Did you have a terrible time last year keeping Algae out of your pool? We have solutions for that.
First, let’s go over what you should be doing on a weekly basis to maintain your pool.
Always clean your pool BEFORE adding chemicals. If there is dirt or algae on the floor of the pool or algae and biofilms clinging to the walls, the chlorine won’t be able to kill it as effectively.
Weekly Maintenance
- Skim the surface of the water to remove tree debris and bugs
- Brush the pool walls to remove algae and biofilms
- Clean the skimmer and pump baskets, backwash filter if necessary
- Vacuum any dirt, debris, and algae off the floor of the pool (always use a vacuum plate to avoid a skimmer line blockage, especially if you have an inground pool)
- Clean or backwash your filter
- Test the pool water and balance accordingly
- Add weekly maintenance chemicals
- If you have an automatic vacuum or a robot, put it in the pool a few times during the week to clean up light debris that accumulates on the pool floor. This will help the chlorine work more efficiently. (Never put your robot in the pool with chemicals. Wait until the chemicals have dissolved to avoid damage to your cleaner.)
Chemical Maintenance
- Sanitizer
- Shock
- Algaecide
- Clarifier
These steps may look different depending on the type of sanitation system that you use. For example, if you have a saltwater chlorine generator, you will not be adding chlorine, and you may have the option to shock/super-chlorinate/boost from the salt system control box. You should still add algaecide and clarifier weekly for the most comfortable and clearest water. (Ask us how BioGuard Mineral Springs makes maintaining your saltwater pool even easier.) As with anything else, you get what you pay for. Make sure that you are purchasing high-quality pool chemicals for the best results. You may save money upfront on cheaper chemicals, but you will pay more in both money and time later on if you need to clean up cloudiness or a bad algae bloom.
If you’ve been following all of the above steps and are still suffering algae bloom after algae bloom, there are a few more things to check.
- Make sure that you are treating your pool with the right amount of chemicals. If you have the wrong size/gallonage, you may not be adding enough, allowing algae to grow.
- Check your timer and make sure you are running your pump long enough. The pump should be running a minimum of 8-12 hours per day. More is better during the hottest weeks of summer and with heavy usage.
- Test your pool water weekly. Make sure the pH and alkalinity are balanced. If the pH is too high or low, the chlorine will not work as well.
- Check your CYA (stabilizer) level. If it is too low, the sun will eat up your chlorine before it has a chance to work.
- Check your filter pressure. If the filter is working under high pressure, the water is not being adequately filtered. Make sure to check your filter at least once a week and clean/backwash as needed.
- Test your water for phosphates. Phosphates are a contaminant that can come from your source water, detergents from bathing suits, leaves, animals in the pool, etc. Phosphates are food for algae and if the chlorine dips a little low, can cause an algae bloom. If you have a high level of phosphates, you may need to add a phosphate remover to your weekly chemical maintenance to keep them in check. BioGuard’s newest product line, Pool Juice, will keep your pool astonishingly clear and remove phosphates.
If you have tried everything to no avail, there are certain types of algae that are chlorine resistant and difficult to kill. Mustard algae for example are chlorine resistant and require specific treatment. If not properly treated, it will keep reappearing in the same place over and over again, after cleaning and vacuuming. Bring in a sample for a free analysis and we will help you rid your pool of stubborn algae once and for all.
