A swimming pool is a great way to cool off on a hot day, but it's important to keep the water clean and safe to swim in. Pool chemistry is the science of maintaining the water quality in a swimming pool. By understanding the basics of pool chemistry, you can keep your pool water clean and safe for swimming.
The Basics of Pool Chemistry:
There are four main factors that affect the water quality in a swimming pool: pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and chlorine.
Chlorine: Chlorine is the most common sanitizer used in swimming pools. Chlorine kills bacteria and algae, keeping the water clean and safe to swim in. The ideal chlorine level for a swimming pool is 1 to 3 parts per million (ppm).
pH: The pH of pool water is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. The ideal pH range for a swimming pool is 7.2 to 7.8. A pH that is too low (acidic) can irritate the eyes and skin, while a pH that is too high (alkaline) can cause scaling and staining.
Alkalinity: Alkalinity helps to buffer the pH of pool water, making it more resistant to changes in pH. The ideal alkalinity range for a swimming pool is 80 to 120 parts per million (ppm).
Calcium Hardness: Calcium hardness helps to prevent the water from becoming corrosive. The ideal calcium hardness range for a swimming pool is 175 to 225 ppm.
Maintaining Pool Chemistry:
The best way to maintain pool chemistry is to test the water regularly. You can use a pool test kit to test the pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and chlorine levels of your pool water. Once you know the levels of these factors, you can adjust them as needed to keep the water in balance.
Common Pool Chemistry Problems:
There are a few common pool chemistry problems that you may encounter. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
Low pH: A low pH can cause eye and skin irritation. It can also make the water more corrosive, which can damage the pool's surface.
High pH: A high pH can cause scaling and staining. It can also make the water cloudy and unpleasant to swim in.
Low Alkalinity: Low alkalinity can make the pH of the water more unstable. This can lead to frequent swings in pH, which can irritate the eyes and skin and damage the pool's surface.
High Alkalinity: High alkalinity can make it difficult to keep the pH of the water in balance. It can also cause scaling and staining.
Low Chlorine: Low chlorine levels can lead to the growth of bacteria and algae. This can make the water unsafe to swim in.
High Chlorine: High chlorine levels can irritate the eyes and skin. They can also make the water cloudy and unpleasant to swim in.
Troubleshooting Pool Chemistry Problems:
If you encounter a pool chemistry problem, you can troubleshoot it by following these steps:
Bring a water sample into one of our stores to test the water and determine the levels of pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and chlorine.
Our pool experts will help compare the test results to the ideal ranges for your pool.
Our pool experts will provide advice on which chemicals will be needed to bring your pool chemistry into balance.
Retest the water to make sure that the levels are in balance.
Pool chemistry can be a complex subject, but it's important to understand the basics in order to keep your pool water clean and safe to swim in. Our team is standing by to help.