DIY Tips
Post-rain pool cleaning tips
29 May 2017
With heavy rain predicted to drench much of Australia’s east coast over the next few days, many pool owners will welcome the sight of watching water levels rising without the need to drain their tank or draw from mains water supply systems. However, there is a downside, and that is heavily diluted pool chemicals, especially salt and chlorine, and potential damage to filtration and sanitation equipment.
Heavy rain alters the pH level of your pool water, and this unbalanced water is not only unhealthy for swimmers but can also cause extensive and expensive damage to pool equipment, and the pool's surface, if ignored. In addition to diluting pool chemicals, rain drops wash microscopic algae spores into our pools – airborne ones attached to water droplets or washed into the water from surrounding vegetation.
Protect your pool and prevent water from going green with Swimart's post-rain pool cleaning tips:
- Leaving a dirty pool will only create costly problems down the track, so make it a priority to attend to it as soon as possible
- If the pool is particularly dirty, start by increasing the hours of filter operation for as long as it takes to clear the water
- Next, scoop out the leaves, brush the walls down, and give it a good vacuum
- Take a sample from elbow depth (where the water is circulated) and adjust chemicals to bring it back into balance. You can also bring the sample into your local Swimart store to have it professionally tested and stock up on chemicals, if necessary
- Check and empty the skimmer basket and the hair and lint filter located in front of the pump to ensure they are clear of debris
- In times of heavy rainfall, there is more demand for algaecides which kill algae, as these can be diluted by the extra fresh rainwater
- If you have a salt water pool, add more salt to make the pool saline and enhance chlorination. Chlorine is only added when the water is extremely dirty
- With the extra water in your pool, now is a good time to backwash it
- Roll out the pool cover if you have one, which will protect it from further downpours
If you lost power during the storm, it's best to remove any debris from the skimmer and pump baskets before starting your pump and filter. And, while shocking your pool isn’t always necessary, it's probably a good idea if you received extremely heavy rainfall. This will help fight off any contaminants that the rain may have brought to your pool.
We also recommend using a garden hose or broom to clean the pool deck of leaves and debris. If you decide to use a hose, spray away from the pool so you don’t create more work for yourself!
If you did lose power and are concerned it might have affected pool equipment, or your pool was damaged due to falling tree branches or contaminated runoff, call Swimart on 1300 991 104 and we'll arrange for a technician to come and check things out for you.