The value of check-ups
These professionals have become keenly aware of changing weather patterns and understand the importance of checking on pools both late and early in the season to ensure easier openings. Warmer seasons may be conducive to doing a late fall ‘check up.’
Pool professionals should consider adding chemicals in cases where an extended summer has stretched into November. This would also include testing the pool’s water balance and chlorine levels and adjusting as needed, as well as adding algaecide.
One beneficial treatment that can be done both early fall and spring is to treat for phosphates.
“We still follow the rule of closing our pools ‘clean’—super-chlorinating, removing all nutrients, using lots of phosphate remover and providing ‘pre-season’ treatment to ensure we get the cleanest, easiest pool openings in the spring.”
Keeping phosphate levels down ensures the algaecide will be more effective from fall through early spring. When algae is lacking a key nutrient, it is less likely to get a serious foothold before the pool is opened.
Stay flexible
In today’s world, pool professionals need to be more flexible than ever when it comes to maintenance. Not only are weather patterns changing, there are also several new source water challenges, such as lower water tables with more minerals and metal-bound bacteria. This could mean that stain removers, metal sequestering agents and clarifiers may be needed when closing and opening pools. Water municipalities now use ammonia-bound chlorination and add phosphates for iron corrosion, which might necessitate additional oxidation and regular phosphate testing during closing and opening programs. The challenges of today’s water professionals require quick thinking and the ability to adapt to a changing environment.
Terry Arko has more than 30 years experience in the swimming pool and spa industry, working in service, repair, retail sales, chemical manufacturing, customer service, sales and product development. He is also a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) and CPO Instructor through the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF). Arko is currently the product specialist and northwest territory sales representative for SeaKlear Pool and Spa Products based in Bothell, Wash. He can be reached via e-mail at tarko@seaklear.com.
