How to Clean your Swimming Pool from Leaves

Having a leafy backyard can create unique challenges for swimming pool owners. Leaves and berries can easily drop into your pool, causing problems with debris, dirt and clarity. This can be especially difficult as autumn approaches and you get ready to close your swimming pool. This problem can be so frustrating that many people will avoid planting trees at all so it doesn’t add to their pool care needs.

With some planning and a regular cleaning schedule, you can overcome the challenge of having a leafy backyard area, and enjoy a sparkling clean pool this summer. Keep these tips in mind if you’re hoping to cultivate a garden oasis in your backyard.

Skim your pool surface regularly

Skimming the swimming pool is a chore it can be easy to forget. But skimming the surface of the pool is the best way to minimize problems from leaf drop. Catching leaves before they sink will keep your water more clear, and minimize how much vacuuming you’ll need to do each week.

Like tea leaves, the leaves that drop into your pool will discolour your water. Over time, this can lead to staining and clarity issues – and skimming the surface of the water reduces this problem significantly. As a bonus, any leaves that you scoop from the surface of your pool won’t have the chance to enter your skimmer, filter, or pool system.

Vacuum your swimming pool weekly

If you have a lot of leaf coverage in your backyard, you really can’t skip out on vacuuming the pool. Even if you skim your pool religiously, some debris will find its way to the bottom of your pool. If you have a lot of leaf cover, you’ll need to vacuum the pool weekly at a minimum.

Vacuuming regularly will keep your water more clear, prevent staining, and allow your filter to work at its best.

Consider an automatic or robotic pool cleaner

If you have a serious amount of leaf coverage, vacuuming may become time consuming or frustrating. Automatic pool cleaners and robotic pool cleaners are very popular among pool owners who have a lot of trees in their yard.

By using an automatic pool cleaner or a robotic pool cleaner, you can ensure that leaves are quickly removed from your pool without having to manually vacuum each time. If you constantly struggle to maintain a clean pool because of leaves in the water, an automatic pool cleaner or robotic pool cleaner may be exactly what you need.

Cover your pool to keep the leaves out

Having a cover for your swimming pool can help a lot with the dirt and debris that comes from leaf cover. Some people with leafy yards tend to avoid coverage because some of the leaves enter the water when removing the cover.

But, even if you do get some leaves in the water, a cover can keep out the vast majority. Any leaves that enter the water can easily be skimmed or vacuumed before they break down and discolour the water.

Keep your skimmer basket clear

If you tend to get a lot of leaf buildup in your pool, chances are that a lot of them will enter your skimmer. Try to keep your skimmer basket as empty as possible at all times.

By cleaning your basket a few times a week, more debris will be captured in your skimmer, without building up enough to cause a clog. As a bonus, you’ll also be protecting your filter and pump from debris.

Empty your pump basket regularly

When you have a lot of leafy debris in your pool water, it is natural that some will enter your plumbing system. This is why your swimming pool pump comes complete with a pump basket. This basket will capture any small leaves that enter your system, and prevent them from being sucked into your pump motor.

When your pump basket gets clogged with a lot of leaves and debris, it can cause extra strain on your pump when it is running. If you have a leafy yard, you should empty your pump basket regularly to prevent any damage.

Clarifiers can help with cloudy water

If leaves do have the chance to enter your swimming pool, vacuuming and cleaning them out may not be enough. Leaves that have begun to break down in the water can leave particles that make your swimming pool appear cloudy. Leaves that come down during the autumn season are particularly prone to causing this problem after they have already begun to break down on trees.

Using a clarifier or flocculant will allow you to sink these particles to the floor of your pool. From there, you’ll be able to vacuum them out, and leave your water sparkling and clear.

Keep an eye on your chemical levels

If a lot of leaves, berries or debris are able to enter your water, it can cause your chemical demand to be higher or throw off the pH balance of your water. You’ll need to keep an eye on your chlorine levels and be sure your pH remains in balance after you’ve experienced a lot of leaf drop into your pool water.

A clean pool, free of leaf debris

Having a lot of trees in your backyard can add a lot to your home and swimming pool. Despite the added benefits of atmosphere and shade, many pool owners seriously consider removing their trees because of the problems leaves can cause in the pool.

Be sure to follow these tips and consistently follow a cleaning schedule, and you can keep your pool clean, even during the leafy autumn. With diligence, you can keep your trees and your clear swimming pool.