposure; just as moss grows on the north side of a tree, algae will makes its appearance on the south side of the pool.
The More you Swim the More Pool Maintenance
Socializing with pool parties is very popular in the desert, but this activity comes with one major drawback. A heavy swim load can be the biggest element affecting your pool’s cleanliness and beauty. More bodies in the pool will cause a serious strain on your sanitizing chemicals as the body oils, sweat, and more will affect the chemistry of the pool. Many people believe that the problem can be solved by just dumping some extra chlorine in the water, but there’s more that needs to be done. Using more chlorine in you pool more often causes larger swings in the balance of other chemicals in the pool, such as the pH and alkalinity of the water. A happy pool requires a balance of chemicals, and if you overload one it will quickly be evident by the appearance of the water. Testing kits make it easier to determine which chemicals are lacking and of which there is an abundance; these are sold at most pool and home improvement stores.
Plant Growth is Only Pretty on Land
Everyone loves a beautiful garden, but vegetation growth is of a huge concern for pool water health. When plants and flowers are in bloom, winds pick up pollen, dust, and grass clippings from your yard and your neighbor’s yard and quickly deposit them where you really don’t want them to be—in your pool. It’s important to be mindful of what plants you put in your yard, or more specifically the pool area. Things that drop or shed a lot of debris or pollen can be counterintuitive to a healthy pool, because these particles supply the unwanted algae with a food source, turning your pool a most unlovely shade of green, yellow, or in worst case scenarios, black.
Phosphates can be chemically and safely removed from your pool water with a bottle of phosphate removal, such as Orenda Pr-10,000 Phosphate Remover Concentrate For Swimming Pools or Natural Chemistry Phosfree Extra Strength Phosphate Remover For Pools, both of which can be ordered online. These chemicals are relatively inexpensive and are imperative to keeping your pool sanitized, healthy, and swim-ready as we delve deeper into the hotter months of summer!
Dust Storms Can Wreak Havoc
That wall of dust you see rolling towards the valley on the news in July and August isn’t just dangerous to drive in; it can seriously wreak havoc with the cleanliness of your pool. Although there’s no way to prevent the storms, your quick response to the weather will help keep your pool in tip top shape. As soon as it’s safe to go out to the pool after a big storm, manually skimming the pool with a net and telescoping pole will be the biggest thing you can do to save your equipment and keep the green from developing.
So What Have We Learned?
As fun as having your own pool can be, responsible pool ownership involves a certain amount of maintenance, especially during the summer months. Warm stagnant water, sun exposure, improperly balanced water, bodies swimming and vegetation can all make an impact on having a clean and safe swimming environment for you and your family. If you’re still having problems keeping your pool swim-ready, give us a call today and we can work together to fix all your summer maintenance issues!
