Take It With a Rain of Salt

Sun, warm weather, spending time with friends and family is what summertime is all about. Unfortunately, it also means afternoon storms from time to time. Some people believe that rain will not affect a swimming pool; some facts present the contrary.

Rainwater is considered acidic, which means it falls somewhere below 7 on the pH scale. 

Furthermore, acidic rain makes your pool water corrosive which can affect the plaster surfaces and equipment. Of course, a light rain won’t hurt much, but here in northeast Florida, we can receive some fairly heavy afternoon thunderstorms. Below are some factors on how rain can affect your swimming pool.

• Rainwater causes the pH levels to fluctuate and salt levels to fall due to chemical dilution.
• Chlorine is less active due to dilution, so it will not kill the microorganisms and keep the water clean. Dilution can also drop your salt levels below the required range preventing the salt system form producing bacteria killing chlorine.
• Rain can bring algae spores and other debris, that can submerge into the water, making it murky and, if not treated quickly, sun rays can accelerate the growth of algae.
• The appearance of algae, mold, and mildew on the tiles is another situation. When rainwater enters a pool, the pH and chlorine are altered, which can cause the appearance of fungi and bacteria in your pool.
• Rainwater is usually a different temperature than your pool water, contrasting the temperature between the rainwater and the water in the pool, which alters the pool’s normal temperature levels.

With all this commotion about rain, is there a solution? The answer is yes. Our technicians here at Coastal Luxury Outdoors are the best at working around heavy amounts of rainwater being introduced into your pool system. You can rest easy knowing that your weekly technician is trained to handle whatever the Florida elements may throw at them. Listed below are some ways you may notice your technician treating your pool after a rainfall event.

• Debris Removal – Rain brings debris including leaves and insects. Your weekly technician will use an automatic vacuum to clean the pool’s sides and bottom, preventing dirt from harboring any organisms and algae growth.
• Filter & Basket Checks – Skimmer baskets & filter cartridges can accumulate debris, so they are checked and cleaned regularly.
• Algae Growth – Determining the proper filtration time. It will help to circulate the water and prevent the development and growth of algae spores. Some experts recommend running the system for about 10 hours after a rainfall. Your weekly technician is a professional at calculating exact run times to ensure the pool is filtering properly and creating proper sanitization.
• Restore Proper Salt, PH, and Chlorine Levels – Testing the pool’s water. It may need a bit of an adjustment to normalize the Salt, pH and chlorine levels after heavy dilution from rainwater.

Making the effort to properly maintain your pool to extend its life and ensure your pool doesn’t become home to dangerous bacteria is our number one priority. We know how important it is to take all of these steps, especially here in Florida where harmful bacteria can thrive in water. Thank you for choosing Coastal Luxury Outdoors & if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at our offices.