Running Your Pool's Water Feature All Day Is a Bad Idea

Pool Water Features

Although water features like waterfalls, fountains, and bubblers add are a beautiful addition to your pool running these features all day can cause negative consequences to your pool’s health, longevity, and maintenance costs.

Aeration Impacts Pool Water Alkalinity

Aeration, caused by water features like waterfalls or fountains, makes it easier for the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is dissolved in the water to escape into the air. This process, known as off-gassing, reduces the total alkalinity of the water. Alkalinity measures the water's ability to maintain a stable pH. When pH rises above the optimal range of 7.4-7.6 it can lead to cloudy water, reduced sanitizer effectiveness, and scaling on pool surfaces.

Effects of Lower Alkalinity

Constant aeration from water features can also harm your pool’s finish over time. High pH levels caused by aeration promotes calcium scaling—white, crusty deposits that form on tiles, plaster, or pebble finishes. This is very difficult and pricey to remove as it often requires an acid washe to be done. Additionally, the continuous splash of aerated water on tiles or coping can accelerate wear, especially in areas exposed to harsh sunlight, leading to fading, staining, or erosion of grout.

Strain on Your Pool System

Running water features all day places extra strain on your pool’s filtration and circulation systems. Waterfalls and fountains often require higher pump speeds to operate, increasing energy consumption and wear on your pump and motor. Additionally, aeration can introduce debris, like dust or pollen, into the pool, clogging filters faster and forcing the system to work harder. Due to the extra strain put on the system it runs less efficient, By scheduling water features to run less time you can reduce strain on your system, lower utility costs, and extend the life of your equipment.

Increased Chemical Usage

Perhaps the most costly consequence of running water features continuously is the need to use more chemicals. The decrease of alkalinity and rise of pH, caused by aeration, makes it so that more Chlorine is needed to bring th water back to a safe pH range. High pH also favours the growth of algae, leading to an increased need for shock treatments or algaecides.

Additionally, the loss of CO2 from aeration can deplete buffering agents in the water, forcing you to add more alkalinity increasers or pH stabilizers. Limiting water feature operation to a few hours daily can significantly reduce chemical demand, saving you money and keeping your pool water crystal clear and swimmer-friendly.

Tips for Smart Water Feature Use

There are a couple of things you can do to reduce the toll that aeration has on your system, while also getting to enjoy your pool's water feature. We recommend you operate waterfalls or fountains around 2-4 hours daily, limiting it to only when you are enjoying the pool. A great solution is to leverage a smart automation system Jandy iAquaLink or Pentair IntelliCenter, to schedule water feature operation.

For expert assistance with pool maintenance or automation system repairs, contact Stingray Pool Services today to keep your pool sparkling, efficient, and ready for enjoyment!

951-376-7815