Getting Rid of Algae In Your Swimming Pool

With temperatures as hot as they currently are in Las Vegas it isn’t uncommon for us to get calls about green pools. Green pools are extremely challenging and with temperatures as high as they are right now this blog post has perfect timing. In all honesty, over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had a major increase in the number of phone calls because there has been an issue with homeowners pools turning green so we thought it would be a great time to discuss why this happens, what you can do to help and how to prevent it in the future. Green pools occur because of one of two reasons…. a direct result of lack of chlorine and/or poor circulation! Even if your Calcium Hardness, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) or Cyanuric Acid (CYA) levels are high that is not what causes your pool water to turn green. When those levels get high, it’s time to change out your water BUT this doesn’t cause a swimming pool to turn green. Improper filtration or unbalanced water chemistry is truly the reason why.

Typically, during the winter months, you can get away with shorter filter run times and less chlorine (about 1 part per million) but when the water warms up you must increase your filter run times along with the chlorine levels too! So, if your swimming pool is green we recommend the following….

• Running the filter all day and night until the water is clear (this will take longer with a sand filter compared to a DE or cartridge filter)
• Dumping enough chlorine in the swimming pool each day until the water is clear. You will need to increase your levels of Free Chlorine and the following Pool Calculator can help. We’ve found that using this pool calculator will accurately balance your water chemistry and definitely should be used when the water is this warm.
• If you have a sand filter, check the sand for clumps or aging (this could be a sign that a sand change is necessary)
• Make sure the grids of a DE or cartridge filter are clean and filtering properly. Don’t rely on the filter gauge. These should be cleaned several times a year.
• Brushing the sides, steps, and benches of the swimming pool to loosen up the algae

One other issue to keep in mind that can be troubling for swimming pool owners is phosphates. They are an issue because pool stores will always test for them and sell you chemicals to get rid of them. They are always brought up when you have either green or cloudy water. The truth is, you are always going to have phosphates in your pool water! They get introduced to your pool water in several ways, including:

• Tap (Fill) water
• Vegetation (leaves and dirt)
• Lotions and hair products
• Certain pool chemicals

At Clark County Pool & Lawn we have a variety of services available for you. Taking care of a swimming pool can be extremely challenging especially when the water temperatures increase. If you’re looking to save a headache and be assured your water is looking great all the time, then you need to contact us today for a weekly pool service quote!