Your Pool Is Not Impervious to the Heat

With each passing day, we inch closer and closer to summer. The start of summer means that the days will only get even hotter. One of the best ways to stay cool during the summer is by taking a dip into the waters of a swimming pool. Not only are pools great for escaping the summer heat, but they also provide you with a host of other benefits, such as staying active, entertainment for the family, and completing your backyard aesthetic.

While pools are perfect for the summer, they are not immune to the dangers of summer heat. After all, the sun is powerful. Even though a pool saves you from the heat, it eventually falls victim to it. All pool owners must be aware of how the summer heat can affect their pool and what they can do to ensure they are able to reap the most benefits from this backyard amenity.

Mid City Custom Pools wants all our customers to enjoy their summers to the best of their abilities. Arguably the best way to do so is with the help of an expertly crafted swimming pool. If you interested in beginning construction on your own pool, water feature, or fire feature, contact Mid City Custom Pools.

Sunlight and Chlorine

The sun gives off dangerous UV rays. During the summer, these rays are stronger than at any other point over the year. Additionally, the days are much longer in the summer, which means the sun will be beating down on your pool for hours on end. This extended time in the sun can have an impact on your pool.

Chlorine is beneficial to your pool because it keeps your pool clean and safe to swim in by killing germs, bacteria, and algae. Whenever your water gets green or cloudy or both, it usually means your chlorine levels are low. Too much chlorine is also harmful to swimmers, so as a pool owner, you must stay on top of your pool chemistry.

Chlorine demand occurs when there is a high level of inorganic and organic contaminants in the water that your chlorine has to work overtime to eliminate. When this happens, there is little chlorine left to protect swimmers from the dangers of harmful bacteria and algae. You should be consistently removing these contaminants on your own to ensure your chlorine can take care of more dangerous substances.

Additionally, as the weather gets hotter and hotter, more swimmers enter the pool. When swimmers enter a pool, they bring with them numerous organic and inorganic substances, which chlorine has to fight off. The more people in your pool throughout a day, the more your chlorine has to work.

However, the summer heat and the sun’s UV rays can also diminish your chlorine levels.

Chlorine Evaporation

Bacteria and algae tend to thrive in warmer environments, so summer is naturally a time where they flourish. When this occurs and bacteria multiply, your chlorine must work harder to kill it, which reduces your chlorine levels. This increase in bacteria growth forces you to need to add more chlorine than usual.

Additionally, the sun’s UV rays also break down the chlorine in your pool through a process called oxidation. Oxidation causes the chlorine to disappear from your pool and enter the air. On some of the summer’s hottest days, your pool can lose almost all its chlorine, so you must make a habit of checking your chemistry levels daily.

You may want to add more chlorine to your pool or even stabilizers to ensure they last longer and are much more effective during the season.

Dangers of Algae Blooms

Much how bacteria tend to thrive in warmer environments, so does algae. Chlorine is put in your pool to protect the pool system and swimmers from harmful substances, such as algae and bacteria. However, as we stated before, chlorine must work much harder to combat the multiplying bacteria and algae blooms that thrive in the summer heat.

With days growing longer and the weather getting hotter, your pool does not get a chance to cool down, even at night. Chlorine demand remains high at all hours, which allows algae to thrive. It is much easier (and cheaper) to prevent algae than it is to treat it.

Some algae just float freely in your pool, while others attach themselves to pool surfaces. Black algae, also known as cyanobacteria, form a root system in your pool and can be difficult to remove. It can also be dangerous.

The use of algaecide and regular scrubbing can help treat and prevent the growth of algae blooms.

Tips to Protect Your Pool

Taking care of your pool over the summer is meticulous and should be done regularly. The summer heat can make caring for your pool water more difficult. After all, bacteria and algae thrive in the heat, water evaporates quicker, and the sun’s UV rays oxidize your pool chlorine. Here are some tips to help you care for your pool in the summer heat:

• Check your pool chemistry at least every two days. Check after heavy usage days, as well.
• Always keep the proper chemicals, such as chlorine and calcium, on hand, so you can add chemicals whenever your chemistry is off.
• Check the water level to ensure you haven’t lost too much water.
• Clean your skimmer baskets and your filtration system.
• Regularly rinse your filter.
• Use an efficient algaecide if need be.
• Regularly clean your pool by scrubbing the pool surface and skimming the waters.
• Keep your filtration system running between 6-8 hours a day.

Many pool owners think because swimming pools are popular during the summer that they aren’t at danger in the heat. However, that’s not the case. The summer heat has an impact on your pool, especially your pool chemistry. You must stay on top of any changes in your pool and maintain your chemistry to ensure it’s safe to swim in and functions properly. If you are interested in adding a pool to your backyard, give Mid City Custom Pools a call today.