Tips For Balancing Pool Water Chemistry

When you see clear blue pool water, you may not think about how much work goes into keeping the water looking that way. For pool water to remain clear and blue chemical balance is essential. If the level of one chemical is too high or too low, your pool may exhibit signs of, “Uuhhh, maybe someone should come take a look.”

It’s a Balancing Act

If you do not have a swimming pool service for weekly maintenance, you need to learn the basics to keep your pool water balanced. You need to have the best kit which has individual reagents which check the chemical levels with easy to follow instructions. When there is a chemical imbalance, you will need to address the issue immediately. Refer to the book in your test kit and the tables to accurately adjust your pool water chemicals.

The Type of Chemicals A Pool Needs

The most important chemicals that you need to balance your pool include chlorine level, pH level, calcium hardness, and total alkalinity. Other chemicals that you also need to check include cyanuric acid and total dissolved solids.

• pH Levels – this indicates the acidity of your pool’s water. The normal pH level of a pool is between 7.4 and 7.6, with lower levels indicating an acidic environment and anything above 7.6 indicating that your pool is prone to scaling.
• Total Alkalinity - this is the number of hydroxides and other alkaline substances that are in your pool. The ideal total alkalinity levels you should aim for is between 80 and 120 ppm.
• Calcium Hardness – if your water has a high calcium and magnesium content, this is considered hard water. To prevent the adverse effects of hard water, you need to keep calcium hardness levels between 180 and 220 ppm.
• Chlorine – ideal levels for this can vary during different seasons. For warmer months it should be at 2.0 – 3.0 ppm. During colder months the chlorine level can be a little lower at 1.0 – 2.0.
• Cyanuric Acid –this chemical helps stabilize chlorine in your water and helps keep it effective for longer. The ideal level for this is from 40 to 50 ppm.

If you are having problems keeping your pool’s water chemistry balanced, you should ask for the help of a pool professional. You can trust Sterling Pool Service to keep your pool clean with our weekly professional pool cleaning in Sachse, Wylie, Murphy, Plano, and Rowlett, TX areas. We can also help with other pool needs you have such as pool renovations and pool repairs.

When you need help keeping your pool water chemicals balanced, let Sterling Pool Service help. Contact us at 888-973-0274 to speak with one of our experienced pool professionals.