In Spain, we usually don’t worry too much about the weather. Especially during the summer, we enjoy the hot weather without even a drop of a rain! But autumn is coming and some unexpected falls can occur! It is good to know that rain can be a problem when it comes to a proper maintenance of your swimming pool. Extra water can affect your pool water and mess with the chemistry.
The problem lies in what comes with the water, not how much rainwater there is. Algae and other airborne debris are carried with the raindrops and are deposited into the pool. These are what cause the issues with your pool. Algae spores are always floating in the air and can be carried in the wind. They seek out damp places with standing water, and your pool would be a prime target. During the rain, these spores get rinsed into your pool water.
When this toxic mix of algae and other contaminants get into your pool water, you must take care of it quickly. It can all cause chemical reactions with the chlorine in your water to make it less effective. Also, as organic matter in your pool decomposes, the algae and other organic matter will feed on it and reproduce even faster.
What needs to happen to fix this is that you must kill algae in your pool faster than the rate that it is reproducing. If you are killing algae, but it can reproduce faster than you kill it, then you are not helping things at all. That means purchasing algicide and keeping its level at a high range. This range is recommended on the product’s packaging. Algicide does not decompose in chlorine or sunlight, so it will keep killing algae as long as there is enough in the water to do the job.
Debris in the pool water that gets deposited during the rain can also harm the delicate chemical balance in the pool. After every rainfall, test your pool water to make sure that your chemicals are in balance. If not, then add the right chemicals to get it in balance again. If you keep your Total Alkalinity in the right range, then it can protect the pool water from the pH of the rainwater.
Another way to protect your pool during the bad weather is to secure any yard furniture or other loose objects. During rainstorms, there is often a lot of wind. These items in your yard can get blown into the water. That may not seem like a problem, but those items are often dirty and will bring that dirt into the water.
As you can see, rainwater is not a good addition to your pool. It can provide a breeding ground for some nasty materials that can make you and your family sick. Test your pool regularly to keep your water well-balanced to protect and fight against these contaminants before and after rainwater gets into your pool.
If you have any specific questions, contact Atlantir, we are the professionals!