Algae Formation in Swimming Pools

With summer temperatures in full effect at this point, your swimming pool water is in the high 80’s or above 90 degrees. At this point, if you haven’t balanced your water chemistry or monitored your filtration it won’t take long for algae to grow. Trust us when we say the phone rings a lot during our long and hot Las Vegas summers from those who try to take care of their own swimming pools. Anytime you mix a large body of water and hot temperatures it can make it much more challenging to take care of.

If conditions are right, algae can spread rapidly and take over the pool in a short amount of time. Hot weather, sunlight, lack of free chlorine, and lack of circulation in the water can all be contributing factors for algae growth. This means you need to create and maintain an environment that is so hostile to algae that it can’t take a foothold in your pool. In the end, the best way to save time and money cleaning up algae is to prevent algae growth in the first place and it only takes a few steps. Basically, you need to maintain the right water chemistry and the environment.

For starters, it is essential to check your water chemistry to make sure the chemical balance in your water is accurate. High pH and low free chlorine levels are the most common causes of algae growth. It is also important to check your filter and clean it regularly. Make sure the filter is circulating properly and remember to use automatic cleaners to keep the water free of unwanted particles and spores. The two most significant contributors to an algae bloom are inadequate chlorination and insufficient filter time. Make sure that your filter is large enough for your pool and that the water is circulating through the filter often enough to keep it clean. You must check your water chemistry regularly which includes balancing it. Algae can grow in a day if any numbers not balanced or your filtration run times are too short. Now isn’t the time to save a couple of bucks here and thereby not doing what is right. Trust us because in the end saving a few bucks here and there will only cost you more in the future. Keep the free chlorine levels high, monitor your Cyanuric Acid (CYA), and filter your pool for a minimum of 10 hours a day. If you do all this along with brushing, skimming, and emptying your baskets you can maintain a pool that is blue, clear, and ready to swim in!

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