Spring has arrived and the pollen season is activating your allergies. However, that’s not the only problem you have as your swimming pool surface is covered with yellow pollen. Remove pollen from your pool water quickly and easily by following our recommendations.
How to remove pollen from your pool water is a process of skimming the surface with a fine mesh net. Installing a filter sock in your skimmer basket and running the pump for a longer period each day. If the pollen has become saturated and sunk to the bottom you need to vacuum the pool or drop in an automatic pool cleaner to remove it. Vacuum the pool to waste as pollen will quickly clog your filter which will require more frequent cleaning.
The best way to prevent pollen in your pool is a simple matter of installing a pool cover. A pool cover will also save your chemicals, water and keep the heat in the pool. A pool cover really is the best way to reduce your pool maintenance workload.
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What is Pollen?
Pollen is a small powdery grain produced by both flowering and cone-bearing plants.
Pollen is produced in the anthers of flowering plants as part of the reproductive process. The grains of pollen must be transferred from the anther to the stigma to pollinate the flower. Flowers can self-pollinate other flowers on the same plant or cross pollinate flowers of another plant of the same species. For cross pollination to occur, plants rely on the wind, birds, bees or insects to carry the pollen to other flowers.
Pollination is necessary for plants to produce fruit, seeds and the next generation of plants.
The weather influences pollen production. When the weather becomes warmer (typically the spring season) plants release pollen into the air. Wind pollinated plants can be seen releasing pollen clouds into the air which end up in your swimming pool.
Don’t mistake pollen for yellow algae. Yellow algae will stick to the pool surfaces and become difficult to remove even after shocking the pool. Pollen usually floats on the surface for a while and floats into the skimmer box. If you leave the pollen is will become water logged and sink to the bottom.
How to Prevent Pollen in Your Pool
Install a Pool Cover
The optimal way to prevent pollen entering your pool is to purchase a pool cover.
In our experience pool covers pay for themselves in a few years by keeping the pool cleaner. They reduce the need for filtration and chemicals saving you money. Covers also prevent water evaporation to reduce your water bills and help save the planet.
Install a Glass Pool Fence
A glass pool fence has sold glass panels that prevent the wind from blowing pollen into the pool. It’s not completely pollen proof but does cut down the amount of pollen and other debris that can blow into your pool.
Install a Pool Enclosure
The ultimate protection from pollen and all other debris is a pool enclosure which completely covers your pool.
Pool enclosures are usually made with an aluminium frame covered with varying materials such as security mesh, polycarbonate, safety glass, insect mesh, etc. Usually the enclosure is attached to the back of the house to provide extra strength and durability to the enclosure.
A pool enclosure dramatically reduces the amount of dirt and debris entering the pool area. Your pool stays cleaner for longer reducing the burden on you and your filtration system. No more skimming out all the leaves before you can go swimming. You will find that there is a lot less sweeping and hosing the pool area to keep it clean.
Enclosures made with glass, polycarbonate or other weather proof materials can keep out weather and extend the usefulness of your pool. Preventing rain from entering your pool helps preserve the water chemistry and prevents your pool from overflowing. An enclosure will reduce evaporation from the pool by wind or direct sunlight which reduces the need to top up the pool and rebalance the chemistry.
When you have a pool enclosure you don’t need a pool cover or pool fence.
Avoid Allergenic Plants & Trees
Avoid pollen producing trees like cedar, elm, oak, mulberry, olive and ash trees in your backyard to reduce pollen in your pool.
Try planting less allergenic species of plants such as petunias, orchids, zinnias, iris, impatiens, bougainvillea, bird of paradise and geraniums.
How to Remove Pollen from Your Pool Water
When pollen falls into your pool you want to remove it before it becomes saturated and sinks to the bottom. Once it sinks to the bottom you will need to vacuum the pool or drop in an automatic cleaner to deal with it.
Pollen also leaves an unsightly yellow waterline mark on the tile band or pool surface. This waterline mark may require scrubbing to remove it.
When your pump fires up the pollen is drawn into the skimmer box and will be trapped in the filter. However, pollen will soon clog up your filter requiring frequent backwashing or cartridge cleaning.
Skimmer Net
Investing in a good fine mesh skimmer net that attaches to your telescoping pole is the first line of defence against pollen floating on the surface. As soon as you notice pollen floating in the water skim the whole pool and empty the pollen into a garbage bin. You will need to skim the surface every day in pollen season.
Skimmer Basket Filter Sock
I recommend using a skimmer filter basket sock to trap the pollen in the skimmer box and save your filter from clogging. Place the fine mesh filter bag into the skimmer basket to capture more dirt and debris than the skimmer basket alone. When the filter bag is filled with pollen throw it in the garbage bin and replace with a new filter bag. This prevents the filter from becoming clogged with dirt or pollen and reduces the frequency of filter cleaning.
Skimmer basket filter socks are inexpensive to purchase and help to extend the life span of your filter cartridge which saves you money.
How to Remove Pollen from the Pool Bottom
Vacuum to Remove Pollen from the Pool
The most effective way to remove pollen from the bottom of your swimming pool is to manually vacuum the pool. But ensure that you vacuum the pool with the filter valve set to the waste position. The water will flow into the drain and not into your filter. Run the garden hose into the pool to replace the lost water.
Vacuuming into the filter will quickly clog the filter and require cleaning every time you vacuum the pool. This will quickly become tiresome and annoying. And remember, every time you clean your filter cartridge you are reducing its lifespan.
Please refer to our instructions on How to Clean a Swimming Pool
Automatic Cleaner
If you are dropping a suction cleaner into the pool it will quickly clog up the filter with pollen. It’s not really appropriate to run the suction cleaner to the drain as you will lose too much water from the pool.
A pressure cleaner or robotic cleaner is a better option for dealing with pollen as they have their own filter bag. So you won’t be clogging your main filter. However, you will need to empty the cleaner’s filter bag often as it will fill up quickly with pollen.
Shock the Pool
Shock your pool as usual according to your pool maintenance schedule. The shock chemical will kill the micro-organisms and bacteria that live on the pollen grains.
Conclusion
Pollen affects all outdoor swimming pools in the spring. Your best defense is to skim the surface with a fine net and place a filter sock in the skimmer basket. If you let the filtration system deal with the pollen the filter will quickly clog and require frequent cleaning. It’s much easier to replace a skimmer sock every few days than clean the filter cartridge (or backwash the sand filter). Please ensure the chlorine level is adequate to control the micro-organisms that live on the pollen grains.
If pollen is a real problem for you it’s best to get a pool cover to keep it out of your pool.
If you have any questions or comments please fil in the comment section below and we will get back to your as soon as possible.