How to Remove Pollen from your Swimming Pool

Each summer, the “pollen count” or “pollen load” in each neighbourhood is different. If you have a lot of trees near your pool and an active spring, pollen can be produced so intensely that it can create a huge mess in your swimming pool. It is easy to identify and resolve a problem with pollen in your swimming pool, once you know what to look for. With a little research and work, you can make your swimming pool crystal clear again.

Recognizing pollen in your swimming pool

When you’ve got a mess to clean up in your swimming pool, the best place to begin is by identifying the source of your problem. Because pollen levels vary each year, pool owners will often wake up to a pollen-filled pool with total shock for the first time.

Excessive pollen can cause cloudiness or a yellow tinge. When this yellow colour first appears, many pool owners worry that they have actually been invaded by yellow algae. Luckily, you can easily tell if your pool water is yellow because of algae or pollen (By the way: It is always better to have pollen than algae).

Yellow algae is slimy, and tends to stick to the sides of your swimming pool, while pollen generally floats on the surface and throughout your water, creating a yellow haze. By feeling the sides of your swimming pool, you’ll usually be able to feel right away if you have a case of algae on your pool walls. If you’re still not sure, taking a scoop of pool water in a clear glass can help. If you hold this water up to the light, you’ll easily be able to identify yellow pollen floating around.

How pollen enters your pool water

Pollen levels vary from year to year based on the weather, water levels, and many other factors. In heavy pollen seasons, you can actually see pollen floating through the air, creating a yellow haze. If you spot this in your area, chances are you’ll have at least some cleanup to do in your water.

The location that pollen will ultimately settle is based on wind patterns and how many trees are nearby your pool. Because of these many factors, pollen drop may not be a regular occurance in your swimming pool. Many pool owners wake up to yellow pool water for the first time and have no idea what caused it, while many others know that pollen-cleanup is just part of their annual swimming season.

How to eliminate pollen from your swimming pool

Using your filter to eliminate pollen

Pollen is fine and particulate, and your filter is the best tool to use when you have pollen to remove from your swimming pool water. When your pool develops a yellow haze, cycling all of your water through your filter will remove the majority of the pollen in your pool. If you have a particularly heavy pollen season, you may need to backwash and refilter your water to eliminate the pollen immediately.

Check out the local weather station to find out what the pollen forecast looks like in the coming days and weeks. Some preventative action can save you a lot of time and energy. Plan to run your pump and filter more often during pollen season to continually remove it from your swimming pool water.

Skimming away pollen

Pollen is light and airy, and intended to fly on the wind. This means that when pollen first hits your swimming pool water, it tends to float on the surface before taking on water and sinking. Regularly skimming your swimming pool during pollen season can prevent pollen from settling

Many skimmer nets are too large to help with a pollen problem, but a fine mesh skimmer can be a great tool to have when you’re cleaning up pollen. If you have a lot of tree coverage or regularly face pollen drop, investing in a mesh skimmer is a great idea. In a very heavy pollen season, be sure to skim your pool once a day to cut down on pollen haze throughout the water.

Clarifying your water after heavy pollen

Filtering and skimming will help to clear a lot of pollen out of your pool water. But, during a heavy pollen season, it can be hard to remove all of the particles from your water. This is especially true if pollen has had the chance to take on water and drop below the surface of your pool.

To completely remove all pollen from your water, use a clarifier like the Pool Pure Super Clarifier to sink the pollen directly to the bottom of your pool. Once you’ve use a clarifier, you can vacuum away the remainder of your pollen, leaving your water sparkling clean.

A springtime routine for reducing pollen

If you live in an area with a lot of tree coverage, you might face the problem of pollen invasion every spring. If you regularly face pollen problems, you can control it by building maintenance into your routine to cut down on intensity.

During pollen season, make a habit of running your pump more often than usual, and cleaning your filter as needed. We also recommend skimming your swimming pool daily, and using a clarifier once a week to allow you to remove any remaining pollen.

By working daily on your pollen problem, you’ll prevent a buildup in your water, and cut down on how much work it takes to get back to normal.

If you or a family member have intense pollen allergies, it is very helpful to clear pollen out of the pool, so your family doesn’t have allergens on their skin, hair and bathing suit when they finish swimming.

Keeping pollen under control each spring

Pollen in the pool water isn’t a cause for concern. But, high pollen counts can cause water clarity problems, and can make swimmers with allergy less likely to swim in the pool. Some pool owners battle pollen drop every year, while others only experience this issue occasionally based on the weather. With a little patience and the right approach, you can easily tackle pollen haze and return your pool to normal.