The fall is a pool owner’s least favorite time of year. While it’s true, the folks down here don’t get that traditional season with leaves turning and falling into the pool like those up north do, we get our own fair share of challenges we have to deal with.

Today, we’re going to discuss some of the things you can do in order to have a smoother fall maintenance schedule. Let’s jump right in!

Debris pickup

If you’re up north, you know the routine! Use your skimmer to help remove leaves and other debris that falls from trees and elsewhere. We recommend getting on this early because it doesn’t take much time for them to take on water and sink to the bottom of your pool. For folks down south? Well it’s storm season for us! Which means hurricanes, tropical storms and generally less predictable weather that can lead to the same kind of debris build up. Stay on your simmer and make sure you’re doing a passthrough every other day or so. 

Keep your cover clean and in good working order

Up north – this answer is pretty obvious. You need to do this to help the pool retain heat a little bit longer and keep leaves, branches and other random occurrences out of your pool. Down south – the same thing applies. Also – the air can have a significant impact on the condition of your pool cover and erosion can occur where there’s a lot more salt in the air like you’d find down here in the Tampa and Oldsmaar area. Inspect your pool cover for any potential hotels, deterioration or other possible defects. 

Keep the surroundings clean

This is something you should always be doing no matter what the season is. While there are certainly more seasonal considerations for debris up north, it’s not like that goes away in the summertime and regardless if you’re dealing with traditional fall conditions or not – debris buildup in a pool is almost a direct result of your ability to keep the surrounding area clean, full of clutter and in good, working order. This is a great time to trim branches, bushes, maintain peace stone and other debris that might find its way into your pool. 

Filter and chemical checks

Make sure you clean your filter completely right around early August. You want your filter to be in as good a shape as it possibly can be for storm season and the fall. Use your operator’s manual for the best way to maintain optimum performance and make it as durable as possible. 

Also in the fall, you can draw back a little bit on the amount of chemicals you’ll be using. If you have any expiring products – clear those out and purchase new ones. If you’re trying to find the right composition – ask your local pool pro. 

We hope you found today’s blog helpful! If you need to get your pool cleaned or have it regularly maintained, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction. Until then – enjoy the remainder of the summer and we’ll look forward to hearing from you soon!