Have you ever noticed worms in your pool? You’re not alone! It’s surprisingly common for these little critters to make their way into swimming pools, especially during the spring and fall seasons.
If this is a problem that you’ve been dealing with, don’t worry – I have the answers! In this article, I’ll explain how to keep worms away from your pool for good by using pool covers and other preventive methods.
I’ll also discuss what to do if you find yourself with an infestation of worms already in your pool. Keep reading, all will be explained, and you’ll find out how to get rid of worms in your pool and keep them out for good! Take a look.
Quick Answer:
This article provides tips and tricks for getting rid of worms in your pool in order to keep it clean and safe. Solutions include using pool covers, manually removing the worms after a storm and maybe rethinking the landscape design.
Try adding height under the deck, using limestone to raise pH levels, and sparingly using insecticides as a last resort. With these steps you can keep your pool free of worms for good! Read on for all the details.
I have a series of articles covering how to get rid of or remove certain pests or creatures from pools. Some sound funny but they can be a real problem.
- How to Get Rid of Water Bugs in Your Pool
- How to Keep Frogs Out of Your Pool
- How to Keep Ducks Out of Your Pool
- Keeping Birds Away from a Pool
- Managing Mosquitoes Around a Swimmimg Pool
Worms Are Good, But…
No one tells you that these little beasts that usually like to stay in the soil come out of the dug up ground when it gets a little nippy out there. But you have surely noticed them. We always think of worms in the context of landscaping and how useful they are. And that’s true too.
They serve the purpose of tilling and fertilizing the soil and also help plants grow well and look good. As delightful and productive as it is, pools are not a place for worms. In fact, it is kind of disgusting to stay in a pool once you spot one of these.
As the mercury drops in the spring and fall seasons, these organisms get out of the soil and are spotted on pavements and driveways. This is because the cool air brings them out of the ground.
Worms are not great with their sense of direction but if your pool has a deck, that’s their next destination. It is not uncommon for them to fall into the pool and get stuck in there.
What you need to do is help them out a bit. And here’s how you do it.
How to Keep Worms Away from Your Pool?
There is no one-stop-shop solution that will take care of the whole problem at once. And if there are too many worms, you have a serious problem at hand. The best thing to do is to keep an eye out during these seasons and clean the pool as and when you spot them.
However, it is not a hopeless cause. We dug out a few tips and tricks to help you out.
Dealing with It Externally – Pool Covers
Not a lot of people like pool covers because it is quite inconvenient to have to pull them on or off the pool. But if you are worried about a bunch of worms getting in, this is a pretty effective solution.
It prevents them from entering your water space and blocking your filter. If you feel like this is a frustrating chore, you can reserve this option only for the rainy or cooler months of the year.
There are many types of pool covers in the market. Keep an eye out for the ones that are easy to operate. This is one of those solutions where you will have to do the time without having committed any crime. But if that’s not sounding great, there are other options.
Worms in Your Pool After Rain?
This is easier than running around with a pool cover. However, it is a little bit of manual work. After a heavy rain, take a walk around your pool and look for the creepy crawlies that are making their way towards your pool. The idea is for you to get to them before they reach the surface of the water.
You could also do a basic cleaning right away to make sure none of them have made it to the filters just yet. This way you can keep them out. And if you’re feeling kind, move them into a grassy patch before they get burnt in the sun.
Rethink the Landscape
This is pretty good life advice too but we will stick to the intricacies of managing worms in a pool for now. A great landscape isn’t one that just looks great but is also highly functional.
When it comes to the area surrounding a swimming pool, as much as you love the view, you must think about utility. While concrete and decorations help eliminate the problem altogether, they don’t belong around a pool.
The look is complete only when you give your pool the cushioning of plants. But those come with soil and it might feel like we are back to square one. What you need to do is keep your flora and fauna at a distance from the water.
That way, these little live fertilizers have to crawl around for a while before they accidentally get dunked. Twenty feet should do the trick but you are not feeling confident, a little extra does not hurt. This means you don’t have to compromise on the look and will succeed in keeping the worms out too.
A Few Inches Go a Long Way
This is a big change if you have discovered the worm problem after building your deck. But if not, you just got really lucky. A lot of the time, the borders of your pool deck seamlessly fade into a patch of grass that joins your yard.
But, if you add a few inches under the deck, the worms will have trouble reaching the water. And it doesn’t have to be a big elevation. Just a little height is all it takes to get rid of them. They are not really up for the challenge.
But sometimes, even worms can do the unthinkable and get on your nerves. Don’t worry about that. It is an exception-to-the-rule situation.
A little clean up should fix the problem. If you have a leaf net pool skimmer (which you should), get it out and you will be done in a few minutes unless you own a giant pool.
A Quick Fix to Get Rid of Worms
We understand that a lot of the above solutions are landscaping changes that you might not be able to do. In that case, here’s a quick fix.
If the number of worms or the frequency at which you find them in your pool is beyond what you can tolerate, consider crushing some limestone and lining the border of your pool with it.
You need to get just enough to add it to the soil that meets the concrete of your pool. It increases the pH levels of the soil around the pool and drives the worms away. So they will automatically head to the other side of the pool.
The only problem with this solution is that it gets washed away with rain. And if it gets into the pool, it will mess up your pool water chemistry and the filter.
That is why it is recommended that you try this closer to the soil and as far away from the pool as possible. You should also check the water for any remnants.
Take the Kill Shot – Insecticides to Kill Worms
This is not the best idea but desperate times call for desperate measures. This is one to try sparingly and when absolutely nothing else works. Insecticides. They are a great way to keep bugs and worms out of certain areas.
The problem with this solution is similar to the crushing limestone solution. Filling the landscape around the pool with insecticides, expectantly, kills every insect in that space. It also sends a warning to approaching armies.
The problem is, if it is closer to the water, you might contaminate your pool. It might also kill the insects you need for your plants. That’s why it’s the last resort. I’m not a fan!
Common Questions
How can I prevent worms from entering my pool in the first place?
To prevent worms from entering your pool in the first place, make sure to keep it clean by regularly skimming and chlorinating it. You can also invest in a pool cover to prevent animals and other pests from getting in.
Is it necessary to use chemical products to remove worms from a pool?
It is not always necessary to use chemical products to remove worms from a pool but they can be effective if other methods do not work.
Parting Words
Worms in the pool are a common problem and can be avoided with the right precautions, such as using a pool cover or adding extra elevation to the deck. It may also be helpful to keep plants away from the water and use a leaf net skimmer for quick clean-ups.
Insecticides can be used as a last resort when other methods fail, but it is important that they are applied far away from the water to avoid contamination.
Worms in the pool aren’t hurtful. It’s just a bit gross. And there’s nothing wrong in feeling that way. Just make sure that you find a solution to your problem and don’y do things that are detrimental to the ecosystem of the entire pool area.
You might have to try a combination of some of these solutions. If it works for you, go for it.
