When you head to your backyard to take a dip in the pool, the last thing you want to see is a green pool caused by algae growth. Algae can be frustrating for pool owners. It comes on quickly and looks terrible. Most pool owners also assume that it is tough to fix, which is at least partly true. But before you despair, it’s time to get the facts about swimming pool algae. There are some simple steps you can take to prevent algae growth. Just follow these tips from the pool cleaning experts at The Pool Butler, and you can enjoy a sparkling clean pool all season long.

What Causes Algae?

Algae spores are continually brought into the pool through wind, rain, contaminated equipment, and even contaminated swimsuits. If conditions are right, these spores can spread rapidly and take over the pool in a short amount of time. Warm weather, sunlight, lack of circulation in the water, and nitrates or carbon dioxide in the water can all be contributing factors for algae growth. Since algae spores are just about impossible to avoid, the best defense against an algae bloom is not to keep spores out of your pool. Instead, you need to create and maintain an environment that is so hostile to algae that it can’t take a foothold in your pool.

How is Algae Harmful?

While algae are not necessarily harmful to swimmers, it does create a rather unpleasant swimming environment. No one will want to go swimming in a pool that is green and slimy. If left untreated, algae can also gum up your pool’s circulatory system and damage your pool equipment. Your pool’s filter is not meant to handle an algae bloom. Running you filter when the pool is overtaken by algae will clog up the filter and even damage it permanently.

In addition to the harm to your pool equipment, once algae have taken hold, it takes a lot of work and money to remove the algae from the pool. So some of the damage is just the time and money you will have to invest in restoring your pool.

But if you keep your pool healthy, you can avoid all the time, money, and potential damage. A healthy pool is a pool that can resist algae.

How Can Algae Growth Be Prevented?

The best way to save time and money cleaning up algae is to prevent algae growth in the first place. Preventing an algae bloom takes just a few simple steps. Basically, you need to maintain the right water chemistry and environment. Algae need a specific environment to grow, and if you can make your pool toxic to algae, you can keep it sparkling clean.

For starters, it is essential to check your water balance and make sure the chemical balance in your water is accurate. A high pH and low chlorine levels are the most common causes of algae growth. In addition to routine sanitation, it is helpful to use algaecides to prevent algae growth.

It is also important to check your filter and clean it regularly. Make sure the filter is circulating properly and remember to use automatic cleaners to keep the water free of unwanted particles and spores. The two most significant contributors to an algae bloom are inadequate chlorination and insufficient filter time. Make sure that your filter is large enough for your pool and that the water is circulating through the filter often enough to keep it clean.

If it is too late and algae growth has already formed in the pool, be sure to treat it as quickly as possible. The primary treatment for algae is shocking the pool. Shocking a pool is basically just treating it with a very high dose of chlorine. Once the chlorine has done its work killing the algae, you will have to clean up. Make sure the pool is thoroughly cleaned of dead algae before you allow anyone to swim in the pool. You will also have to make sure that the free chlorine level is back within a safe range, between 1 and 4 ppm.

Maintaining an Algae-Free Pool

Proper maintenance, routine cleaning, and appropriate chemicals all play a crucial role in preventing algae growth in your pool. So be sure to check your water regularly. Regular testing can help you stay on track with the proper chemicals. To keep algae out of your pool, you will need to test and adjust the chemical levels in your pool at least two or three times a week. With these simple steps, you can break the cycle of algae growth and start relaxing in a pristine swimming pool!

If you’re not sure you can invest the time and effort needed to keep your water balanced and your pool clean, don’t just let it go. That is a sure recipe for disaster. Instead, contact The Pool Butler to learn about our regular pool maintenance services. And if you slipped up and have a huge algae bloom, we can help with that, too. Just give us a call, and we’ll come right over to save your pool. There is never a reason to live with a green pool.