Pool Care in Hammock Dunes: Managing Salt Air & Coastal Elements
Living in Hammock Dunes offers some of the most spectacular oceanfront views in Florida. However, that beautiful Atlantic breeze brings with it a hidden enemy for pool owners: salt air corrosion.
The "Salt Air" Factor
If you live on the ocean side of the Intracoastal, specifically in communities like Hammock Dunes, Ocean Hammock, or Cinnamon Beach, your pool equipment is constantly exposed to aerosolized salt. This isn't just about rust on your patio furniture; it affects the longevity of your pumps, heaters, and automation systems.
At Float On Pools, we see equipment age twice as fast on the island compared to the mainland if not properly protected. The salt air attacks electrical contacts, corrodes heater coils, and can even pit certain types of stone coping.
Our Coastal Protection Protocol
- •Equipment Rinse-Downs: We recommend (and perform) regular fresh water rinses of your equipment pad to wash away salt accumulation.
- •Sacrificial Anodes: For heaters and handrails, we install zinc anodes that corrode instead of your expensive components.
- •Sealant Application: We apply specialized silicone-based protectants to electrical terminals during our inspections.
Wind-Blown Debris & Sand
Another unique challenge in Hammock Dunes is the fine sand and coastal vegetation that gets blown into the pool. Unlike the heavy oak leaves in The Trails, this debris is often fine and silty.
Standard cartridge filters can struggle with this fine particulate if not cleaned frequently. For our beachside clients, we often recommend a slightly different filter cleaning schedule or the use of specific clarifiers that help clump these fine particles together so they can be easily filtered out.
Managing Water Level & Chemistry
Coastal storms can dump inches of rain in a few hours, drastically altering your pool's water chemistry. Rainwater is acidic and has zero calcium hardness. After a heavy storm, your pool's pH can crash, making the water aggressive and potentially damaging to your plaster finish.
Our weekly service includes precise LSI (Langelier Saturation Index) balancing. We don't just check chlorine and pH; we look at the total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and temperature to ensure your water is perfectly balanced, preventing both scaling and etching, regardless of how much rain Mother Nature drops.
The Float On Difference
We understand that a pool in Hammock Dunes is a centerpiece of your home. It needs to be pristine, always ready for a sunset swim or a weekend gathering. Our technicians are trained specifically on the needs of coastal pools. We don't just clean; we protect your investment against the harsh coastal environment.
Key Takeaways
- Salt air accelerates equipment corrosion—protection is key.
- Fine coastal sand requires specific filtration strategies.
- Storm runoff can crash pH levels quickly.
- LSI balancing prevents plaster damage.