Coming back to a green pool after the off-season
Hobe Sound has a lot of seasonal homeowners, and many of them meet the same surprise in the fall: the pool that was clear when they left in spring is green, cloudy, or nearly black. A Florida summer is long, hot, and wet, and a pool that runs without regular attention through those months can lose its sanitizer, gather debris, and grow algae while no one is there to notice.
If you are reading this from out of state, you do not have to wait until you arrive. Call or text (772) 919-9365 with the address, who can let us in, and how long the house has been closed. We can assess the pool, send you photos and findings, and get started on recovery so it is closer to swimmable when you walk in.
What a summer without service leaves behind
A pool that sat through the wet season usually has several things going on at once:
- Organic debris. Live oaks, pines, and palms around many Hobe Sound homes drop leaves, needles, and pollen that sink and break down, using up sanitizer.
- Diluted chemistry. Months of heavy rain lower chlorine, shift pH, and may raise the water level enough to overflow.
- Fine sand and dust. Wind carries it into open pools and through screen gaps, where it settles on steps and inside the filter.
- Equipment that kept running, or did not. A pump left on a timer may still be cycling, but a tripped breaker, a failed motor, or a cracked lid can leave the water stagnant.
- Stains and buildup on steps, benches, and shaded corners that never got brushed.
We look at all of it before treating, then send you a plain summary with photos so you know what you are paying for.
Screened pools are not exempt. An enclosure keeps out the biggest leaves, but fine pollen and dust still get through, and shaded corners and steps can grow algae quietly under a surface that looks clean. Open pools near heavy trees usually arrive in rougher shape, with more on the floor and a filter that has been working alone for months.
The recovery sequence
We start by pulling out the heavy debris, since chemistry cannot hold against a pool floor full of decaying leaves. Then we treat to the condition, run circulation long enough to filter the water, brush every surface, and service the filter when dead algae starts to load it. Pools that sat all summer often need a filter cleaning more than once. We retest between visits and keep adjusting until the water is balanced and holding on its own.
If the equipment is not working, we diagnose it first and explain the options. Repairs are performed by licensed partners we coordinate, quoted before work. In rare cases, draining is more practical than treating, and we tell you if that applies before anything starts.
What it costs and how approvals work
Recovery is quoted after assessment and typically runs $250 to $500, depending on how long the pool sat, its size, and the debris load. A filter deep clean, when needed, is $95 to $125. Anything outside the recovery scope is discussed with you, or with the person you designate, before we do it.
So next season starts clear
Recovery fixes this year. Weekly care through the months you are away is what keeps it from happening again. Our vacation and second-home service keeps the same routine running whether or not you are home, with notes after visits. A free on-site evaluation sets the monthly rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recover the pool before I arrive?+
Usually yes, if we have safe access to the pool and equipment and a reliable way to reach you. Depending on the condition, the pool can often be clear or well on its way by the time you are back.
Who approves extra work while I am away?+
You do, or a contact you name. We set that up at the start so nothing outside the agreed scope happens without approval.
The pool is almost black. Is it still recoverable?+
Most dark pools can be recovered without draining. It takes more visits and filter work. If draining is the better option, we explain why first.
What about the summer after this one?+
Weekly service while you are gone is the simplest prevention. We can start it as soon as recovery is complete.