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Fire season can leave a gray film on the water and a filter full of fine ash. Here is how to clean it up without making it worse.
In fire season, even a fire miles away can drop ash across North County and inland San Diego. It lands on the water, sinks to the floor, and works its way into the filter.
Ash is fine enough to pass through some filters and clog others. It can raise pH and add phosphates and other material that feed algae and use up chlorine. A pool can go cloudy or green a few days after an ash event even if it looked fine at first.
Skim the surface first, before the ash sinks. Empty the skimmer and pump baskets. Vacuum the floor slowly; if your filter has a waste setting, vacuuming to waste keeps the fine ash out of the filter. Then clean the filter, because it will be loaded.
Test chlorine, pH, and alkalinity after the clean-up, and bring a sample to either store for the full panel. Expect to add chlorine and adjust pH. Run the pump longer for a few days.
Follow local air-quality guidance before working outside, and wear a mask when handling ash. If you would rather not deal with it, we quote ash clean-ups as a one-time visit, and weekly customers get it handled on their route.