Swimming Pool Chemicals - Pool Cleaning Reduction | Pool Chlorine
The water is balanced in a swimming pool if the important constituents fall within the right range. The pool chemicals that most need to be used or monitored on a regular basis are:
- Sanitizers such as pool chlorine are essential to kill bacteria, viruses and algae.
- PH adjusting chemicals stop the water becoming too alkali or too acidic
- Total alkalinity is a measure of the amount of alkaline salts in a swimming pool. Calcium salts, especially, cause lime scale.
- Total dissolved solids. When you add chemicals, they stay in the pool. When they build up too much, you need to change the water.
- Dissolved metals can be a problem with some water supplies and might need treatment with a product like ‘Metal Out’.
- Water clarifers help to keep water sparkling and clear.
- Algaecides can be used as a preventative or to tackle sudden algae problems.
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Pool Water Testing - Pool Cleaning
To keep a good check on swimming pool chemicals you will need some way of measuring the concentrations in the water. The least expensive way is to use reagent chemical testing kits. You take a water sample, add a few drops of reagent and compare the water color to a chart to measure the chemicals in the swimming pool. Test strips are easier to use and are the commonest way of checking water these days. There are also various meters available, often used together with test strips. Concentrations are usually measured in ppm (parts per million).
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Pool Chemicals - Sanitizers
The most commonly used sanitizers are pool chlorine, bromine and biguanides. Pool chlorine is the least expensive but breaks down easily in sunlight and needs a stabilizer and regular top ups. Bromine is more stable and won’t cause so much irritation to eyes and skin. Biguanides are the gentlest of the sanitizers. It is important never to mix Biguanides with pool chlorine or you will find the water becoming seriously discolored.
Pool Chemicals - pH
pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water. If water is too acidic it can slowly dissolve metal fittings in the plumbing. If it is too alkali it can mean that lime scale is deposited, perhaps blocking pipe work. A common product to lower pH is Muriatic Acid. Sodium bicarbonate is often used to increase pH. You can also use a pH anchor to keep the pH in the right range.
Pool Chemicals - Total Alkalinity
If you live in area with hard water (high calcium salt concentration) you can use scale control products to combat scale build up but bear in mind these don’t mix with pH anchors. If your water hardness gets too high the only answer might be to change the swimming pool water, partially, at least. There are also products like ‘water hardness up’ that can be used if your water is too soft. Did you know you can use household baking soda as a cheaper alternative? Water that is too soft will dissolve tile grout.
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Pool Chemicals - Total Dissolved Solids
If the total dissolved solids gets above 2000 ppm you will have trouble balancing the water in a pool, no matter how hard you try. If you decide to reduce the TDS remember that you should never empty a swimming pool with a vinyl liner completely. The vinyl will shrink and when you refill, the vinyl won’t stretch back. It will tear.