Owning a pool in Arizona comes with it's own set of challenges - from dusty pools that result from the latest monsoon, to 115 degree temps that make holding chlorine levels a challenge. Here are 6 essential tips for Arizona pool owners that will help take preventative measures so that you are not left with a green pool in the middle of summer:
1. Maintain Proper Water Levels
Arizona heat is notorious for evaporating pool water. It is recommended to check your swimming pool water level once a week to ensure water is making its way into the skimmer and properly circulating your water. You are aiming to keep the water halfway up the tile border around your pool. Many pools have an autofill feature to maintain this level for you, however over time they can stop working. Add a hose into your pool as needed to maintain.
2. Know Your Equipment
Know whether your pool has a sand filter, D.E. filter, or cartridge filter. Each of these pool filters needs specific upkeep, including backwashing to keep PSI levels low, filter cleaning twice a year for circulation, and adding D.E. back into your filter when neccessary. The heat in Arizona summers also takes it toll on equipment, so look for a way to provide shade for you filter and pump to mitigate the need for premature repairs. Understand your pool cleaning system (whether pop-ups or vaccum) and how to spot early warning signs of their failure to ensure your pool stays clean and fresh all summer long.
3. Run Your Schedules Correctly
Arizona pools need roughly 8 hours of pump run time per day to keep the average size pool clean. Variable speed pumps allow you to set higher pump speeds for a portion of the day while dropping to lower speeds to maintain the pool and save on electricty. Another way to save on elecrical bills related to your pool is to run the pump during non-peak hours.
4. Have A Basic Cleaning Routine
Once a week plan on 30 mins to empty the skimmer and pump baskets, net, and brush. Keeping the baskets empty will allow for full circulation of your pool's water and ensure your chemicals are being evenly distributed. Brushing is the number one prevention of algae and will make the biggest diffrerence in keeping your pool from turning green.
5. Understand Some Chemistry
The two largest challenges that homeowners face when it comes to chemicals is under-chlorinating and over-chlorinating, both of which are not good for you pool and your water's health. If you under-chlorinate your water will not fight against algae, whereas if you over-chlorinate it can irritate swimmer's skin and increase your overall TDS (total dissolved solids) which requires premature draning of your water. Invest in some basic test strips to keep an eye weekly on Chlorine & pH levels. If you can maintaince proper balance between these two chemicals you will likely only need to call the experts for uncommon issues,
6. Hire The Right Service
If you have the funds, hiring a qualified pool service can save you a lot of work. Every pool has their own unique personality and unfortunately this often means homeowners find themselves troubleshooting uncommon issues. This is where it is important to hire a CPO (Certified Pool Operator) to ensure industry best practices are being followed to protect one of your largest investements. Lamont Pools is CPO certified and happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your pool care needs!
Great tips! Thank you!