Summer Vacation – What Do I Do with My Pool While I’m Gone?

Your pool is a great asset during the Mesa, Arizona summer months when the temperatures can become unbearable. But the summer is also a great time to travel, which means that you may be away from your home and your pool for weeks and months at a time.

If you aren’t careful, you could come home to find that your pool is covered with algae and littered with leaves and debris. Taking some precautionary steps before you set off on your vacation can keep your pool in good shape while you are gone and save you a lot of time and money on pool cleaning and maintenance when you get home.

Here are a few things you can do to protect your pool while you are away:

Run the Filter the Right Amount

You won’t be around to monitor the condition of your pool or to turn your filter on and off when needed.

You will need to run the filter at least 12 hours per day while you are gone. If you were home, you could run it for a shorter time since you could just check on the pool and turn the filter on as needed. Since you will be gone, the filter needs to run longer to ensure that problems don’t develop.

Just set your timer to turn the filter on and off when you need it. You should run the filter during the day since the higher temperatures will encourage bacteria growth during that time.

If you don’t have a timer, just ask a neighbor to tend to the filter for you or hire someone to perform the maintenance. You can actually run your filter 24 hours a day if you like. You’ll pay more for your electricity usage, but the cost will be lower than the chemicals and pool cleaning that will be required when you get home.

Make sure you clean or backwash the filter before you leave, as well, so that it performs at its best. Also make sure that the water level is completely full so that the filter works properly.

Add Extra Chlorine

When chlorine levels are low, algae and bacteria will start to grow. Since you’ll be away, you’ll need to put extra chlorine in the pool to cover your absence. Put an extra tab in the skinner or turn up the automatic chlorinator a few notches.

Shock the pool twice as hard as you normally would. The chlorine levels will be higher than what you need, but that one-time shock won’t be harmful to the pool.

If you will be gone for several weeks or months, you’ll need to hire someone to do the pool maintenance for you, including shocking the pool once a week.

Use an Algaecide

In addition to the higher chlorine levels, you should also consider adding an algaecide to the pool. This simple step will help stop the growth of algae even if the chlorine levels dip slightly.

Typically, you can treat your entire pool with one bottle of algaecide. Most treatments last for several months, so you should be covered for the entirety of your vacation.

Keep It Covered

The best filter won’t keep out leaves and critters. In fact, too many leaves and critters can cause even the best filters to stop working.

Put a cover over your pool to keep out all the undesirables. You’ll save yourself a lot of pool cleaning when you get home, and you’ll help the pool filter do its job more easily.

Secure the Pool

Pool maintenance isn’t the only thing you need to worry about while you are away from home. You also need to make sure the pool is safe and secure while you are not there to monitor it.

If you have a gate around your pool, make sure that it is securely locked. If you have a pool cover, make sure that it is sturdy and securely fastened. Upgrade to a hard cover if you can afford it. The cover will provide more protection if someone falls into the pool.

Not only will securing your pool keep it safe for others, but it will also protect you from liability.

Going on vacation should be relaxing. You shouldn’t have to worry about the pool maintenance while you are away.

True Blue Pools of Arizona provides regular pool cleaning and maintenance whether you are going away for vacation or you just want to free up your time by taking some of your household maintenance off your plate. We will design the right maintenance plan for your pool to keep it in top shape and save you money in the long run. If you really want to spruce up your pool, we also offer Mesa pool remodeling services to help you get the design and features you want. Call us today for more information!

Published By:

True Blue Pools – Douglas LaLonde
5235 S. Kyrene Rd. Ste 102
Tempe, AZ 85283
Office: 480-820-9495
Website: https://truebluepools.com