With swimming season just around the corner, it’s time to make sure you’re ready for your pool’s opening day. Once you’ve gotten your filtration system cleaned and running and you’ve had pool water professionally tested (see Parts 1 & 2), it’s time to act upon the results of their findings and get your pool’s chemicals into the right balance.
How to Achieve Correct pH Levels
Your pool’s pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.4. If it’s not, you’ll need to either increase or decrease it. To raise the water’s pH level, you can use soda ash. To lower it, you can use sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid. Both of these should be available at your local pool supply center.
How to Achieve Proper Total Alkalinity Levels
Getting your pool’s alkalinity right will help to keep the pH levels balanced. Your pool water’s total alkalinity level should be somewhere between 80 and 120. If you need to raise the alkalinity level, you can use sodium bicarbonate. If you need to lower it, use muriatic acid. They’re both available at pool supply retailers.
How to Get the Correct Calcium Hardness Level in Your Pool
The calcium hardness level in your pool should be between 150 parts per million to 250 parts per million. Your water’s hardness level will greatly impact the calcium hardness level. If you have hard water, it doesn’t absorb much calcium; however, if you have soft water, it will absorb a significant amount of calcium. Soft pool water that doesn’t have enough calcium added to it can actually cause damage to certain parts of your pool’s interior, such as vinyl, a marble dust finish, or tile grout. If your pool’s water tests low on calcium hardness, you can increase the number by adding calcium chloride which you can obtain from the pool supply store.
How to Keep a Proper Chlorine Level in Your Pool
The chlorine level in your pool should be between one and three parts per million. If you want to prevent chlorine loss in your pool, you can add cyanuric-based tablets. They’re round, white tablets you can add to your pool in a plastic chlorinator. These devices can be professionally attached to your filtration system. They help protect your pool’s chlorine from being broken down by the sun’s rays.
Allow Time for the Water to Clear Up Before Swimming
As eager as you probably are to take a plunge into your pool as soon as the test shows your chemicals are balanced, you still need to wait a little bit longer. Keep cleaning your filter daily for approximately one week at the beginning of the season. Check carefully to see if you need to add any chlorine to the water. Don’t take off the pool cover until you can see clearly to the bottom of your pool. Any cloudiness in the water means it’s not quite ready yet. Removing the cover before the pool water is ready is counterproductive, as it will just allow debris to accumulate in the water.
After your filters are cleaned and have run for a week, the chemicals are balanced, and your water is clear, it’s time to take the cover off. Once the debris on your pool floor has been vacuumed up, you can finally jump in and start enjoying your pool! Remember to set up a regular maintenance schedule of vacuuming, cleaning your filter, and chemically testing your water. Happy swimming!
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Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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