Memorial Day weekend is considered the kick-off for summer for many people, but here in the Temecula Valley, swim season usually starts earlier—especially when we get hot temperatures early in the year, like we did this March.
As we start to get consistently hot temperatures, here are a few things you should stay on top of to keep your pool in top condition throughout the summer.
Regularly Checking the Water Level
In the hot, dry summer months in Temecula, the water level in a pool can go down as much as two inches per week due to evaporation! The water level can also go down dramatically after a pool party that involves a lot of water going out due to splashing.
When water levels get too low, a pool pump will start to suck in air, rather than water. In the short term, this will cause your pool water to not circulate adequately, possibly resulting in algae growth. But if the water level is left low for too long, it can actually cause the pump to overheat, which could eventually damage or break your pump.
Some pools in Temecula have a feature that automatically adds water when the level gets low, but with many pools, water needs to be added manually by the pool owner. If you don’t have an automatic refilling feature on your pool, you need to be checking your pool’s water level every couple of days and refill it to the optimal level as needed. Even if you do have an automatic refilling feature, you should still keep an eye on the water level, in case it stops working, for whatever reason.
Adjusting Pool Pump Running Time
As pool service experts in Temecula, we recommend upping the run time of your pool pump during the summer months. The actual run time per day will depend on your pump and the size of your pool, but your Aqua System pool service technician will be able to make a recommendation as to the number of hours your pool pump should run every day.
You should also run your pump for a couple of extra hours following heavy use—like after a pool party. That way, all the dirt, debris, sunscreen, hair, etc. that was introduced to your pool can be filtered out before it affects your pool negatively.
Consistent Brushing and Vacuuming
If you are on a weekly pool service plan with Aqua System, your pool will be well cared for throughout the summer, but if you are on our bi-weekly plan or our chemical only plan, it is vital that you stay consistent with brushing the walls of your pool and vacuuming the bottom. When it’s cooler out, you can often get away with being a little less consistent (although we don’t recommend it), but in the summer, inconsistent cleaning is not an option if you want to avoid problems. Both algae and bacteria thrive in warmer water, so you need to be doing whatever you can to keep them at bay!
Fortunately, all the steps mentioned above won’t take up too much time or energy, but they will go a long way toward keeping your pool well maintained throughout the summer. If you ever have any questions about how to best care for your Temecula pool, your pool service technician can help. You can also contact our office at any time if you have a question that you need answered in between your technician’s visits.
