It’s a warm day that’s perfect for a swim, but wait! Is the pool water dirty yet again?
Believe it or not, you can have clean pool water all summer long. All it takes is the right maintenance and precautions.
A clean pool is a safer pool. Studies show that consistent weekly maintenance can cut your annual chemical costs by up to 40% — and prevent 68% of common pool problems before they start. Plus, it's a lot more fun to splash around in clean, sparkling water.
While it's impossible to prevent 100% of all debris in your pool, you can prevent much of it. Debris not only clutters your pool, but organic debris results in algae. Under warm conditions, algae can bloom in as little as 24 hours — turning a clean pool green overnight.
Take the time to sweep or blow debris away from your pool. The less debris on your pool deck, the less that ends up floating in your clean pool water. When mowing, blow grass away from the pool.
If you have a pool cover, use it, especially if you're expecting storms. A pool cover can reduce debris contamination by up to 90%. Wind from storms often leaves pools filled with leaves, sticks, grass trimmings, insects and more.
Whenever you see something floating in your pool, use your skimmer net to remove it. Removing it quickly helps reduce the chance of algae growth. Plus, you won't have a thick layer of debris and sludge at the bottom of your pool.
Make it a daily habit — a quick two-minute skim before or after you swim keeps organic matter from breaking down in the water and consuming your chlorine.
This is the most important step for having clean pool water all summer. Even with preventative maintenance, some debris will make its way to your pool. Plus, you get sunscreen, hair products, body lotions and more in your pool each time you swim.
Debris and organic matter lead to various types of algae build-up. Not only is the algae unsightly, but it's also unsafe. As soon as algae is noticeable, you can expect it to spread rapidly — some varieties can double their coverage every 24 hours in warm, sunny conditions.
Cleaning the pool regularly prevents algae from getting out of hand. Otherwise, you might not get to use your pool temporarily as it's sanitized through superchlorination.
Cleaning the pool involves several key steps:
Clean the Filter & Baskets
Empty the skimmer basket, pump basket, and check your filter for clogs. A dirty filter reduces circulation by up to 80%, making it nearly impossible to keep water clean.
Vacuum the Pool
Remove settled dirt and debris from the pool floor. Manual or robotic vacuuming prevents organic matter from decomposing on the bottom and fueling algae growth.
Scrub the Walls
Brush the walls, steps, and waterline tile to dislodge algae before it takes hold. Focus on shaded areas and corners where algae loves to hide.
Shock Treatment
As a final step, use a shock treatment to eliminate any remaining bacteria and organic contaminants that regular chlorine levels can't handle.
Even if the water looks clean, it only stays clean through regular maintenance. Bacteria from organic debris is floating around the water before you ever see any algae build-up.
If this sounds more like a science project than pool maintenance, you're kind of right. However, your pool chemistry is much easier to check than performing a science experiment. Pool chemistry refers to your water's composition, such as pH, chlorine and alkalinity.
Your pool needs to remain within a specific pH range for chlorine to be effective. Otherwise, your chlorine won't work nearly as well, leading to dirty pool water faster.
Going over this range makes your chlorine almost inactive. Going under reduces effectiveness, but not as much. Either way, your pool water isn't nearly as clean as it should be.
Be careful not to add too much. Always add chemicals a little at a time to prevent over-treating. It may take up to 24 hours to see results with a test strip.
Check the water chemistry at least twice a week during summer. Hawaii's intense sun and warm temperatures break down chlorine faster than mainland climates.
Proper alkalinity acts as a buffer for your pH level, preventing wild swings that make chlorine ineffective.
If you’re new to using chemicals and balancing your pool water, speak with a professional. This ensures you have safe, clean pool water.
It's always a good idea to clean off any dirt, lotions (except water-proof sunscreen) and hair products before diving in. All of this can wash off in your pool. If you swim frequently, your chlorine might not be able to kill off the bacteria and algae quickly enough.
A quick rinse removes body oils, sweat, and cosmetics that consume chlorine and contribute to cloudy water. The average swimmer introduces about 1 pint of sweat per hour — that's a lot of extra demand on your sanitizer.
Enjoying Your Clean Pool Water
Does all of this sound like a lot of work? That’s because it is. The last thing you want to do after working all day or week is spend hours cleaning your pool. You just want to enjoy, right?
At Koko Head Pool Service, we help keep your Honolulu area pool cleaner all summer. Contact us today to request a quote.
Keep Your Pool Crystal Clear All Summer
Don't spend your weekends scrubbing walls and testing chemicals. Koko Head Pool Service has kept East Honolulu pools sparkling since 1995. Let Paul and the team handle the maintenance so you can enjoy the swim.
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