Caring for a Coastal La Jolla Pool: Marine Layer, Wind and Sun

La Jolla sits on the coast, and a pool here lives in a different environment from one inland. Cool gray mornings, bright afternoons, a breeze that carries things into the yard, and air with a trace of salt in it all play a part. None of it is a problem by itself. But knowing what the weather does to a pool helps you understand what you see in the water, and what to mention to your pool technician.

The marine layer and the sun that follows

The marine layer is the low cloud that often blankets the coast in the morning and sometimes holds through the day. Under cloud cover the pool gets less direct sun, so the water stays cooler and chlorine isn't burned off as quickly. When the cloud breaks and the sun comes out strong, the picture flips. Sunlight breaks chlorine down fast in an unprotected pool, and a pool that was fine at noon can run low by evening.

This swing between gray days and bright ones is part of why a weekly test is more useful than a calendar-based dose. Chlorine demand goes up and down with the weather, and testing the water at each visit shows where it landed. Step one of the visit, "Check chemical balance of pool," and step eleven, "Implement chemicals," are bookends for exactly this reason.

Wind, leaves and dust

Wind carries leaves, blossoms, pine needles, dust and the occasional stray piece of trash into the pool, and a yard on a hillside or near open ground collects more of it. Most of it lands on the surface first. If it's skimmed off quickly, it does no harm. If it sinks, it breaks down and feeds algae and uses up chlorine.

This is where the skimmer basket and pump basket do their job. After a windy day, both can fill fast. A packed skimmer basket starves the pump of water, and a packed pump basket slows the whole circulation system. Emptying them is on the checklist ("Empty skimmer baskets" and "empty pump basket") and it's one of the simplest things an owner can also do between visits if the basket is clearly full.

Dry, blustery days can also coat the surface and tile line with a fine layer of dust, which settles and shows up as a gray film on the floor. Brushing and vacuuming take care of that, and a working auto cleaner helps hold it back between weeks.

Salt air and hardware

Air near the ocean carries a little salt, and over time that can be rough on metal. Ladder rails, handrails, light rings, screws, and the metal parts of equipment can show corrosion earlier than they would inland. A quick look at those parts now and then, and a rinse with fresh water for anything that is exposed, can help. If you spot rust on equipment, or on a fitting near the pump, tell your technician. Early repair is easier than replacing a component that has seized.

Sun, heat and water level

Strong sun warms the water and speeds up evaporation, and a pool can drop noticeably in level over a warm week. A low pool matters because the skimmer needs enough water to draw from. If the level falls below the skimmer opening, the pump can start sucking air, and running a pump dry harms it quickly. Check the water level against the middle of the skimmer opening now and then, and mention it if it looks low or if you notice you are topping off more than usual.

Sun also fades covers, dries out o-rings and bakes the plastic on equipment. That's one reason "Lubricate o-rings" sits on the weekly list. An o-ring that has dried out and flattened can let air into the pump, and pump lid o-rings are some of the first to show wear.

Rain, and what comes after

Rain is less frequent on this coast, but when it arrives it dilutes the water and carries dirt, leaves and runoff into the pool. After a storm, check the baskets and skim the surface. The chemistry may need rebalancing, so a test is worth doing sooner than the usual weekly rhythm if the water looks cloudy afterward.

A short list for between visits

• Look at the skimmer basket after windy days and empty it if it's packed.
• Glance at the water level and make sure the skimmer has water to draw from.
• Check the filter pressure gauge and remember what it read right after the last service.
• Watch for a green tint, cloudy water or a gray film on the floor and tell your technician.
• Look over the ladder, handrails and metal fittings for early rust.
• Keep the auto cleaner out of the way when you swim so it isn't tangled or damaged.

None of that replaces the weekly visit, but it does mean the technician starts from better information. A short note about what you saw during the week helps focus the testing and the equipment check on the right place.

If you'd like help with a La Jolla pool or spa, call Zach's Pool Service at (619) 678-2240 or use the contact page.