As a local, family-owned pool company hiring CPO professionals, we have a lot of services to offer to Sarasota: pool cleaning, pool maintenance, shocking, filter cleaning/replacement, not to mention equipment maintenance, repairs, and installation. (We even offer Sarasota power washing!)
But when the summer weather hits, there’s one relatively simple service that’s always at the top of our minds: chemical balancing.
Everything that happens to your pool affects the chemical balance. And in southwest Florida summertime, there are loads of things happening to your pool: heat, sunlight, humidity, bugs, rain, wind, and loads and loads of swimming time.
We can balance the chemicals in your pool. But we can’t keep them balanced for very long before all these summer factors wreak havoc all over again.
Even in the calmest, most stable summer weather, you will need Sarasota pool care at least once a week to balance your chemicals (while also monitoring and maintaining cleanliness and equipment). Here’s why:
Why do pool chemicals need to be balanced?
Pool chemical balancing primarily centers on three main aspects: sanitizer, pH, and alkalinity.
Sanitizer: You probably know that your pool’s chemicals—most commonly chlorine—are used to sanitize the water, keeping algae as well as harmful bacteria from growing.
However, a lot more goes into it than that. Pool water also has to be safe and comfortable for humans and animals.
pH levels: In order for your sanitizer to be most effective while still maintaining your pool’s comfort level, the pH level—how acidic it is—also has to be just right. High pH (not enough acid) and the sanitizer won’t be effective; low pH (too much acidity) and it will sting your eyes and skin.
Alkalinity: This can be one of the trickiest factors to manage—and to understand. Basically, the right alkalinity helps to stabilize your pool’s pH levels. If the alkalinity is off, then the pH will quickly unbalance, too. Likewise, changes to the pH will also affect the alkalinity.
How does summertime affect Sarasota pool care?
In addition to the usual chemical breakdown, chemical levels can vary wildly in the summer due to all kinds of factors. But essentially, this volatility is due to three primary changes in your pool: added water, subtracting water, and adding debris and contaminants.
- Chemical breakdown occurs naturally in any season. For instance, UV rays from sunlight will cause chlorine to break down in a matter of days. (Total breakdown depends on volume.)
- Evaporation removes water from your pool, changing the proportion of chemicals to H2O.
- Rain does the opposite, adding water to shift the proportion in the other direction. Additionally, flooding or runoff from puddles can bring other contaminants into the pool from your yard and surrounding areas.
- Organic debris (plant matter, bugs, sweat, hair, skin cells, etc.) uses up chlorine’s effectiveness, lessening its sanitation availability for fighting algae and other regularly occurring contaminants.
- Inorganic debris (chemicals, sand, minerals) raise the levels of TDI, or Total Dissolved Solids, which can cause chronically cloudy water. Inorganic debris can be introduced by wind as well as personal products like deodorants, lotions (including sunscreen), and cosmetics.
How often will your Sarasota pool need chemical balancing in the summer?
Due to all of these factors, we recommend Sarasota pool maintenance—including chemical balancing—at least weekly during the summertime. You may need additional or more frequent visits in the case of volatile weather, flooding, upcoming visits, or other concerns.
Sarasota’s Best Pool Service for Weekly Worry-Free Summertime Maintenance
Chemistry not your thing? Not to worry; it’s definitely ours. We offer weekly pool-cleaning and worry-free maintenance services throughout our coverage area in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Bella Pool & Spa is a locally owned small business with a dedicated staff, and we’re proud to offer our pool services in a timely, thorough, and trustworthy manner—with full accountability and transparency.
Contact us today to learn more about keeping your pool beautiful all summer long.
Deckard & Company |