The swimming pool glistens in the summer sun, lights shimmering across the cool blue water. My brain kicks in and says, “When was the last time I checked the chemicals?” I freeze…Looks can be deceiving. Clear blue water does not necessarily indicate clear, blue, clean water. How do pool owners keep their swimming pools safe?
The first step is to get a pool test kit, one that includes, at the minimum, a chlorine test and a pH test. These kits run from very basic, using liquid drops, to the complex, using electronics, and are priced accordingly. You should test for chlorine and pH, the acidity or baseness of the water, at least once a week, and when the weather is very hot and the pool is being used frequently, up to every few hours.
What will chlorine do for you? Chlorine kills bacteria, kills viruses, and prevents the growth of algae. Test kits will tell you how much chlorine is available in the water to control all of the agents that will make the water in your pool cloudy, the walls green, and the water unsafe. At the same time, test kits will tell you if you have added too much chlorine, which can lead to sore red eyes and itchy skin. Occasionally, you may have to “shock” your pool by adding additional levels of chlorine to reduce smells or algae.
What is the deal with measuring pH? The pH of your pool should be between 7.0-7.6. If your pH is too low, or acidic, the chlorine in your pool may evaporate too rapidly. Even worse, the materials that your pool is made up of, including plaster, pipe fittings, and metals parts, start to corrode, creating wonderful areas where algae loves to grow and creating those nasty black or brown spots from the corrosion itself. If your pool is suffering from acidity, you will probably need to add a form of sodium carbonate to your pool. If your pH becomes too high, or alkaline, your pool water can become cloudy, calcium deposits can form, and again, the chlorine in your pool will not be able to work effectively. If your pool is too alkaline, you will need to add some type of acid, including liquid hydrochloric acid or sodium bisulphate.
Other tests should be conducted on a monthly basis. The total alkalinity of the pool should be tested to help keep shifts in pH to a minimum. You must check for the calcium hardness of your water. If you are seeing build-ups of calcium in the pool itself, you might suspect that you are also getting calcium buildups in pipes and pumps. Unfortunately, if your calcium hardness is too low, the water in your pool will start eating away metals and the grout between the tiles in your pool.
If your pool is new, the manufacturer or builder should provide you with instructions on pool care. If you are moving to a new home with an established pool, visit your local pool supply center and ask for help. Remember, safety is at the utmost when handling chemicals. Follow directions precisely. Do not mix chemicals. When treating your pool, do not eat, drink, or smoke, and most importantly, do not mix chemicals. If you have a question about the use of your chemicals, do not make assumptions, go to an expert.
Now I know that my pool is not only sparkling, but sparkling clean.
