How Leaves Can Damage Your Pool or Hot Tub

Now that fall is officially here, the leaves are quickly changing color and will soon be falling from the trees – and all over your yard! As any experienced pool owner knows, the fall season requires extra work to keep leaves out of the water. This includes emptying the filter basket more often, skimming leaves from the surface and brushing leaves off the bottom of the pool. 

Let’s learn more about why it’s so important to keep leaves out of your spa or swimming pool and how to keep your water sparkling clean this season. 

How Can Leaves Damage Your Inground Pool in Mississippi?  

A leaf pool cover is something most pool owners can benefit from. However, just because you buy a pool cover doesn’t mean it’s always working in your favor. Things happen – the cover might blow off or you might forget to put it on. Either way, a pool full of leaves is a problem. Here’s why. 

• Clogging concerns. Organic waste like leaves and twigs can get into the plumbing and cause a clog. It doesn’t take much for this to happen, and the repair could be an expensive one. This is why all leaves and debris should be removed – even if it’s just one. 

• Algae growth. Another issue leaves can cause is algae growth. Plant life of any kind is a breeding ground for algae. It will eventually break down in the water and form algae, which can be very difficult to remove.

• Staining. When leaves break down in the water, they become heavy and sink to the bottom. This heavy mass can prevent your filter from working properly, causing algae growth and staining. 

• Chemical imbalance. When a lot of debris enters your pool at once, it can cause a chemical imbalance in the water. This happens because your spa chemicals in Jackson are overworked, throwing pH levels out of balance. 

How to Keep Your Pool or Spa Free of Leaves 

There are plenty of things you can do to prevent the above problems from happening to your pool or spa. A leaf cover is a lightweight mesh cover that will catch leaves and other organic material. It is NOT the same as a pool cover, however, and it will not protect kids and pets. Still, it’s worth having this type of cover, especially if you have a lot of trees in your yard. 

If leaves do get into your pool, make sure you remove them right away. This ensures your pump and filter are working efficiently and gets you used to keeping your pool water clean. Also, continue testing your water to make sure the pH levels are balanced. 

If you continue to have problems with falling leaves in your pool, it’s possible that you need to address your trees and their placement. Consider bringing in a landscape team to remove a few trees and plant lower shrubs around the pool instead. These shrubs look great and offer wind protection without causing a mess!