Spring is here, which means pollen, and lots of it. Have you ever noticed a yellowish tinge floating in your pool water? Yep, that’s pollen. Pollen is a natural part of life, but it’s also a pretty big annoyance for pool owners. If you’ve ever dealt with allergies before, you know just how much of a pain pollen can be. In order to make sure your pool is pollen-free this season, it’s important to take a few extra steps to protect it from the natural elements of spring.

Allergy culprits make their way through Texas from late February to April, as spring tree pollens start to wreak havoc on yards and city streets. Elm pollen starts first, then Pecan and Walnut later in spring, followed by Oak, which happens to have a very long pollination season. Grasses are another allergy offender that cause major issues for people – and pool – but we won’t get into that today. What is important is to pay attention to these major tree allergens common to North Texas and clean your pool accordingly.

Identifying Pollen

When it comes to dealing with pollen in your pool, the first step is to identify it as pollen. Algae is another common issue that plague pool owners in Texas during the spring and summer months, so it’s important not to confuse this with pollen. Some algae, like mustard algae, look just like pollen, making it difficult to determine what it is. The main difference to watch for it where it collects. Pollen will always float to the top of the pool whereas algae will stick to the sides and bottom of the pool. Also, if you notice your filtration system has some plant material in it, there’s a good chance you are dealing with a pollen problem.

Thankfully, getting rid of pollen is quite easy and won’t take much effort, or time, on your part. Understanding when pollen is the heaviest in your area is a must if you are going to rid your pool of it, so be sure and check your local weather source for pollen updates. Once you’ve determined the peak pollen season, you can prepare yourself to make sure it stays clean.

Removing Pollen

Once you’ve determined it is pollen you are dealing with, it’s time to get rid of it. Here are a few steps to help you:

• Run the filtration system – The first thing you should do to get rid of pollen in your pool is run the filtration system. This will be your best defense against pollen accumulating at the top of your pool, so try running it more than you normally would and see what happens. This step is also important because it means less work for you!
• Skim the water – First thing in the morning (and even in the afternoon if you have a serious problem), skim the pool’s surface with a fine mesh skimmer in order to pick up any pollen that has found its way there overnight. You may need to repeat this process several times throughout the day during heavy pollen times.
• Shock the pool – In the evening before you turn in for the night, give the pool a good shock in order to kill anything that has made itself at home. When you wake up, turn on your pool’s filtration system and give it a good skim in order to make sure no pollen is left behind.
• Vacuum the pool – Last but not least, if skimming isn’t doing the trick you may need to vacuum the pool manually. This should be a last resort, as it can become expensive.

Protect your pool from pollen this year with the above handy tips. If you have any questions about this or anything else regarding caring for your pool this season, please don’t hesitate to give Mid City Custom Pools a call. Our Southlake pool builders are here to answer any questions you may have and ensure you have a safe and enjoyable summer in your pool this year.