Are You Ready for Fall?

Labor Day has come and gone, which means Fall is right around the corner.  Most pool owners hate this time of year because they know they are about to start the battle against the leaves.  Why not be ready for them?  There are many things pool owners can do to help make this time of year easier on themselve

#1 – Arm Yourself

It is important to make sure your leaf removal tools are at the ready, so when the leaves really start falling you are prepared.  The quicker you can get the leaves out of the pool, the less damage they can cause.  Leave use up your chlorine, can stain your pool surface, and even clog up the intake for your pump.
Make sure you have a good leaf rake. It is easier to get the leaves off of the surface of the pool rather than the bottom, so make sure your leaf rake is in working order.  If it is full of holes it might be time to replace it.

Full skimmer baskets can prevent water from getting to your pump.  You can really damage your pump if you let it run too long without water.  You can replace your skimmer baskets with the Skim Pro basket (they fit most skimmers) and buy yourself some time.  Even when the Skim Pro basket is full, it continues to allow water to the pump through its patented tower.  That way on a windy day you don’t have to come home to a overheated pump.

If you have an automatic cleaner, most of them have leaf bags and traps available to use.  The added storage capacity can really reduce cleaning frequency.

If you don’t have an automatic cleaner or looking for a better way to get leaves off of the bottom of the pool, leaf eaters work really well.  They work off of the water pressure from your garden hose and vacuum up all sorts of debris into an easy to clean bag.

#2 – Take Cover

Covers can certainly ease the burden of keeping pools clean in the Fall.  However, there are different types which have various pros and cons.

• Solid Winter Covers – These types of covers are similar to a thick tarp.  They come in various rectangular sizes and are typically held down with water bags.  They are usually the most least expensive option, but you do have to make sure that there is not too much weight on the cover (debris and/or rain water) or the cover will collapse into the pool.  They are very dangerous for children or pets because they do not offer any type of drowning prevention.  They do give you the option to completely shut down the pool and equipment and save yourself the electricity to keep the pool circulating.
• Leaf Nets – Similar to a Solid Winter Cover, except they are made out of a mesh material.  The mesh allows rain water and dirt to pass through, but keeps the large materials like leaves out.  That means you have to keep your pool circulating all winter, but you don’t have to worry about pumping water off of the cover.  They are also very dangerous for children or pets because they do not offer any type of drowning prevention.
• Anchor Covers – These covers (pictured above) are custom designed to fit your shape of pool.  They come in both mesh and solid.  The mesh lets rain water drain through and the solid option allows you the ability to shut down your equipment for the winter.  The covers are typically the most expensive option, but they are designed to last 12+ years.  They stay nice and neat and are the best at keeping the pool clean.  They are also very safe for children and pets.