When it starts getting hot outside, you’re probably excited to get your pool or jacuzzi open for the season. As you know, this requires a special mix of chemicals. But as you might not know, the same summer heat that makes you want to hit the water can also have an impact on your pool’s chemicals.
Sunshine
That warm summer sunshine can actually begin to degrade the chlorine in your pool water rather quickly. This is due to a chemical reaction that takes place under the UV rays. This degradation can be greatly reduced by adding another chemical, called cyanuric acid, or CA.
Heat
Jumping in your pool is a great way to cool off from the summer heat. You might be glad to know that unless it’s hot enough to raise your pool’s temperature significantly, you don’t really need to worry much about the heat affecting your pool. Besides…if it’s hot enough to make your pool hot, you probably don’t want to get in anyway.
Rain
Rainy weather can definitely have an impact on the chemical makeup of your swimming pool or spa. Perhaps surprisingly, the issues rain can cause aren’t due to diluting your chemicals. Even an inch of rain water added to a typical pool of around 20,000 gallons will only increase the water amount by about 2%. So if dilution isn’t the problem, what is? It’s the things that come with that rain water: algae spores and other unseen debris. When it rains, these spores and other undesirables get washed directly into your pool water by the falling rain. Not to mention anything that could be on the ground has a good chance of making its way into the water. All of this can cause a reaction with your pool chemicals, reducing the amount of active chlorine that’s present. The decomposing matter can fuel the growth and reproduction of algae and some other organisms present in the water — and algae is the last thing you want.
The best way to fight this battle is to kill it faster than it grows, which means keeping sanitizer levels in the correct range, and adding algicide. For this, a copper-based algicide is best. Look for one that isn’t subject to decomposition by chlorine and sunlight. It’s also vital that you test your pool water’s pH after rainy weather, so you can re-balance it if necessary. Proper pH will help your pool stay clean.
Talk to an Expert
If you’re unsure how different weather conditions might affect the chemical balance and cleanliness of your pool, consult a pool care specialist or experienced pool and spa dealer. When dealing with professionals, whether for your landscaping or your pool maintenance, it shouldn’t be difficult if you have the right information.