Hot Off The Press: It has been recently reported that October was the hottest recorded month in history for the Northeast.
Our Inside Scoop: We have been conducting and gathering data over the last three years concerning pool chemistry. For the last two years, we have been monitoring two items specifically: Rain pH and the temperature of pool water.
The pH of rain in our region has been in the 8.0+ range consistently, with the exception of some major storms that have passed through from the South. This coupled with rising temperatures has created some imbalances in water chemistry. This is concerning to us because over the winter months the water is not moving or being monitored weekly like in the summer. The longer your pool is closed, the worse it seems to be. For example, the warmer water temperatures have accelerated the growth of algae and bacteria in pools. Last year we found some pools had algae already growing in February, which is almost unimaginable.
Last year we did a preliminary winter chemistry program for approximately 100 of our pools. We found that in every pool there was some sort of chemistry imbalance that differed greatly from the time we actually closed the pool. After analyzing the data from this program, we saw a 500 - 1,000% increase in pH in all pools.
Why Is This So Important? We have identified the following items during the process of opening your pool in the spring that we want to try to make more efficient and cost effective for everyone:
The process of opening your pool is costly and labor intensive for all of us when we are fighting high levels of algae and water chemistry issues resulting from being closed for such a long time. Multiple trips to backwash/clean filters and add chemicals drive the additional cost in the spring (Note: the additional trips require more resources on our part during this busy time).
2023 interesting fact: some pools who did not participate in the winter program took 17 days to complete the opening before being swim ready. As opposed to customers who participated in our winter program, who were swim ready in 4-7 days.
Higher pH in your pool in the winter promotes scaling. Therefore we want to continue to reduce the pH in your pool in the off-season to assist with this issue.
Higher water temperatures in the pool are allowing algae and bacteria to thrive earlier and earlier each year. We are trying to address this issue with two types of algaecides.
Leaving debris on a mesh cover allows phosphates to enter the pool when it rains. As the debris breaks down, the resulting phosphates feed the algae growth.
A Solution That Is Newsworthy: We are working on providing a Winter Program to combat as many of these issues as we can throughout the off-season to help reduce how long it takes to get the pool swim ready in spring.
This service will include the following items while we’re on the property:
Removal of Debris from Cover
Pool Cover Assessment
Cover Pump Operation & Water Level Check (will lower water as necessary)
Equipment and Electrical Check
Pool Chemistry Analysis
Stay Tuned For More Information On Scheduling Your Winter Service This Season!