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.

Sun and UV impact on pool 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:

• Increased pH : It's not uncommon to have trouble balancing pH when hot days accumulate over several days. In fact, when the outside temperature is high, the pH also rises, then naturally falls again at night. The pH must never exceed 8.0, otherwise your disinfectants will become inactive. To lower water pH (with pH-), you need to add product little by little but above all activate water filtration as often as possible. Remember, too, that it's best to measure pH at a fixed time (morning or evening), so that you can compare your latest 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 pool is treated with chlorine.you may be aware that UV rays reduce its disinfectant power. You should therefore opt for stabilized chlorine, which is less affected by UV rays, rather than non-stabilized chlorine. Be careful, however, not to over-stabilize your pool water, as this could lead to partial emptying. Stabilizer 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 hot weather, you need to protect your pool from the sun's rays. Above a water temperature of 28°C, micro-organisms develop and disinfectants are no longer effective. L’eau se trouble et devient verte. Before algae appear, shade your pond (parasol, shade sail) during the hottest hours. Some summer bubble covers can also help maintain good water quality and reduce evaporation.

The impact of rain and storms on swimming pools

nitially, rainwater is quite pure. But when it falls, different elements (minerals, pollutants) are added to it. Thus, 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 is more or less acidic. Be careful! Rainwater does not have the same chemical composition as tap water. The pH of rainwater is between 5 and 6 and will therefore lower the pH of your pool which is usually between 7.2 and 7.6. The temperature of rainwater is generally low, so it is possible that the water in your pool will decrease in temperature.

At the end of summer during rainstorms, it's not uncommon for pool water to turn green.The first thing to do after a storm is to check the water parameters: pH, TAC (alkalinity), disinfectant level (ORP). If necessary, correct the parameters. If the water is very unbalanced, you can use a shock treatment, or simply use flocculant to restore crystal-clear water.

To avoid water changes due to rain, cover your pool as soon as rain is forecast. If unfortunately you could not intervene in time, you will have to measure and modify the pH.

Protect your pool when frost arrives

When water freezes, it can cause your pool's pipes to burst. So, when the water temperature reaches 15°-12°C (17°C for a salt treatment), you need to winterize your pool without delay to preserve your equipment. You can opt for either active or passive winterizing. If you opt for active winterizing (maintaining water level and light filtration), winterizing products help protect your equipment. Never empty your pool completely, as this could damage its structure. Cover your pool with a winterizing tarpaulin, and don't forget to install your anti-freeze accessories if you live in a region where winter is vigorous.

Wind and swimming pool

The wind sweeps up all sorts of impurities (dust, leaves, etc.) which often end up in your pool. For larger particles, you can use a landing net to get rid of these pollutants. On the other hand, if the debris is already present at the bottom of the water, clean the bottom and sides using a manual or robotic vacuum cleaner. Then check the skimmer filter.

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

Spring and autumn : two important seasons

In the spring, restart your pool when the water temperature reaches 12°C - 15°C maximum. After the main cleaning and re-watering of your pool: activate the filtration continuously, then readjust the treatments according to the analyses to balance the water. Do not hesitate to cover your pond to prevent pollen particles and other particles from disturbing the water balance. It will be time to return to your weekly maintenance routine.

Fall is a good time to prepare your pool for winterization. You will especially need to intensify maintenance of your pool to remove leaves and clean filters more regularly. When the water reaches between 15°C and 12°C, it's time to winterize.