The Basics of Swimming Pool Chemicals

An essential step in swimming pool maintenance is using pool chemicals for sanitizing and keeping your pool water at a proper pH level.

A sanitized swimming pool is important for the health and safety of the people swimming in the pool. To sanitize your swimming pool, either chlorine or bromine can be used by adding one or the other to the water on a regularly scheduled basis, as suggested by the pool manufacturer. To make sanitization easier, you can purchase a chlorine feeder Chlorine feeders hold a chlorine tab, and float around in your pool. Eventually, the chlorine in your pool will lose its effectiveness.  This is when you would add a chemical called “shocker” to get rid of the old chlorine and any of the old chlorine’s contaminants. You would then recharge your pool with new chlorine. Bromine can also be used to sanitize your swimming pool.  It is more expensive than chlorine, but is better for people with sensitive skin.

The pH level of your pool water should be within the range on 7.2 and 7.8.  You can easily check the pH balance of your pool water by using a test strip. Dip a white test strip into your pool water.  The strip will change color depending on the pH level of the pool water.  In your pH test kit, you will find a pH indicator chart that shows what the new color of your test strip means in terms of the pH level of your water.  Compare the test strip to the chart in your kit.  If the chart indicates that your pool water’s pH level is too high, add a pH decreaser.  If the pH of your pool water is too low, add a pH increaser until you reach the proper balance.

Swimming Pool Maintenance – Daily Routine Guide

To ensure that the water in your swimming pool is healthy, sanitary, and inviting, follow this guide to swimming pool maintenance daily.

1) Test Your Pool Water:
Check to make sure that alkalinity and pH of your pool water is in balance. If not, adjust the levels with balancers t keep water looking clear and non-irritating, and keep pool equipment safe.

2) Check the Skimmer Basket for Debris:
Clear away any leaves or other debris found in the skimmer basket in order to maintain proper pool water circulation and freshness.

3) Run Your Swimming Poll Filter:

Make sure you run your pool filter daily for at least 10 hours.  Running it more frequently is best.  You can add an automatic timer to your filter to make sure it runs every day, or you can set a timer for yourself, reminding yourself to set the pool filter manually.

4) Add Chlorine or Bromine:
Sanitize your swimming pool to kill bacteria and algae using one of the following methods:

-You can use a chlorine float which holds a slow dissolving chlorine tab.  The float remains in the pool at all times, and you simply refill the tab weekly or as needed.

-You can manually add granular chlorine or quick chlorine tabs to your pool’s skimmer on a daily basis.

-If you choose to place a slow dissolving stabilized tab in the skimmer, you may only need to replace it once a week.

-Another popular method is the use of an automatic chlorinator.  Fill the unit with chlorine and set the dial to a level that gives a proper chlorine reading for the length of time your system runs.

Swimming Pool Maintenance – Weekly Routine Guide

Follow these steps on a weekly basis to ensure a safe, healthy and inviting swimming pool.

1) Shock Your Swimming Pool Water:

Eventually, the chlorine in your pool will lose its effectiveness.  Every week,   add a chemical called “shocker” to destroy the old chlorine and any of the old chlorine’s contaminants. You would then recharge your pool with new chlorine.

2) Add Algaecide To Your Pool:
Pools can be prone to algae, and turn an uninviting shade of green without the use of algaecide.  Adding algaecide to your swimming pool weekly will prevent algae from forming. Good

3) For Sparkling Water, Add a Clarifier:
Prevent uninviting, cloudy water by adding a weekly dose of clarifier. Clarifiers help remove particles from the pool that may have not been caught by the filtration system by making the particles ling to each other, and become large enough to be removed by the filter or by your pool’s vacuum.

Swimming Pool Maintenance – Steps To Be Taken When The Need Arises:

Some of the following steps you may find yourself needing to do several times a day, others may be needed less frequently depending on several factors, such as the location of your swimming pool in relation to other vegetation in your yard.

1) Vacuum your pool when you notice the bottom of your pool is gathering unsightly debris.
 
2) Skim leaves, insects and other debris that does not belong, out of your swimming pool as often as you see it.

3) When the walls of your pool are looking dingy, brush or scrub the walls with a brush or other material designed for the type of material inside your pool (cement, vinyl, tile).

4) Periodically check your pool’s filter.