Vacation Pool Prep: Keeping Your Water Clear While You're Away

Hey everyone, it's Al!

There’s nothing better than heading out on a much-needed summer vacation—but man, there is nothing worse than coming home to a green, swampy pool. Even when you're away, your pool still needs a little TLC. Fortunately, with a little preparation and the right equipment, we can ensure you return to crystal-clear water.

Here is your quick pre-vacation pool checklist:

1. Balance Your Water A day or two before you leave, test your water using your Test Kits, Strips, & Reagents and adjust the chemistry. Make sure your pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness are sitting right in their ideal ranges. Balanced water ensures your sanitizers work efficiently while you are gone.

2. Shock the Pool Give your pool a solid dose of Pool Shock the night before you leave. This will eliminate any early-stage algae or bacteria, giving your water a strong defense against the summer heat.

3. Clean the Filter and Skimmers Empty your skimmer and pump baskets, and backwash or clean your filter. A clean system guarantees maximum water flow, which is critical for keeping the water circulating properly.

4. Check Your Timers Your pool water still needs to move! Ensure your pump timer is set to run for at least 8-12 hours a day. Stagnant water is an open invitation for algae.

5. Automate Your Sanitization (The Secret to Peace of Mind) The biggest challenge while on vacation is maintaining proper chlorine levels. Since you won't be there to manually add chemicals, automated sanitization is your best friend:

• Chemical Feeder Pumps & Chlorinators: These devices automatically dispense a steady, precise amount of chlorine into your pool. Just fill them up before you leave, set the dial, and let them do the work.

• Chlorinators & Salt Systems: If you have a salt chlorinator, make sure it’s properly adjusted. Salt systems continuously produce pure chlorine while the pump is running, meaning you won't have to worry about chlorine levels dropping to zero while you're away.

6. Secure the Pool Remove pool toys, floats, and automatic cleaners if you are expecting heavy storms. Lock your gates, and consider using your solar cover to reduce evaporation and keep debris out.

Enjoy your vacation! If you want to stop worrying about your pool and upgrade to an automated chlorinator or salt system before your trip, stop by Al's Cool Pool Store and we'll get you set up for a stress-free getaway.