Pool Leaf Removal Tips

The changing fall colors are beautiful to look at, but if deciduous trees surround your backyard swimming pool, the falling leaves could quickly become a problem. If not removed promptly, leaves can clog the plumbing, stain the pool, throw off the chemical balance, and feed algae blooms. Follow these pool leaf removal tips to make your life easier this fall.

• Install a mesh leaf net: Preventing leaves from falling in the water is your best option. A leaf net protects the pool and allows leaves to blow across the surface without getting wet. You can use a leaf net with or without a pool cover.
• Adjust the skimmer flow: Turn up the setting so the skimmers pull at their strongest. You may want to nearly close the main drain valve to increase suction. Also, make sure the skimmer weirs are in place to lock leaves inside the skimmer when the pool pump shuts off.
• Guide leaves toward the skimmers: Install eyeball return fittings and aim them in the same direction. This creates a circular flow pattern that keeps leaves moving. Also, consider installing arm-like attachments to help guide floating debris toward the skimmers.
• Maintain the proper water level: For skimmers to work effectively, the water level must be just right. If it’s too high, the leaves won’t be skimmed properly. If it’s too low, the pump could run dry and become damaged.
• Install leaf-catching tools: If your standard skimmers fill up with leaves too quickly, consider installing a specially designed leaf-catching product. Two popular options include deep leaf-skimmer baskets and leaf net attachments for in-ground pool ladder handles.
• Remove leaves from the water manually: Break out your skimming net, pool leaf rake, or pool vacuum to remove leaves from the water, whether they’re still floating or have sunken to the bottom.
• Assess your landscaping: Consider removing any deciduous trees that sit too close to your pool. At the very least, remove dead branches every fall, and trim back long, heavy limbs.
• Set up windbreakers: Position evergreen hedges and shrubs, low fences, and retaining walls so they block the prevailing wind across your pool. These barriers catch blowing leaves and reduce the amount of debris that makes its way into the water.
• Install a pool cover at the end of swimming season: Plenty of fall days are warm enough to go swimming, but once you have finished using your pool for the season, cover it to seal out debris. Remember, this is only one aspect of shutting down your pool for the winter.

Have you taken your last swim of the season? Millennium Pool Service offers pool closing packages to winterize your pool correctly and give you a head start when you reopen it next spring. With over 35 years of experience to draw from, you can trust us to get the job done right. Contact us at 703.939.5062 in Virginia or 301.591.3750 in Maryland to schedule pool closing services today.