Summer in the West San Fernando Valley is hard on pool water. Strong sun breaks chlorine down quickly, warm water speeds up algae growth, and more swimmers bring more sunscreen, sweat, and debris. A dose that held all spring can run out mid-week in July.
Stabilizer (cyanuric acid) is what protects chlorine from the sun, but more isn't always better. Too little and chlorine disappears by afternoon; too much and chlorine loses its strength even when the test looks fine. Keeping it in range is one of the most overlooked parts of summer care.
Evaporation matters too. As water evaporates, minerals stay behind, and calcium and total dissolved solids creep up. That's what leads to scale on the tile line and cloudy water late in the season. Topping off and testing calcium hardness regularly keeps it in check.
Finally, run the pump long enough. In peak summer, most pools need eight hours or more of circulation a day to keep chemicals mixed and the filter doing its job. Weekly testing and balancing through the summer is what keeps a clear pool from turning in August.