People who love sunshine, love the Florida “Funshine.” Florida’s subtropical climate equates to refreshing afternoon rains almost every day in the summer months which is accompanied by a generous sunset usually after 8 pm. In fact, on the longest day of the year during the summer solstice (when the sun has reached its highest position in the sky – June 21, 2019) you can count on some light even close to 9 pm. The natural side effect of the rain and extra hours of sunshine is more time for poolside fun with your family, but also the warm temperatures and humidity can wreak havoc on an unattended pool. Here are four easy steps to ensure your pool is ship-shape all summer.
- Clean Your Pool Once a Week – You can hire a weekly pool service to take care of everything! Or if you decide to do it yourself, purchase a pool supply kit online or from your local pool supply store. One benefit of purchasing at your local pool supply store is that you can build a friendship with the team there, which gives you access to a ton of valuable knowledge. Most basically, you should use a net to remove all debris and use a long brush to wipe walls, steps and the surrounding lip of the pool.
- Balance Your Chemicals – Your pool service technician will take care of this for you or you can purchase a chemical testing kit. Refer to the specific measurement levels for your size and type of pool, but you may need to add chlorine tablets into a floating chlorine feeder, shock the pool overnight or add algaecide. You may consider hiring a pool service company for the first critical 120 days of a new pool installation before you take it over yourself.
- Watch Your Water Levels – Determine your ideal water line on the pool, its best to consult the pool installation company or your Florida homebuilder to confirm your ideal water line. To stay in the target range, you may need to drain water from your pool after a summer rain shower or add some water when rain levels are lower.
- Put Away Your Toys – Everyone loves floating rafts and basketball hoops; they make for great family fun. But if left floating in the pool, these toys can become a breeding ground for algae and mold. So, like your mom always said – when you’re done playing with your toys, put them away. And be sure to store pool toys, supplies and accessories in a place where they can dry properly and are out of reach of children and pets.
For more ways to enjoy the Florida Funshine in your new home check out Lennar’s Open-Door Blog.
