The weather's impact on your pool water

Weather conditions have an impact on the quality of your pool water as well as on your equipment. Keeping your water balanced when you have an outdoor pool requires regular maintenance. This is especially true when weather phenomena (frost, heatwave, rain) occur, as these are major factors of change. Finally, the weather also influences certain choices of products you need to use to treat your pool. Below are our tips for protecting your pool water and maintaining balanced water all year round.

The impact of sunlight and UV rays on water

In summer, ultra-violet rays, which are very powerful due to the proximity of the sun, modify water quality and the action of certain chemicals. That's why, in high season, the quality of water filtration is essential to slow down these changes and consume fewer chemicals. When your pool is heavily exposed to UV rays, the water is affected in several ways:

• pH increase When hot days follow one after another, it often becomes difficult to maintain a balanced pH. Indeed, when the outside temperature is high, the pH also rises and then naturally drops again at night. The pH must never exceed 7.8, otherwise your disinfectant products will become ineffective. For lower the pH of the water (with pH-) so add product gradually but above all activate water filtration as often as possible. Also remember that it is better to measure the pH at a fixed time ( morning or evening) so you can compare your last measurements with greater reliability.
• Water evaporation is a natural phenomenon associated with hot weather. So you need to top up the water regularly. This cools down the temperature a little and brings the pH level back within the thresholds. However, for ecological reasons, you may choose to cover your pool with a tarpaulin to reduce evaporation.
• Degradation of chlorine : if the water in your The pool is treated with chlorine. , you may know that UV rays reduce its disinfecting power. It is therefore preferable to use stabilised chlorine, which is less affected by UV rays, rather than non-stabilised chlorine. However, be careful not to over-stabilise your pool water, otherwise you may have to partially empty it. The stabiliser should be between 30 and 75 mg/L.
• Chloramine developmentChloramine is the molecule responsible for chlorine's characteristic odor. It is also known as combined chlorine. It develops as a result of bodily pollution from bathers (sun cream, sweat, etc.) and can irritate eyes and mucous membranes. To combat this phenomenon, you need to filter your water regularly and control chlorine levels.
• Material degradation UV rays progressively degrade certain materials, such as PVC liner, and tend to yellow plastics.

How to protect water and equipment from UV rays?

In the event of high temperatures or heat waves, it is essential to protect your pool from the sun's rays. This is because, when the water temperature exceeds 28°C, micro-organisms develop and disinfectants no longer work. The water becomes cloudy and green.Before algae appears, provide shade over your pool (parasol, shade sail) during the hottest hours of the day. Some summer bubble covers can also help maintain good water quality and reduce evaporation.

The impact of rain and storms

Rainwater is initially quite pure. However, when it falls, it picks up various elements (minerals, pollutants). As a result, it sometimes becomes undrinkable and polluted by dust and sand. There is therefore a chance that your water will become cloudy. Depending on the region, rainwater can be more or less acidic. Be careful! Rainwater does not have the same chemical composition as tap water. It is therefore pointless and even highly inadvisable to save it to fill your pool. The pH of rain is between 5 and 6, which will lower the pH of your pool, which is usually between 7.2 and 7.6 for a bromine/salt pool and between 7.0 and 7.4 for a chlorine pool. As the temperature of rainwater is generally low, it is possible that the temperature of your pool water will drop.

At the end of summer, during episodes of heavy rain, it is not uncommon for thepool water to turn green.. La première chose à faire après un orage est de contrôler les paramètres de l’eau : pH, TAC (alcalinité), taux de désinfectant ( ORP). Corrigez les paramètres si nécessaire. Il est possible de faire un traitement choc lorsque l’eau est très déséquilibrée ou d’utiliser tout simplement du flocculant to restore crystal clear water.

Pour éviter tout changement de l’eau à cause de la pluie : couvrez votre piscine avec une bâche à bulle dès que la pluie est annoncée. Si malheureusement vous n’avez pas pu intervenir à temps, vous devrez mesurer et modifier le pH.

Presence of sand in your pool

The presence of sand in your pool is a common problem and can have several causes:

• The wind that carries and deposits particles of sand and dust in the water
• A construction site nearby
• Bathers who bring back sand or soil under their feet
• A damaged sand filter or defective strainer that can allow sand grains to escape.

It is essential to remove any sand that has accumulated at the bottom of your pool, as it can harbour bacteria that can grow.

Simple steps to take

To guarantee clean water and ensure safe swimming, here are a few tips to limit sand deposits:

• A pool vacuum cleaner or robot (manual, electric or pressure-fed with sandbag) to effectively clean the bottom.
• Check the condition of the filtration system: the pump, pipes, seals, fittings, sand filter and strainer must be in good condition to prevent any further sand leakage. If they are too worn, you will need to consider replacing them.

Once your pool has been cleaned and all checks have been carried out, you can enjoy your pool again!

Protect your pool when frost arrives

Water that turns to ice can cause pool pipes to burst. Therefore, when the water temperature reaches 15°-12°C (17°C for salt treatment), you must winterise your pool immediately to protect your equipment. You can opt for active or passive winter storageIf you opt for active winterisation (maintaining the water level and light filtration), winterisation products will protect your equipment. It is essential that you never completely empty your pool, as this could damage its structure. Cover your pool with a winter cover and don't forget to install your anti-freeze accessories if you live in a region with harsh winters.

The effects of wind on your pelvis

Le vent balaie avec lui toute sortes d’impuretés (poussières, feuilles,) qui bien souvent se retrouvent dans votre piscine. Pour les particules les plus grosses, une épuisette permet de se débarrasser de ces pollutions. En revanche, si les débris sont déjà présents au fond de l’eau : nettoyez le fond et les parois à l’aide d’un balai aspirateur manuel ou robot. Ensuite, vérifiez le filtre du skimmer.

Cover your pool with a tarpaulin to limit the build-up of debris and dust.

Spring and autumn : two important seasons

In spring, restart your pool when the water temperature reaches 12°C – 15°C maximum. After thoroughly cleaning and refilling your pool: activate continuous filtration, then readjust the treatments based on the analyses to balance the water. Do not hesitate to cover your pool to prevent pollen and other particles from disturbing the water balance. You can then resume your weekly maintenance routine.

Autumn is ideal for preparing your pool for winter. You will mainly need to increase the maintenance of your pool to remove leaves and clean the filters more regularly. When the water temperature is below 15°C for a saltwater pool and below 12°C for a chlorine bromine pool, it is time to winterise.