Swimming pools are popular among condominium and gated community owners. While they see a lot of use during spring and summer, most San Bernardino property management contractors say that they are rarely visited between December and February, even with heated water and other features such as communal saunas and steam baths. Because of this, pool maintenance falls to a yearly low as well.
Because many property owners and HOA management providers neglect their swimming pools during winter, algae growth starts to set in after a few weeks. It is true that algae grows slower in cold weather; however, slow growth is still growth, and by the time spring rolls in, many residents avoid visiting the condominium pool because of its unseemly smell and unappealing appearance. Here, we will give you a sneak peek into the techniques the best property managers use to prevent winter algae from growing in swimming pools.
1. Cover The Pool. The ideal cover should cover an area larger than the pool itself, thus keeping dirt away from the sides of the pool. An opaque cover, preferably made from vinyl, will keep your swimming pool free of debris and dirt. The opacity will also help keep sunlight away from the water, thus depriving algae of the warmth and light that it needs to grow and thrive. Also, the absence of debris will ensure that the chlorine level will stay constant through the winter.
2. Chlorinate The Pool. The ideal pH level for swimming pools is between 7.2 to 7.6. This is achieved by regularly chlorinating the water. At the same time, to nip the growth of algae in the bud, “shocking” the water (that is, introducing high concentrations of chlorine treatment) should be done every three weeks. After shocking the water, run the filter for two to four hours to make sure that the treatment is dissolved evenly.
3. Check The Pool Daily. Daily checks of the pool could reveal algae slowly starting to form on the walls, the floor, or on the water itself. It’s easier to detect algae in winter as it grows much slowly than it would in summer. If you do see specks of green floating in the water, introduce a chlorine shock treatment, run the filter, and add an algaecide the next day. The filter should also run for an hour twice daily to prevent stagnation.
The best San Bernardino HOA management companies follow the techniques above to make sure that their clients are able to enjoy their pool facilities as soon as spring comes along. To know more about how SoCal Property Enterprises satisfies its clients, visit our website or give us a call at 951-270-3700.