Taking Care of Your Pool After the Rain
We’ve had a ton of rain lately in Little Rock and the surrounding area, so check out this article for some tips on taking care of your pool after the rain.
Did you know that heavy rainfall can throw off your pool’s chemical balance and introduce a mix of contaminants?
Storms can create a host of pool maintenance problems, from leaves and dirt to rainwater. Without quick action, your pool can become cloudy, develop stains, or even experience the dreaded algae outbreak. Here’s info to help you with post-rain clean-up.
Have These Items on Hand
Before the weather clears, make sure you have these pool care products and tools ready:
- Chlorine shock treatment
- pH and alkalinity balancers (e.g., soda ash, alkalinity increaser, dry acid)
- Water clarifier
- Phosphate remover and enzyme blend
- Stain and scale control product
- Test strips or a liquid test kit
- Skimmer net or leaf rake
- Pool brush and telescoping pole
- Vacuum hose and manual or automatic pool vacuum
Next, you want to follow these steps.
Step 1: Skim and Brush the Pool
Remove leaves, twigs, and other debris with a skimmer net. Next, brush the walls and floor to loosen any dirt or algae spores. This step helps your filtration system work more efficiently. Don’t forget to empty your skimmer and pump baskets to ensure optimal water circulation.
If sediment has settled at the bottom, vacuum the pool using your automatic cleaner. You want to eliminate as much debris as possible before rebalancing chemicals.
Tip: If the water level has risen too high from rainfall, use a submersible pump or adjust your filter’s multiport valve to the “waste” setting to lower it.
Step 2: Test and Rebalance the Water
Use a test kit or bring us a water sample for a full analysis (we test it for free!). Rain typically affects pH and alkalinity the most, but calcium hardness and metal levels can also shift. Adjust these levels as needed to avoid staining or scaling.
Your pH levels should sit at 7.2 – 7.8, and Total Alkalinity at 100 – 150 ppm.
It’s also wise to test for phosphates, as they often increase after storms and can encourage algae growth. Phosphate removers that also contain enzymes are great for breaking down organic material and helping your chlorine work more effectively.
Be sure to use enzyme products only after chlorine levels return to the safe range after shocking. If you have questions, we are here to help!
Step 3: Shock and Run the Filtration System
Once the water is balanced, shock your pool with chlorine to eliminate contaminants. Evening is the best time to shock, as UV rays from sunlight can reduce chlorine effectiveness. Aim to raise the free available chlorine to about 10 ppm. Wait until chlorine levels return to 2–4 ppm before swimming.
TIP: With BioGuard Smart Shock, you can swim as soon as 15 minutes after shocking!
Run your pool pump and filter continuously for at least 12–24 hours to circulate the chemicals and filter out remaining particles. The next day, check your filter pressure gauge. If it reads 8–10 PSI above the normal level, clean or backwash the filter.
If your water is still cloudy, add a clarifier to help gather tiny particles into larger clusters that can be easily filtered out.
Keeping your pool in top shape after a storm doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right supplies and a systematic approach, you can restore clean, balanced water quickly and avoid more serious maintenance issues down the line.
And don’t forget, we are always here for you at Townley Pool and Spa, your Little Rock swimming pool store.
