We’re familiar with algae; they’re those slimy things you can easily find in any damp location. When these things aren’t in our homes and personal spaces, it’s easy not to mind them so much. However, the story changes drastically when they appear in your pool. Then, one thing you need to learn fast is how to get algae out of pool without a vacuum.
There are a few ways you can do this with ease. These include using your garden hose, shocking agents, chlorine tablets, algaecides, and cleaning by hand.
Moving on, we’ll be going into greater detail on the most efficient ways to rid your pool of these potentially dangerous. With this, you’ll be able to pick the most efficient method for you and get your swimming pool ready for use with minimal effort!
How to Tell It’s Time to Clean Your Pool
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Before you start making cleaning efforts, it’s only natural that you first confirm that your pool needs this service in the first place.
There are several ways to tell that your pool needs to be refreshed. But, the clearest sign it’s time to get cleaning is the presence of a strong chlorine smell. If your pool has started giving off this pungent smell, it’s a strong indication that it’s been contaminated by any number of potentially toxic substances.
Moving on, another sign to watch out for is the discoloration of the swimming pool water. Typically, when algae have contaminated water to a point, it’ll turn green. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if brown algae are the source of the contaminant, then your pool’s water will be brown.
Another thing to consider is if your pol now has murky or cloudy water. When this happens, the filtration capabilities of your pool become impaired, and even worse things could start to grow in the pool water.
Finally, the last thing to take note of is if your pool has living organisms like water beetles and mosquito larvae growing on its surface. This tends to happen only when they can find nourishment in the water. As such, you know that the water is dirty.
Now, to confirm your suspicions, you can test the water with a testing kit to know exactly what you’re dealing with.
5 Ways to Get Rid of Algae in Your Pool Without Using a Vacuum
There are several ways you can effectively eliminate algae contaminants in your pool without using a vacuum. We’ll be exploring 5 of the easiest ones here. So, all you have to do is pick the most convenient method for you!
By Using Your Garden Hose
If you don’t want to use a vacuum to clean your pool, you can use a garden hose to replace that equipment.
It can also help you easily get rid of all the algae floating on the surface of your pool as well. However, this tool has to be used in tandem with another tool for maximum results. You need to use your garden hose with a telescopic pole to get the best results.
By Hand Cleaning
Another approach you can take here is to clean by hand. This is a relatively uncomplicated process as all it requires you to do is to pick out all the algae particles in the pool using only your hand.
However, moving forward, you need to know that this method won’t help you remove every single algae particle in the pool. Also, the efficacy of this strategy is directly dependent on the size of your pool. As such, the larger your pool is, the less effective this strategy is for you.
However, if you have a large pool and still want to get the best results here, you would need to go over the pool at least twice or thrice for good measure.
But, while this will get the algae itself out of the pool, it will do nothing about the bad smell. So, whether you choose just how viable this particular system is for you.
By Using Shocking Agents
This is one of the best methods you can adopt if you want to get your pool free of algae without incurring the high costs of algaecides or vacuums. All you need to do to make use of this approach is to get certain resources.
Some of the things you need to acquire include;
- Eye protective equipment.
- Hand gloves.
- Calcium hypochlorite solution.
- A medium-sized bucket.
- HPC.
After you’ve put on the necessary protective equipment, put one pound of shock into your pool and stir the water slowly. The best shock products for this exercise are those that have 24-hour action and get rid of chlorine odors.
Once you have applied this solution (preferably overnight), leave your pool filter on and wait. As the water circulates, the shock will start to act on the algae and eventually eliminate it.
By Treating With Algaecides
This remains the most potent and straightforward way to deal with any algae problem in your pool. When dealing with an algae issue in your pool, in the past, you would use two processes. These are the metallic and quaternary ammonia processes.
That said, you should keep in mind that using quaternary ammonia will cause your pool to foam seriously. Also, certain algae are impervious to the actions of this compound.
However, when you introduce the right amount of algaecides into your pool and let it settle for a day, you can effectively eliminate the microorganisms in your pool. What’s more, it’ll keep your pool safe for 6 more months.
Also, it can help you balance the chlorine levels of your pool as well.
By Using Chlorine Tablets
These are another great way to deal with algae in your pool. But, to use it effectively, you need to get a floater and a basket.
So, after making sure that the water in your pool is balanced, introduce the chlorine tablets in the basket into your pool and scrub the sides of your pool to push the algae into the water.
To further seal the deal here, you can add Banish to the mix. However, you’ll have to wait a few days for all of this to fully take effect.
Reasons Why You Need to Treat the Algae in Your Pool as Soon as Possible
Although you can use your pool even with algae in it, there are several reasons you need to attend to algae presence in your pool as quickly as possible.
Some of these reasons include;
- It can make your pool area dangerous. Because algae can make your pool surface slippery, you need to be super careful when you walk or run in that area as you could get hurt. This means that if you don’t take care of the algae situation, you won’t be so free around it.
- It also puts you at greater risk of bacterial infection. Because the presence of algae fosters the growth of harmful bacteria, using pools with this contaminant can lead to any number of health issues like rashes and skin conditions.
- It also exposes you to toxic and unhygienic water. As the presence of algae makes your water dirty, swimming in such a pool further predisposes you to serious, unhealthy conditions.
- Algae in water also impairs your visibility in the water. Because algae can turn the water murky, you may not be able to see all that’s inside your pool. This effectively increases the risk of drowning, among other things.
How to Effectively Prevent Algae From Growing in Your Pool
Algae growth is a fairly common enough condition. That being said, there are a few ways that you can effectively stall the growth of these harmful organisms in your pool. After all, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure!
Some things you can do include;
- Ensuring that your pool filter stays clean at all times.
- Ensuring that you don’t have stagnant water in your pool. Always let your pool water circulate as it should.
- Applying good shock agents to your pool at least once a week.
- Keep the walls and floor of your pool clean at all times.
- Ensuring that you keep an eye out for early signs of algae growth so you can deal with it effectively before it becomes a problem.
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Conclusion
Nobody likes a dirty pool; it spoils all the fun. So, when you know how to get algae out of pool without a vacuum, you have an affordable means of ensuring that you can keep your pool clean and ready for use at all times! Be sure not to miss our next post if you want to keep your pool in the best condition possible!