By Alicia Stephens
Pool pros should consider adding chemicals in cases where an extended summer stretches into November.
It is common practice in many cities around Canada and the northern part of the U.S. to close pools according to specific calendar dates. Pools typically open by Victoria Day and close by Labour Day. The practice of closing pools by September is a long-standing tradition. However, with so many new installations over the past two years, many of which are not completed until later in the summer, new pool owners understandably want to extend their swimming season into the fall. Additionally, many northern cities are experiencing warmer than normal temperatures during the fall, making the pool an attractive amenity for children and adults on weekends and even after school is back in session.
To extend the swim season while keeping pool water clean and clear, service techs should be looking to make chemical adjustments, add enzymes to keep filters clean, offer liquid solar covers, and proactively monitor the side-effects associated with colder water and cooler temperatures that occur in the fall.
Chemical adjustments
Pool professionals should consider adding chemicals in cases where an extended summer has stretched into November. This would include testing the pool’s water balance and chlorine levels and adjusting as needed, as well as adding an algaecide. Weekly algaecide addition is a key contributor to keeping a pool clean and clear, even as the water cools down. If a 90-day algaecide has been used over the course of the summer, a second dose will be necessary to keep the pool open longer.
In addition to adding an algaecide, treating for phosphates in the fall can be especially beneficial before closing the pool once it gets cold.
Lowering phosphate levels in the water prior to closing will reduce the amount of time and effort needed to treat the pool when reopening it in the spring. In fact, near-zero levels of phosphates lead to less accumulation of calcium phosphate scale, as well as an increase in water clarity and overall water quality. Phosphate removers are specialty chemicals capable of reducing orthophosphates in pool water by using minerals that react quickly with orthophosphate to produce an insoluble phosphate compound which can be removed by the filter.
Enzymes help filter efficiency
Keeping pools open longer in the fall also means ensuring the filtration system is operating efficiently before closing the pool. When filters work longer, they get dirtier. Therefore, removing impurities like grease, sunblock, and other non-living contaminants by using an enzyme-based product is one of the best ways to break down these non-living contaminants before they get into the filter.
In fact, incorporating a weekly enzyme is one the best ways of keeping a pool’s filtration system working optimally. Enzymes work as a continuous filter cleaner, breaking down the unwanted non-living contaminants before they have a chance to build up on the filter. This not only reduces maintenance for service techs, but it also helps keep pool water crystal clear between service visits. Further, once the pool is closed for the season, service pros can deep clean the filters before reinstalling them the following spring.
