How Algae Forms in Swimming Pools
With summer and warmer temperatures around the corner, your swimming pool water temperature will start to increase. At this point, if you haven’t balanced your water chemistry or increased your filtration run times you should. As we head into March, this is typically the time where you can begin thinking about swimming again and it is important to start taking care of your pool more regularly. One of the main reasons is anytime you mix a large body of water and warmer temperatures it can make it much more challenging to take care of.
If conditions are right, algae can spread rapidly and take over the pool in a short amount of time. Hot weather, sunlight, lack of free chlorine, and lack of circulation in the water can all be contributing factors for algae growth. This means you need to create and maintain an environment that is so hostile to algae that it can’t take a foothold in your pool. In the end, the best way to save time and money cleaning up algae is to prevent algae growth in the first place and it only takes a few steps. Basically, you need to maintain the right water chemistry and the environment.
Balancing Your Water Chemistry
For starters, it is essential to check your water chemistry weekly to make sure the chemical balance in your water is accurate. High pH, low free chlorine levels, and minimal filtration are the most common causes of algae growth. It is also important to check your filter and clean it regularly. Make sure the filter is circulating properly and remember to use automatic cleaners to keep the water free of unwanted particles and spores. The two most significant contributors to an algae bloom are inadequate chlorination and insufficient filter time. Make sure that your filter is large enough for your pool and that the water is circulating through the filter often enough to keep it clean. At this point, you should be running for a minimum of 6-8 hours a day. You must check your water chemistry regularly which includes balancing it. Algae can grow in a day if any numbers not balanced or your filtration run times are too short. Now isn’t the time to save a couple of bucks here and thereby not doing what is right. Trust us because in the end saving a few bucks here and there will only cost you more in the future. Keep the free chlorine levels high, and monitor your Cyanuric Acid (CYA). If you do all this along with brushing, skimming, and emptying your baskets you can maintain a pool that is blue, clear, and ready to swim in!
