Preparing Your Pool for Santa Ana Winds

Santa Ana winds are a familiar part of fall and winter in Ventura County. They bring warm, dry air and strong gusts that blow leaves, branches, dust and ash into backyard pools. A pool that looked perfect in the evening can be full of debris by morning.

Why Wind Is Hard on Pools

Debris does more than look messy. Leaves and dust add organic material that uses up chlorine, and fine particles cloud the water and clog the filter. If debris sinks and sits on the floor, it can stain plaster and feed algae.

Dry wind also speeds up evaporation, which lowers the water level and concentrates minerals.

Before the Wind Arrives

Check the water level. Top off the pool so the skimmer keeps working even as water evaporates.

Clean the baskets and filter. Starting with empty baskets and a clean filter gives your system room to handle the debris that is coming.

Secure loose items. Put away umbrellas, cushions and pool toys that could blow into the water, and cover the pool if you have a cover rated for wind.

After the Wind Dies Down

Remove large debris first. Skim the surface and net out leaves and branches before they sink.

Empty baskets again. Skimmer and pump baskets fill quickly after a wind event and can choke water flow.

Brush, vacuum and clean the filter. Fine dust settles on the floor and loads the filter, so expect to clean it soon after the storm.

Test and balance. Debris uses up chlorine, so test the water and adjust it before algae gets a chance to grow.

When to Call for Help

If the pool is full of debris, the floor is covered, or the drains and lines seem clogged, a professional cleanup is the fastest way back to clear water. Our storm debris pool cleanup service clears the pool, cleans the filter and rebalances the water. We also offer pool drain cleaning and pool filter cleaning when the wind leaves your system struggling. Our mobile team comes to homes throughout Thousand Oaks.