Don't let pool problems HEAT UP

Triple-digit temps can wreak havoc on pools

By Aldrich Tan/Staff writer

August 18, 2005

Luis Aguilar covers his inflatable 15-foot pool to protect it from falling leaves. But the blue vinyl does nothing to defend the pool against Visalia's triple-digit temperatures.

"It feels like a hot tub when you get in," said Aguilar, 46.

Discomfort, though, is the least of Aguilar's worries, said Leroy Smithson, operations and warehouse manager for Sunplay Pool 'N' Spa Supplies in Visalia.

Mosquito problems

Summer temperatures can transform a swimming pool into a mosquito-infested nightmare, Smithson says.

That's especially true of wading or kiddie pools. Larry Aiello, owner of Acme Pools in Visalia, noted that small pools don't have the filtration systems that larger ones do.

Also, many owners fail to empty the small pools after each use.

"A small pool could become a breeding ground for mosquitos within three days if you leave the water standing out," Aiello said.

Chlorine-related problems

The recent stretch of triple-digit temperatures caused chlorine to dissolve faster in full-sized pools, Smithson said. Without chlorine, algae and bacteria take over.

To deal with the problem, Smithson recommends applying dichlor-shock, a white powder that helps chlorinate pools. Check the pool's chlorine levels weekly, he said.

Rapidly disappearing chlorine also has the indirect effect of altering the pool's pH level, said Aiello, who explained that liquid chlorine has a pH of 12 and chlorine tablets have a pH level of 2.5. A pH level too high could damage the pool's material and cause scaling on the pool wall; a pH level too low could burn the eyes or injure the skin, he said.

Pool-owner Aguilar said he checks the chlorine levels of his inflatable pool regularly. He said he uses a gallon of chlorine

See Pool/4D

Pool-care Tips

Check your pool's chlorine level weekly. Use dichloro-shock powder and chlorine tablets to maintain the pool's chlorine level.

Check your pool's pH level weekly. The ideal pH level is 7.4-7.6.

If you own an inflatable pool, empty out the water daily.

Make sure that all your pool equipment is working and that filters are clean.

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