How to Remove Seasonal Pollen from Your Pool

After a long and cold winter, you’re ready for spring cleaning! You’ve tackled the inside of the house as well as the outside, completing chores that range from changing the air conditioning filter to cleaning out rain gutters to pressure washing the siding. You finally get to the pool, only to discover there's a gross green hue to your usual happy blue. Something yellow is floating on the surface and clinging to the walls, turning your beautiful clean water into a big soupy mess. 

Yep, it's pollen season in Atlanta, and there’s no denying that while this fluffy yellow dust can wreak havoc on your allergies, it can also lay ruin to your summer swimming plans. Don't panic! We have some professional advice from the experts Pinnacle Pool Services on how to remove seasonal pollen from your pool this spring. 

First, Determine if it’s Pollen or Algae

Pollen season in Georgia starts as early as February and goes through late April and into May. The spring blooms may be lovely, but the fine yellow particles carried by the wind are anything but. On days with the heaviest pollen counts, millions of tiny yellow specks coat everything in sight, including the surface of your pool. 

But before you dive into our tips on how to clean this pesky substance, make sure you’re dealing with pollen and not algae. When it comes to pools, pollen and algae often get confused because they can look very similar. 

However, pollen tends to drift on the surface of your water, and can be easily wiped from walls like dirt. Algae tends to cling to pool floors and walls, and it doesn’t get removed through increased use of the filtration system. If you’re uncertain whether you have a pollen problem or an algae problem, call your local pool service company to diagnose the cause of your less-than-pristine pool water.

If your pool’s filtration system is indeed picking up a yellow substance, it’s likely pollen. Here’s what you can do about it. 

Get in the Habit of Skimming the Water Daily

Starting early in pollen season, you’ll want to begin skimming the water daily, sometimes twice daily, to remove floating pollen. Definitely skim the water in the mornings before hopping in the pool, using a skimmer with a fine mesh head to make sure the pollen gets collected. When pollen season is at its heaviest, it may be necessary to repeat this step in the afternoon.

Run Your Filtration System 

If you’re not used to keeping your pool’s filtration system on at all times to filter out floating particles, pollen season is the time to consider it. Your filter is the first line of defense against seasonal pollen, and will reduce the amount of time you have to spend cleaning the pool. 

Add Aluminum Sulfate to Your Pool Water 

One of the downsides to pollen is that it is made of such small particles it can be nearly impossible to remove from water. Adding some aluminum sulfate to the water will cause the pollen to clump together into larger pieces, so that a skimmer, filter, or vacuum can more easily pick it up and remove it. 

Use a Pool Cover to Prevent Pollen Accumulation 

It might seem like a lot of hassle, but if you live in an area of Georgia where pine trees are everywhere, it might be a good option to cover your pool at night to keep large amounts of pollen from blowing into the water. Using a pool cover will not only help keep your pool water at a nice temperature, but also keep pollen from becoming a huge nuisance. 

Get a Professional Pool Service Involved 

Daily pool maintenance can be time consuming, but eventually you should see an improvement in water quality and clarity. Want to see faster results with less effort on your part? It might be time to call your local pool company for help. 

Hire a pool maintenance professional from Pinnacle Pool Services and never worry about cleaning again. We can restore your pool to a clear, sparkling blue quickly and conveniently, even during Atlanta’s peak pollen season. After all, you want to spend your time enjoying the pool, not cleaning it! Call today: 770-945-6360

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