How to Maintain a Chemical Balance in a Swimming Pool
- 1). Obtain a good working test kit that uses drops to test for total alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness. If you are using chlorine as the sanitizing agent in your pool, then the test kit needs a chlorine test as well. You need to pick a convenient time to do the testing, perhaps in the evening as the sun is beginning to set. That way any addition of chlorine will reach maximum efficiency before the late morning sun of the next day begins to pull it out of the pool.
- 2). Test and treat the alkalinity first, always broadcasting the required amount of alkalinity increaser across the surface of the pool with the pump and filter running. Add the amount required in increments to insure against over addition. Test between incremental additions. Addition of alkalinity increaser will automatically raise your pH level, so retest the pH after adding the full amount of alkalinity. Based on the result of the pH test, add the necessary amount of either increaser or decreaser to the water, again by broadcasting. Add calcium hardness the same way.
- 3). Understand that 3-inch chlorine pucks should always be present in the skimmer basket, so that the supply remains constant. As soon as one puck begins to deteriorate, the next should already be in place so that there is never a break in service.
- 4). Add chlorine shock to the pool once a week during a mild summer, with more frequent treatments occurring for hot stretches and heavy bather loads. Add a weekly preventative dose of a concentrated algaecide to the pool, always referring to the correct recommended dosage amount.
- 5). Pool cleaning must take place weekly as well, more frequently if needed. Remember to retest your water after adding any large amounts of water to the pool. Balance is not a constant, so you will have to add more chemicals accordingly.
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