The Importance of Brushing Your Pool

The Importance of Brushing - Major Component to the Battle Against Algae!

Your pool is your oasis and provides a special place to make memories, relax after work, exercise, or just cool off after some yardwork.  Unfortunately, your oasis does require maintenance and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise!  Water chemistry and debris removal are the usual maintenance focal points.  The importance of proper water chemistry cannot be overstated and directly affects the clarity of your water and the longevity of your pool finish.  Debris removal by skimming, vacuuming, or emptying baskets are the most common ways to keep your pool looking clean.  Brushing properly is a more physically demanding than the other maintenance requirements of your pool, which can make it easier to skimp out on, or not do at all.  However, it is one of the best things you can do to help your pool stay looking swim-ready and algae-free. 

Algae is an incredible organism that forms the foundation for the aquatic food chain.  While immensely important in marine ecosystems, it is both unsightly and unwelcome in your swimming pool; we no more want algae in our pools than we would want to see mold in a restaurant.  Even with the recommended amount of chlorine in water, algae can still manage to find a toehold and begin to grow.  In the words of Dr. Ian Malcolm from the original Jurassic Park movie, “Life finds a way.”  An aquatic environment in the summer in Houston?  What better place to grow and thrive?  Algae have a defense mechanism in which it can form a protective barrier called a biofilm – think something similar to a shell.  This makes it more difficult for chlorine to do its job and keep your pool looking beautiful.  Algae can begin to grow on your pool walls, steps, and any crevice it can find even before it is immediately visible.  When you brush the pool, you are effectively removing the “shell” layer from the algae so that the chlorine can kill it. 

The tenacity of algae is so great that it can start growing before it can be seen.  If you’ve ever brushed your otherwise clean pool and have seen a subtle cloud of yellow/ green/ brown, that was probably algae!  Brushing is frequently used as a reactive tool to existing, visible algae growth, but routinely brushing your pool will let you enjoy an algae-free pool more often.  Think of brushing primarily as a preventative tool.  If you are diligent about brushing at least once per week or hiring a reputable service company to do it for you, you will have far fewer issues with algae growth.  Remember, good water chemistry is extremely important and cannot be replaced by just brushing.  However, regular brushing will greatly reduce the frequency of visible algae in your pool and give you a bit of a workout.  It’s a win-win!