As many are experiencing, wildfires have been burning across the country.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
Elevated sanitizer demand Filters clogging up quicker Overall water quality issues
Elevated sanitizer demand:
Ash in the pool will consume the chlorine/bromine very quickly. Some pool owners may find themselves in a situation where a significant amount of shock is needed to break the demand. Keep the sanitizer level between 3ppm-5ppm while the swimming pool is exposed to ash and fallout from the fires. Make sure to test pH and chlorine/bromine daily to ensure that you are maintaining the right level in the pool.
If ash is falling into pools, filter pressure may rise quicker than expected:
When filter pressure goes up, the amount of flow through the returns goes down.
To ensure the water is being circulated and filtered properly, here are some tips: 1. Backwash sand filters and rinse cartridge filters when the pressure gauge increases by 8-10psi. 2. Use Clarifying Tablets (sand filters only) or Filter Enhance to clarify the water if needed. 3. Keep the return jets angled down on a 45 degree angle. This ensures that the clean, filtered water is pushed to the bottom of the pool and allows the skimmer to pull the water that has been in contact with the ash to the filter quicker.
If left unattended, chlorine demand, poor filtration and circulation can lead to a host of water quality issues. Cloudy water, dirty water, algae are just a few of the issues you may encounter.
Here are some additional tips for you:
• Maintain sanitizer levels between 3-5ppm • Oxidize the particulate in the water. We recommend Solei for this. • Monitor filter pressure and backwash when the pressure increases by 8-10psi above the normal operating pressure • You may want to clean your filter if you are in an area that has been more severely affected by the wildfires, ash and smoke • Test for phosphates regularly. Ash and smoke in swimming pool water will increase phosphate levels quickly. You may want to consider using a phosphate remover like Assure or Clear Rebound to help combat the extreme organic loading • Use Jack’s Magic Super Pacs to help keep ash and smoke in the water to a minimum.