The presence of pollen in the pool is a natural occurrence, borne by the wind or rainwater. It can be particularly pronounced for pools in close proximity to trees and plants. Although pollen particles are tiny and can be easily managed by a pool’s filter system, it’s essential to understand that an excessive concentration can trigger allergies, clog the filter system, and disturb the water balance, necessitating swift action.
When pollen invades a pool, it’s common for novices to mistake it for algae, leading to unnecessary and ineffective treatment. Hence, it’s crucial to differentiate between the two. Algae typically gives the pool a green or light blue color, feels slimy, and results in a bad smell. On the other hand, pollen lends a brown or yellow hue to the pool, feels slippery, and does not result in any foul odor.
To tackle a pollen invasion effectively, here are four key steps.
- Manual removal of pollen with a fine landing net.
- Activation of the pool pump and skimmer system.
- Use of a flocculant pad in the skimmer if the water remains cloudy post-filtration.
- Bottom cleaning with a floor drain or pool vacuum.
Following these steps should restore the pool to its clean state. However, in cases of severe invasion, it might be necessary to use a pool shock treatment.
Preventing the invasion of pollen during the pollen season is equally important. Some recommended measures include the use of a pool cover, daily running of the pool pump, manual clearing with a pool landing net, and addition of a pool clarifier after each rain or power washing.
Up next, a deeper dive into why pools attract pollen and how it impacts the overall pool ecosystem.
Why Does Your Pool Attract Pollen?
Pollen’s invasion of your pool is a natural occurrence. Pollen float in the air, and rainwater often brings it along, or the wind might blow it directly onto the water’s surface.
If you have trees and plants near your pool, their pollen will hitch a ride on the wind and crash your pool.
But don’t fret! Pollen is just tiny plant particles that your pool’s filter system can easily evict.
If the pollen population isn’t too large, the cleanup will be quick. However, if your pool is teeming with pollen, you might have two concerns.
- Pollen can trigger allergies.
- Too much pollen might clog your filter system.
Hence, it’s crucial to remove as much pollen as possible before it reaches the filter system.
How To Differentiate Between Pollen And Algae In Your Pool?
Mistaking pollen for algae is a common blunder, especially for pool-owning novices. This misidentification can lead to an unnecessary and ineffective algaecide dump, causing your pool to foam.
Here’s a quick guide to distinguishing algae from pollen in your swimming pool.
Pool with Algae.
- The pool has a green or light blue color.
- Algae feel slimy.
- Dirt particles are clearly visible (even when water is crystal clear).
- The pool water smells bad.
Pool with Pollen.
- The pool has a brown or yellow color.
- Pollen feels slippery, but it is not slimy.
- Soil particles are visible (when water is cloudy).
- The pool water has no bad smell.
Does Pollen Sink To The Bottom Of Your Pool?
I often get a question: Does pollen sink to the bottom of the pool?
Some swear it does, while others don’t think they’ve seen pollen at the bottom of their swimming pool.
It could be sand in your pool, and you do not see the pollen.
You can easily test this with a pool brush and briefly scrub one spot. If heavy clouds form at the spot, then it is probably pollen.
You now know where the pollen comes from, and you can distinguish them from algae.
But how do you get the pollen out of your swimming pool?
What Are The Steps To Remove Pollen From Your Pool?
If your pool’s water surface covered with a yellow pollen blanket, grab a fine landing net and manually remove as much pollen as possible. This step prevents your filter system from clogging and continuous backwashing of your sand filter.
Once you’ve done the manual cleaning, follow these four steps to bid goodbye to the pollen in your pool.
- Start your pool pump and let the skimmer do its job. Stop the pump as soon as the water is clear to prevent equipment damage.
- Empty the skimmer basket halfway with a plastic container or filter it through a fine net later. Remember to stop the pump before removing the skimmer basket!
- If your pool is still slightly cloudy from the pollen after filtration, place a flocculant pad in the skimmer to improve filtration.
- Check if pollen has also accumulated on the pool’s bottom. Remove them through the floor drain or use a pool vacuum in an above-ground pool.
To prevent your water from turning green due to excess foreign matter, you can use a pool shock. However, if you’ve removed the pollen in time and the filter system continues to run for 6 to 8 hours a day, a pool shock should be unnecessary in most cases. After these steps, your pool should be clean again. If not, then also read my complete pool cleaning guide.
What Happens If Pollen Stays In Your Pool For Too Long?
Pollen is a foreign substance that disturbs the water balance in your pool. It provides a food base for bacteria, algae, and fungi.
This sudden pollen concentration chokes the chlorine off in the pool, leading to reduced water transparency.
Hence, a simple pollen problem can quickly turn your pool into a green mess full of algae. Therefore, it’s crucial to control the pollen problem swiftly.
How Can You Prevent Pollen From Invading Your Pool During Pollen Season?
Pollen season isn’t over yet, and you don’t want your pool to be covered with a yellow layer of pollen again.
Here are my four steps to keep the pollen out of your swimming pool.
- Use a Pool Cover: The best way to keep pollen out of your pool is to use a pool cover. A solar pool cover not only keeps your pool warm and prevents water evaporation, but also keeps pollen out.
- Run the Pool Pump Daily: Your pool pump should run daily to eliminate the pollen immediately before it sinks to the bottom.
- Use a Pool Landing Net: A fine mesh pool landing net can help you manually clear the water of pollen.
- Add a Pool Clarifier: After each rain or power washing, add 1-2 quarts of clarifier into your pool. A pool clarifier helps the filter system work more efficiently in removing pollen from the water.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your pool remains a pollen-free zone.
If you have further questions about dealing with pollen in your swimming pool, feel free to reach out to me on social media. I’m always here to help.
