My Pool Opened……

Pool opening season is here! And for some, it is always a mystery what lies beneath that pool cover. Of course, it is your hope that your pool opens crystal clear and is ready to go. When the pool was closed, debris should have been removed by vacuuming and skimming. The chemicals should have been balanced, accessories removed, the filter equipment disassembled, balanced the chemicals and covered the pool. But there are some additional factors that can affect your pool water at the opening.

Dirty

When the cover was put on, there was no debris in the pool. Now at the pool opening, the cover is removed and voila! debris in the pool. If your pool cover has holes or is not secured throughout the winter, debris can easily get underneath. Obviously, any holes let debris through. If your pool cover has stretched or broken straps, a strap becomes dislodged, or there is a missing anchor, that will allow gaps for debris to enter.

With Algae

When the pool was closed, there was no algae. But now, that evil culprit has made its way into your pool. The most probable reason is that the chlorine that was added at the closing had dropped to a level that permitted algae to grow. The age of your cover may be a factor as older mesh covers allow more sunlight get through allowing algae to bloom easier. It could also be that debris from the environment or pool cover made its way into the pool providing the nutrients needed for algae to grow. This can be green or black algae making your pool appear between green and black.

Low or Empty

When the pool was closed, there was water in it but now it is low or gone! This could be that there is a leak, but it could also be a result of a few other things. In the winter, your water gets colder. When this happens, there is a greater difference between the water and surrounding air and as this increases, evaporation can happen at a quicker rate. If you have a pool cover that has a cover pump, that pump is supposed to drain standing water on your pool cover. If your pool cover is stretched or sags, that can lower the pump and cause it to actually drain out some of the pool water.

Let it Be Clear

If you don’t have a pool cover or are using a tarp with water bags as a pool cover, you have an increased chance of all of these issues affecting your pool water. That is why we recommend a newer safety cover. Not only is it a barrier to access for safety, but it prevents the elements from entering and affecting your pool water. Did you also know that different types of pool covers can affect how your water looks at the opening depending on whether you have a solid, mesh, or advanced grade mesh cover? They allow different levels of sunlight to penetrate affecting your chances of algae. The best chance to open clear is to make sure that you have all the debris removed prior to your pool being closed; during the winter, remove debris and standing water from your pool cover and surrounding deck regularly; check pool cover straps to make sure they are all on and secure; and test water chemistry to make sure levels remain in good parameters. The easiest way to do this is to enroll in our Winter Watch program. Something to think about while you are floating around in your pool.