Over the past several months, Phoenix and Scottsdale have seen unusually heavy rainfall. While the moisture has been welcome in many ways, it has also created some unexpected challenges for pool owners—especially when it comes to your auto-fill system. When the ground stays saturated for extended periods of time, the soil surrounding your pool equipment becomes a prime environment for plant roots to spread and search for stable water sources. Your auto-fill, which is designed to maintain your pool’s water level automatically, can unfortunately become a target. When roots find their way inside, they can obstruct water flow and interfere with your system’s ability to function properly. This week’s email will walk you through what an auto-fill does, where it’s typically located, why roots invade it after heavy rains, and how you can easily remove those roots yourself. I’ll also include a video link to help you confirm that your auto-fill is working correctly afterward.