This week if you live in the Katy area the you know that we have experienced some torrential downpours and if you own a pool this can impact the quality of your pool water and consequently your summertime swimming fun. There is nothing better to do in our hot, humid temperatures than to take a nice cool dip into our backyard pool but rain can limit your swimming pleasure and if your not careful cause damages to your pool that require hefty swimming pair repair bills, this is why we have developed a rainy season pool routine for pool owners who live in climates such as Houston TX. Let’s start our by understanding a little about the science behind proper water balancing.
Did you know the rainwater falling into your pool is acidic?
We often hear the term acid rain but what does this term mean? Simply put the rain is not clear or distilled but is mixed with carbon dioxide from the air which has such things as pollutants from vehicles so when the pollutants and the rain are combined these forms sulfuric nitric acid that gives the rain acidic properties, and that rain that falls into your pool can cause an adverse effect to your pool waters chemistry. The pool companies that say this doesn’t impact your pool is only partially right as long as there are only light spring showers your pool may not be impacted but the rain that Harris and Fort Bend County has been receiving your pool is filled with a lot more water that can dilute its chemistry and change things such as your water pH, calcium hardness, total dissolved solids, and alkalinity. One of the first visible changes you will notice after a severe rain storm is debris that is floating inside the pool. Those leaves, dirt, and twigs the wind has carried into your pool not only impact your swim but can increase the nitrogen and phosphorus levels that make your pool a breeding ground for pool algae and bacteria. As your local Katy TX pool company here is how we deal with pools after heavy rain in our area. First, we start by skimming your pool and vacuuming out the loose debris, or if you’re a do-it-yourself pool owner then you can use an automatic pool cleaner. Once we have removed the debris from your pool so that it’s nice and clean, we will collect a water sample to discover the significant changes our recent storm has made to your pool water chemistry.
How to properly test your pool after A rainstorm
#1: Testing Ph Levels: One of the most common changes acid rain causes is it lowers your pH level, and your alkalinity can dramatically change as a result, but this is not necessarily a bad thing as you would rather have your alkalinity change that your pH levels to drop because when you lower your pH you need to use heavy doses of acid, when acid sits on the bottom of your pool for hours it can cause damages to your pools plaster, if these doses of acid crawl along the flooring of your pool they leave a etching trail as it approaches the main drain which can damage your pools equipment, bottom lie you will then be calling us for pool repairs and some pool repairs come at a much higher price to pay then having your pool weekly serviced by our pool company.
#2: Testing Chlorine Levels: After a rainstorm, another thing we will check for when we collect a water sample is your chlorine or sanitizer levels. When you have a low pH level chlorine or sanitizers becomes hyperactive as it must battle to remove contaminates from your pool water While light showers will not impact your pool downpours can cause bacteria and algae to grow. When your water chemistry is off in the pool it’s not only creates an unsafe swimming environment but this can lead to pool repairs to fix the damages done to your pools equipment or surface.
#3 Testing Water Levels: When we have rainstorms, which is a common occurrence in Katy your pool fills up with excess water which will require our pool maintenance company to drain so that your water levels are returned back to normal.
How To Remove Excess Rain Water From Your Pool
If you need to drain your pool from excess water due to heavy rain, then please proceed with caution as you can flood your yard and even your neighbor’s yard trying to drain excess rainwater. This is one reason its best to call your local Katy pool company to ensure that while draining a pool you do not create a bigger mess that destroys your lawn or landscaping. If you do decide to do this yourself you want to start by locating the main drain, you will typically find the main drain in an inground pool is at the bottom or pool floor. Once you locate it, turn it to the on position but be careful when you are suctioning water that you only do it from the main drain and not your skimmer. With your main drain turned on walk over to your pool filter and turn it to the backwash position so the waste bypasses the pool filter system to drain the access water. Bear in mind this is a process that doesn’t occur overnight but can in fact take a few days depending how much excessive rain is in the pool and doing it incorrectly can rack up pool repair charges. Again if you are unsure of how to drain the excess rainwater from your pool give our pool company a call.
Why Caring for Your Pool Properly During Katy Rainy Season is more important than you think...
Living in our close proximity to the coast, our area faces more rainy days than most other places across the nation, in fact we often say there are just two seasons in the Katy area – rainy season and dry season so the key to a great pool is to do your part to stay ahead of those changes you pool can incur due to the season. One of the main keys is to frequently test your water chemistry. When you are not on top of maintaining your pH and total alkalinity levels as well as calcium hardness things can get out of hand quickly such as your pool water can become cloudy, or your pool becomes a swamp as the pool fills with algae. Improper water chemistry can also lead to staining or corroding your pools surface and equipment which requires sometimes costly pool repairs.
Rainy Season Pool Maintenance Tips
Since we cannot stop the rain its best to be proactive rather than reactive because if we have lived in the greater Houston area long enough, we know that we can count on rain! One way to protect our pool is to have a solar pool cover installed to protect your pool water from becoming contaminated and with a solar pool cover this is automatic so we don’t have to fuss with removing the cover every time we want to go for a swim. If we do not have a pool cover there are a few other things we ca do such as frequent skimmer check to remove debris that accumulates and if you have not hired a pool maintenance company in Katy TX and are trying to battle to keep your pool in tip-top shape during rainy season then an automatic vacuum to clean the pools sides and flooring is a must have for every pool owner. A quality automatic pool vacuum will prevent dirt from harboring any organisms and fungi growth. In addition, if you have a pool with a DE pool cartridge you may consider having an outlet valve installed to make removing excessive water much easier to manage. Keep in mind that just because you only swim for hours a week the key to a healthy and clean pool especially during rainy season is to get into a rain routine. One thing that helped to create this routine was a great article from Irribiz
Are You Struggling To Maintain You Pool During Rainy Season?
if you are a pool owner in or near Katy TX who is missing out on enjoying your pool because your too busy having to maintain your pools water chemistry and clean out the debris then consider contacting Katy Swimming Pool Service to provides homeowners a free quote for routine pool services including chemical checks, routine pool cleaning and pool repairs so all you have left to do is enjoy your afternoon swim. How
