How to Prepare Your Pool for a Texas Summer
Spring is here — and Texas summers wait for no one. Here's the complete checklist to open your pool right and set up for a clean, trouble-free season.
Start With a Full Chemical Test
After a mild Texas winter, your pool water chemistry has likely drifted. Start spring with a full test kit or take a water sample to a pool store: test pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid, and free/combined chlorine. Adjust each parameter before turning up the pump run time for summer.
Inspect and Clean Your Filter
Increased debris, pollen, and bather load in spring means your filter needs to be in peak condition before summer hits. Schedule a professional filter cleaning in March or April, before the heavy swim season begins.
Check Your Equipment
Inspect the pump for unusual noise or heat. Check all O-rings and seals on the pump lid and filter. Test the timer and make sure your pump is running at least 8–10 hours per day during summer (vs. 6–8 in winter). Inspect the heater if you have one.
Adjust Pump Runtime for Summer Heat
Texas summers require longer daily pump cycles. At 90°F+ water temperatures, run your pump a minimum of 10–12 hours daily to maintain adequate circulation and allow your sanitizer to do its job. Poor circulation is one of the leading causes of summer algae blooms.
Stock Up on Chemicals Before Peak Season
Chlorine prices spike and shelves empty during summer shortages. Stock up on chlorine tablets, shock, stabilizer (CYA), and pH adjusters in early spring. Having a 4–6 week supply on hand prevents the frustrating gaps in treatment that let algae get a foothold.
Need Professional Pool Service?
BK Pool Solutions serves Hood County, Granbury, Acton, Tolar, Glen Rose, Lipan, and Stephenville.