Here in Florida, rainy season has begun and it almost seems like it’s never going to end! Has it ever been this rainy as well as cloudy for this long in Central Florida? With all of this rain coming down on us, Mother Nature is also throwing a wrench at maintaining our pools and/or spas. While regular maintenance of our pools makes sure our water is safe and clean, rain is definitely an aspect of nature you should be concerned about when it comes to your outdoor water features. It is a fact that our pools and spas chemistry can be affected by rain in many ways – both good and bad.
Rainfall’s Effect on Water Chemistry
If you’re in charge of maintaining your pool, you know that water chemistry is extremely important. If the correct chemical levels are not maintained, the pool may become unsafe and you won’t be able to use it (the thought! *gasp*).
Some rain may be acidic, therefore affecting both the alkaline levels and the pH of your pool water. When heavy rains fall that have a pH balance of about 5.0, it can lower the pH balance of your pool – which should stay at a balance of between of 7.4 to 7.6. On the flip side, there are benefits to heavy rain fall, such as the dilution of chemicals that you cannot treat with other chemicals (such as stabilizer and calcium). Unfortunately, we, nor Mother Nature, can pick and choose which chemicals will be diluted. All that being said, unless you have heavy amounts of rain or long extended periods of rain, the light sprinkles will not have a huge effect on your pool or spa – so there’s no need to run out and test your water every time any water falls from the sky.
Debris from Rainfall
We know all too well in Florida that with heavy rains come debris. A solid Florida rainstorm will bring with it sticks, leaves, dust, pollen and algae spores that will cover the bottom and surface of your pool. This is also bad news for your filters and pumps – the debris can cause clogging which makes it even more difficult to clean any debris from the pool.
For those with a lot of trees or bushes around your pools, you’re definitely more susceptible to contaminants such as branches leaves and oil getting into the water. However, the greatest concern for heavy rainfall into your pool is the growth of algae. The pollen and plant matter that rainstorms bring can encourage the growth and spread of algae. If the pool water with algae growth is left untreated for any period of time, it can become very difficult to remove or repair any damage the algae growth caused.
Excess Water
Accumulation of excess water is one of the largest problems caused by heavy rains and is the cause of multiple problems. Not only does heavy rainfall have the potential to cause flooding in your area, but if you have a pool,spa or any body of water in your backyard, then your chances of flooding increase drastically. When this overflows, it leads to debris and extra runoff in your pool and can also flood your pool equipment like the filters and pumps (an essential and expensive component to your outdoor recreational space). Even if your pool doesn’t overflow, but the waters rise enough from a heavy rain, your surface skimmer will no longer effectively skim the surface debris into the skimmer basket and you’ll have to drain it back to the correct level. Quick tip: You can gauge how high your pool’s water level should be by looking at the mid-tile line. If its at mid-tile line, it’s perfect. Over mid-tile, it’s too full; under mid-tile, it’s too low.
Prepping for a Storm and Repairing Afterwards
A lot of times in Florida – especially during hurricane season – we know when we’re going to be expecting heavy rain. Once you know, its important to prepare your pool to reduce debris. If there are any loose items around the pool (e.g. pool toys, potted plants, patio furniture), you’ll want to secure or store them before the storm hits to prevent them from blowing into the pool. Last thing you should do is turn off and cover the pump.
After the storm is over, the pump can be turned back on. Then, empty the pump and skimmer baskets. If your pool took on a lot of water and there is a lot of debris, make sure you vacuum first and then pump out the excess. If there isn’t a lot of debris and you don’t have to vacuum, you can go strait to getting rid of the excess water. After that’s all said and done, commence cleaning your pool as usual and check the chemical balance, adjusting as necessary.
Pools by Bradley is Here for YOU
Everyone here at Pools by Bradley lives and breathes our mission of designing and building your ultimate outdoor pool atmosphere. We intend to inspire you to improve the recreational time you spend with your family and friends in your new outdoor environment. BUT – we especially want to protect your investment! Our motto is “take care of the customer and everything else will take care of itself”. When you choose Pools by Bradley to help you build your dream pool, you can rest assured that you’re choosing the very best. As a local family owned and operated company founded in back 1996, we have received numerous design awards and honors. Pools by Bradley is rated as one of the top 50 pool builders in the U.S., plus recognized as the “Best Pool Company” in Orlando by Orlando Magazine several years in a row! We offer custom built pools and spas with additions ranging from water features and lighting effects to rain curtains and water slides…the sky’s the limit! Contact us online or call us today at 407-323-7496 to see how we can help you build the pool of your dreams!
