Surviving the Heat

Picture this: By 10 a.m., the temperature has already climbed past 95 F, and the humidity is wrapped around you like a heavy, invisible vest. The air smells faintly of sunscreen, warm vinyl and chlorine — the unofficial perfume of summer for a pool professional. You wipe your forehead with the back of your hand, leaving a streak of white calcium dust across your temple. “Another scorcher,” you mutter, though you say it every day, and every day it’s true. With several service visits to go, you gulp down some water, adjust your sun shirt and get back to work under the blazing sun.

Servicing pools in climates with extreme heat can be challenging. It’s important to understand how high temperatures affect both technicians and pools to mitigate problems before they occur.

Dehydration

Working long hours in the sun while cleaning pools puts technicians at high risk for dehydration, usually before they realize it’s happening. Pool technicians lose fluids rapidly due to direct sun exposure, reflective heat from concrete decks and the physical demands of brushing, vacuuming and hauling equipment. Dehydration can set in quickly, leading to symptoms like fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness and slowed reaction time, all of which make physical work more dangerous. Because techs often move from job to job without breaks, dehydration can worsen across the day, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion. 

What can we do?

Drink plenty of fluids, especially with electrolytes. Avoid drinking alcohol or beverages with large amounts of sugar. Wear a brimmed hat and lightweight clothing. Take frequent breaks to get out of the sun. Staying hydrated isn’t just about comfort; it’s essential for safety, performance and long-term health in the pool service profession.

Trade tip: Keep a cooler stocked with water and electrolyte drinks in every service vehicle, and make hydration part of every stop — not just lunch breaks.

Evaporation

Let’s look at Phoenix, Arizona, where average summer temperatures are 110 F or higher, and the average evaporation rate is approximately 6 feet per year. For pool operators, this loss isn’t just about refilling water; it affects chemical balance, equipment strain and overall facility costs. As water evaporates, it leaves minerals and chemicals behind, raising TDS levels and forcing operators to adjust dosing more frequently. On average across the U.S., outdoor pools can lose up to a quarter inch of water per day, making evaporation a major contributor to increased water bills and workload, especially during peak season. Customers may not always notice gradual water loss, making it important for service professionals to monitor water levels during routine visits.

What can we do?

Recommend solutions that help reduce evaporation, such as pool covers or, where appropriate, liquid solar covers. Providing shade over the pool and encouraging customers to maintain proper water levels between service visits can also help prevent equipment problems and keep water chemistry more consistent.

Trade tip: Check water levels during every service visit — even when customers have autofill systems.

Chemical Instability and Algae Blooms

Heat and UV rays cause pool chemicals to break down faster, which affects water quality and can lead to issues like algae growth and cloudy water. Even a slight dip in sanitizer levels or a spike in phosphates can trigger an outbreak, and once algae take hold, they multiply fast. For pool technicians, blooms mean extra labor: brushing walls, shocking water, balancing chemicals and sometimes clearing filters multiple times in a single visit.

What can we do?

It is essential to monitor water chemistry and keep it properly balanced. Testing frequently during extreme heat allows sanitizer levels to be adjusted before small problems become larger ones. Staying ahead of water chemistry helps prevent algae outbreaks and reduces the amount of corrective work needed later.

Trade tip: Test water every visit during extreme heat, and ask customers with high-risk pools to check sanitizer levels between visits.

Equipment Maintenance

Proper equipment maintenance keeps a pool running safely, efficiently and predictably. Pumps, filters, heaters and automation systems all face constant strain from long run times, debris load and fluctuating water chemistry. High temperatures can break down the protective insulation in pool pump motors. UV rays can accelerate the deterioration of exposed PVC plumbing. When any part of the system slips out of alignment — whether it’s a clogged filter, a worn pump seal or an uncalibrated sensor — the entire pool suffers, leading to cloudy water, chemical imbalance and costly breakdowns.

What can we do?

Painting exposed PVC pipes and creating a shady environment for pool equipment can help protect equipment from prolonged sun exposure. Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled motors also help extend pump life. During routine service visits, inspect pump motors for overheating, verify adequate ventilation, examine exposed PVC for UV damage and look for leaks caused by expansion and contraction. More frequent filter cleaning during peak season can also help keep equipment operating efficiently.

Trade tip: Take a few minutes to inspect motors, plumbing and filters for signs of heat-related wear at every stop.

Maintaining a Cool Water Temperature

Higher water temperatures can increase sanitizer demand and create conditions that make it more difficult to maintain balanced water chemistry. In extremely hot climates, helping customers keep water temperatures down can improve both comfort and overall pool performance.

What can we do?

Service professionals can help customers keep pools cooler by recommending nighttime pump operation when temperatures are lower. Shade structures such as pergolas or umbrellas can also reduce direct sun exposure. In extremely hot climates, aerators are commonly used to cool the water surface through evaporation and can be an effective option for customers looking to lower water temperatures.

Trade tip: When customers complain about warm water, recommend nighttime circulation or aerators where appropriate.

Heat is unavoidable, but many of its effects are manageable. A proactive approach to technician safety, water chemistry and equipment maintenance can reduce emergency service calls, extend equipment life and help customers enjoy their pools throughout the hottest months of the year.