It can also wreak havoc on your pool surface or lining. These are the ideal levels for pool chemistry, or the most acceptable range for proper pool water chemistry. thanks so much! Swimming Pool Chemicals are vital in order to keep your pool in perfect healthy and sparkling clear condition. If you can … You can use a cup or two of bleach, or a pound of granular shock, pre-dissolved into a bucket of water. Skill Level: Beginner; Estimated Cost: $20; The beginning of warm weather means the beginning of pool season. Hmmm… I buy $200 – $400 per year on pool supplies – sometimes more. Add cyanuric acid (Stabilizer) at a rate of 3 lbs per 10K gals, to protect chlorine from the sun. Just remember to keep a good testing kit, the right chemicals and appropriate protective gear on hand to make your weekly maintenance tasks easier. When I first started shooting pool, I was terrible – but that is how everyone starts (even pro’s!). If you’ve recently bought a pool or are thinking about doing so, you’ve no doubt heard a lot about pool chemistry. Water Balance. An algae growth can make things pretty slippery and unsafe for swimmers. The three keys in keeping your pool’s proper chemical balance are pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness. Lower the pH of your pool, spa, or hot tub with Pool & Spa pH Reducer! See our Read this Intext Pool Chemical Startup Guide for all the answers. Clean the filter cartridge every week, replace the cartridge every season, or more often if needed. Pool Stain Removal & Stain Prevention Chemicals effectively remove and prevent stains that can be caused by metals such as copper, iron, lead, silver, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. • Step 2. • Step 3. Shock chemicals come in different varieties; like Chlorine Pool Shock and Chlorine-Free Pool Shock. Every pro player started as a beginner, as do we. With the pool, you may or may not have received certain chemicals. 6′ X 10′ ,22″ just to cool off, didn’t know what to do. If these are crystallized deposits or nodules on the walls and floor, it is likely calcium scale, precipitated out of solution by a combination of high pH and high calcium hardness levels, and perhaps other factors. I am a first time pool owner. First, balance total alkalinity because it’s like an umbrella measurement that can help protect pool conditions and keep chemicals levels in check. Chemical levels in your pool water are affected by many factors, including sunlight, rain, evaporation and the presence of oils. Because pH levels are so unstable, they need a sort of mediator, which is what alkalinity does. As the pool is filling, add clarifier following label directions. However, there are complete kits that can help to keep your water crystal-clear and safe to swim in. Chlorine is the main sanitizing agent used in pools because it’s the most effective chemical for killing bacteria and keeping algae away. The community will not tell me what this is. Bromine is sold in 1″ tabs, and has many advantages over chlorine, but – you’ll also pay about twice as much as for chlorine tabs. Get it right first time by following this easy step by step guide. Algae and other bacteria have a hard time taking root and spreading when the water is constantly moving. But there are some others you can use as well. Pool chemical kits take the guess work out of preparing your pool for closing or opening and contain pre-measured chemicals based on your pool size. In The Swim offers a broad range of Chlorine-Free & Alternative Pool Chemicals, including Aqua Silk Chlorine-Free Pool Chemical System, and the Natural Chemistry Water Treatment System. Use when your pH level is below 7.2. Automatic feeders can be installed in the filtration system so that the chemicals circulate with the water. Take pride in your pool and you’ll feel better having cleaned the pool next time you’re floating with a daiquiri. An algae overgrowth can also throw your pool’s chemistry off balance, making the problem worse. REVOLUTIONARY GRANULAR POOL pH REDUCER. Managing Swimming Pool Chemicals I’ve learned an easy way to lower the quantity of chlorine needed is to add pool stabilizer. Hot Tub Covers & Year-Round Outdoor Spas – Cover Smart. I barely knew how to hold a cue and I had a terrible bridge my friends would call the ‘Bear Claw’. I am planning on having pool water delivered. https://blog.intheswim.com/what-chemicals-are-needed-for-an-intex-pool/ – and for the In The Swim Start Up Kits, here are the instructions. Algae is a form of plant life that grows in water and can cause many problems in swimming pools; making the water cloudy and clogging up filtration systems. Pool chemicals can get out of balance during a long winter, and will need to drop to safe levels before swimming. Pool & Spa pH Reducer is safer and much easier to store than muriatic acid, as it is non-toxic, non-caustic, and biodegradable. For a beginner, finding the correct chemical balance for the water, and maintaining this, can seem like a daunting challenge. Pool chemicals have a large part to play in making sure that your pool water is truly safe for family, friends and others who swim in it, so ensuring that you always have the proper amount of chemicals in your pool is of the utmost importance. Chlorine comes in liquid, granular, tablet and stick form, and is an inexpensive and effective way to sanitize your pool. If by some chance, the alkalinity actually is a little high, you can add a little muriatic acid or pH reducer to lower it. Hi, I just set up a 15″ by 42″ above ground pool. A professional pool care team can help you select the right chemicals for your pool water and parts. Below these levels and the water becomes too soft. There are multiple types and brands of pool sanitizers available on the market, but Chlorine Tablets are the most commonly used sanitizing chemical. While Intex pools aren’t the same as permanent swimming pools, they still require similar chemical maintenance. Hi Marcia, soda ash is used to raise pH levels. This is important for a couple of reasons. In addition to chlorine, there are several other pool chemicals that every pool owner should be familiar with. Algicide & Clarifiers . This results in longer lasting chlorine. Bromine is another sanitizing chemical that can be used to keep water sparkling clean without any harsh odors and side effects like red eyes and skin irritation. Aim to get total alkalinity to a range of 80 to 120ppm. Cyanuric Acid is a common type of pool water stabilizer and is added to new water, or as required. Testing & Dosing. Watch later. But there are some others you can use as well. How to put chemicals in your pool for the first time. Our community pool has “sand” on the sides of the pool and the bottom. Low pH levels mean your water is too acidic and high levels mean it is not acidic enough. It’s not quite as effective as chlorine on most algae, but it’s a good product to use in between chlorinated shock treatments to keep things clean when no algae has been found. Soft water might sound nice, but the water feels slimy and it seeks out calcium by corroding your pool’s surface. If it’s below this range, your pool’s pH can be affected, and your pool’s surfaces are more prone to stains. This will help control minerals that are in the fill water, protecting your pool from staining and scale formation. Filtration, circulation and flocculation all play an important part in keeping your pool clean. Helps to prevent algae from growing in your pool – use pool shock to kill algae, and algaecides to keep it from returning. In order to raise your pool’s pH level, you will add either sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). The most commonly used sanitizing chemical is chlorine, which is used to aid in breaking down any unwanted dirt and debris in the pool. Hi Karen, for the smaller pools, see this post. This is one of the largest categories of pool chemicals, for every possible pool problem! Swimming Pool Stain Removal. Chlorine is the best anti-algae treatment available, but some forms of algae are more resistant than others, making further treatment necessary. The best way to avoid injury is to carefully follow all manufacturer directions and educate yourself on the dangers of certain substances. Hi bill. Balancing chemicals such as pH Increaser and pH Reducer allow you to keep pH and alkalinity levels in the right range and help maintain healthy and clean water. Other important swimming pool chemicals include Water Balancing Pool Chemicals. It doesn’t cover everything but will get you started. Shock chemicals are extremely powerful oxidizers, which are used when extra contaminant-killing power is required, such as at the beginning of the season and after heavy pool usage. A healthy alkalinity level for the pool is between 100 and 150 ppm. Also begin chlorinating with tablets. Before you know what all these fancy chemistry terms are, it’s important you know how to test them. One of the main chemicals used to clean a pool is chlorine. UV Sterilizer. See our calcium hardness guide; Alkalinity: You want to aim for a total alkalinity of around 120 to 150 ppm. For one, circulating the water keeps it moving through the filter, filtering out spores and debris. Your pool’s pH level should always be somewhere between 7.4 and 7.6. If the pH gets too high, lower it with a pH reducer chemical, so your chlorine works most effectively. These metals are a major cause for discoloration and scaling in your pool water; pool stain removers disperse these metals from your water leaving it clear and clean. Once the pool has recirculated overnight, shock treat the pool by using the pool shock. Think of your pool as a chemical ecosystem that must be continuously maintained at the correct levels. But if the water is off kilter a little bit, you will need a pH balancing chemical to get it back to where it needs to be. Maintaining the right chemistry in your pool water could be the most important job you’ll have as a pool owner. And you need a chlorine floater to dissolve chlorine tablets in the pool. I was super excited when I purchased my very first Intex Easy Set Deluxe Pool and remember spending every single minute of my free time swimming or just floating in my beloved pool. Cyanuric Acid is another name for chlorine stabilizer which is a chemical that protects chlorine in the pool from the sun’s UV rays. Not only do you need to use precautions when handling pool chemicals, you also need to make sure you are storing them correctly. Removal is accomplished with a no-drain acid wash, or use of strong sequestering agents to re-dissolve the calcium, or by mechanical methods such as grinding or sanding the surfaces. And overall those years as a DIY pool guy, I’m guilty of purchasing a heck-of-a-lot of tools, chemicals, and equipment I probably didn’t need. Add algaecide according to label directions for initial treatment. A stabilizer will also help keep the balance in your pool’s Ph level. If outside of those ranges, add increaser or decreaser. Understanding pool chemistry is an important step to becoming a responsible pool owner and making sure your family gets the most use out of it. Cover containers tightly and store them separately. There are three main types of algae people find in their pools—green, black and yellow—but there are literally hundreds of other species to look out for. Add chlorine immediately to the pool, shocking the pool to raise chlorine level fast with 1 lb shock per 10K gals. Pool Shock & Super Chlorinating Chemicals are some of the most important pool chemicals and are the base of your pool maintenance routine. Anything above those levels means that your water is a bit too hard and will become cloudy and leave scaly deposits on your plumbing and filters. Below you’ll find the best selling pool chemicals to use such as 3-inch chlorine tablets, pool shock, algaecide, and more for handling do-it-yourself pool maintenance at home… Then you can enjoy spending more time in your pool and less time wondering which chemicals to use and when. You may have heard the term “shocking your pool", an industry term for super chlorinating your pool. Most manufacturers list specific handling instructions, but it’s always best to err on the side of caution when using dangerous chemicals. Chemical Dosage Calculator. They should also be stored in a dry place away from direct sunlight. Beginners guide to swimming pool and spa chemical use. Having it too low can cause etching on the sides or erode metal fixtures. To lower calcium hardness, you can add muriatic acid according to manufacturer’s directions. Run the filter at least 12 hours per day, longer if it starts looking cloudy, even with good pH (7.2-7.6) and a good chlorine level (1-3 ppm). How much salt ash can you put on a standard size pool? This allows your chlorine-based chemicals to last longer, which saves money, and prevents rapid depletion on warm summer days. SAFER TO USE THAN MURIATIC ACID. Keep children and animals away from chemicals, Don’t use the same utensils for all your chemicals, Wear safety goggles, gloves, and clothes you don’t mind getting ruined, add a little muriatic acid or pH reducer to lower it, Clorox Pool and Spa Super Water Clarifier, Raises pH to protect equipment and surfaces. “Your pool needs cleaning, toning, moisturizing – just like your face” – those were her exact words to me, which I have never forgotten. As a novice pool owner, I had no idea how important it is to use the proper chemicals in order to maintain a clean and clear pool. Most pools should have very little of this in them at start up. Broadcast shock directly into a concrete pool, but dilute shock in a bucket for vinyl pools. Although I did my pre-purchase homework and bought all the right accessories for my pool, I lagged behind on the pool chemistry – the most important part of pool care. Lo-Chlor. Balancing your pool means keeping the pH level between 7.4 and 7.6, which is slightly above neutral. Powder Chlo… Extreme Leaf Removal. You can also vacuum your pool manually to keep algae at bay. Sanitizing your pool is what keeps out the germs and algae that make your water murky and unhealthy. That along with proper sanitization is how you keep it crystal clear and safe for swimmers. The problem is that these levels are affected by so many other factors that testing these levels is only a small part of the equation. It is recommended to test your pool water at least weekly and add chemicals if you see an increase/decrease in ideal chemical levels. I explain the basics about pool chemicals to help you understand what you need to focus on weekly. Pool Stain Removal & Stain Prevention Chemicals, https://blog.intheswim.com/what-chemicals-are-needed-for-an-intex-pool/, Energy Awareness Month – 7 Ways to Save Around the Pool, Has Fall Landed in your Pool? Adding too much at once can cloud the water and risks adding too much as well, but sometimes you need a lot, if the pH level is very low. Shocking your pool on a regular basis helps to kill bacteria that regular chlorination might miss. Probably the most intimidating part of a swimming pool is the chemicals. If it’s on the higher side, your water can become cloudy. Add both bottles of stain away following the directions for use on back of the bottles. You can contact us to learn more about the chemicals you need for your pool. This one addresses something that isn’t often tested in pool water, the cyanuric acid. Once you have all the supplies and follow a cleaning schedule, you’ll find the task is manageable. The point is that with a few easy tips you’ll be able to elevate your pool … pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness levels all play a very important part in keeping your pool clean, but that’s mainly because they help keep your pool’s sanitizing chemicals working the way they should. • Step 4. Keeping your pool’s chemistry balanced is the main way you can keep your pool water healthy and safe, and there are a few factors that includes: A pH level simply refers to the acidity of the water. Cyanuric Adjusting Chemicals for Pool Start Up This is the next step in getting the chemicals in your pool set up. Can you give me a stepwise approach as to how what and when to add the chemicals to get the pool started? Shock chemicals come in different varieties; like Chlorine Pool Shock and Chlorine-Free Pool Shock. You will also want to occasionally shock the pool, to raise the chlorine level 10x normal level, to kill any bacteria and help keep the water clear. Flocculation is also a big factor in keeping the water healthy. have a 18′ round 54″ above ground pool. Other types of Pool Chemicals If you only used pH products, alkalinity products, calcium products, sanitizers, you could keep a clean and healthy pool all year long. When the water chemistry is off, other parts of the pool can also corrode easily. just purchased and filled a 10 x 6 Bestway inflatable pool. While bromine cannot be stabilized, or protected from the sun, chlorine’s life can be extended by using stabilizer, aka conditioner. To lower a pool’s pH levels, add a chemical such as muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate. Pool Chemicals You Add as Needed. Raise total alkalinity with baking soda or soda ash and lower total alkalinity with muriatic acid. Within a few days, my sparkling clean pool started to lose its beauty and the water started turning cloudy. In The Swim Algaecide and No Mor Problems Algaecide, are not only great at eliminating and preventing algae, they are also very affordable and easy to use. • Step 5. I would add 2 lbs per 10,000 gallons at a time (up to 3 lbs per 10K), then allow the water to circulate for a few hours, and the pH to rebalance. Add 1-2 chlorine tablets to the chlorine floater, replace each week or when they dissolve. Hi Tom, somewhere between 7.2 and 7.6 is what I would shoot for, for winter pH levels. For Chlorine Pools: 1 ppm to 3 ppm; For Bromine Pools: 3 ppm to 5 ppm; For Biguanide Pools: 30 ppm to 50 ppm; For Salt Water Pools: 0.5 ppm of chlorine; For Mineral System Pools: 0.5 ppm of chlorine; Also, make sure your pool is clean and crystal clear before you leave. However it doesn’t exactly explain anything. Along with using the above-mentioned chemicals on weekly basis, you can use Pool Chemical Value Packs. It might save you a little time since it includes directions on how much to use and how to use it. When your pool’s alkalinity is kept in balance, it helps regulate the factors that can throw your pH levels out of whack. When algae is present a “super chlorination” of the swimming pool water is necessary. In a typical residential swimming pool, this means that you need to routinely check for: pH; Chlorine; Total alkalinity; Acid demand; And there are other tests you may need to do, as well. Keep your pool water balanced and close to neutral, and avoid scaling, corrosion, and cloudiness, all with just three pool chemistry components. Then balance the water and shock the pool. Swimming Pool Chlorine. never have added chemicals to any pool before. Pool Algaecides are also a great help when it comes to keeping your pool free from the ugly and annoying algae attacks. Test the water again if necessary, and then add another 2 or 3 lbs per 10,000 gallons of pool water, if needed. Along with the traditional pool sanitizers like chlorine and bromine, there are several options available for GREEN or alternative purification; these options include natural and enzyme-based chemicals.