Pool Chemicals 101: A Pool Owner’s Guide to Maintaining Your Pool

07 Jun Pool Chemicals 101: A Pool Owner’s Guide to Maintaining Your Pool

Maintaining your pool’s chemical levels is a crucial element of pool maintenance. The chemicals you use in your pool are designed to eliminate harmful bacteria, reduce the risk of moss and algae growth, and keep your pool water clean, clear, and safe. If you are a new pool owner or have decided to take over the management of your pool chemicals, it’s important to do your research before you begin. Valley Oasis Pools offers our complete guide to understanding and using pool chemicals and knowing how and when to integrate pool water testing and chemical management into your overall pool maintenance routine.

Understanding Common Pool Chemicals and Their Roles

Before you begin adding chemicals to your pool, you will need to understand which pool chemicals are necessary for maintaining pool health, and what their specific roles are. These are the most common pool chemicals used in residential pool maintenance:

• Algaecide – Algaecide is an algae preventive that acts as a backup to chlorine. If your chlorine levels get too low and you notice algae forming, you can use algaecide to correct the problem until your chlorine levels are stabilized. 

• Biguanide – Biguanide is an alternative to chlorine and acts as a pool sanitizer. It forms water-soluble clumps of contaminants that can be easily filtered out by your pool filter. It is more expensive than chlorine and bromine but some people consider it to be a more natural solution. 

• Bromine – Bromine is another alternative to chlorine. It ionizes pool contaminants and creates waste called bromamines. You may need to shock your pool to get rid of bromamines. 

• Chlorine – Chlorine is the industry standard for sanitizing residential pools. You will need to use the proper amount of chlorine for the size of your pool, how often you use your pool, and environmental factors that affect the health of your pool water. Chlorine is available as a tablet or granule and you can set up an automatic chlorine delivery system in your pool.

• Hydrochloric acid – Hydrochloric acid is used to lower the pH level of your pool water. High pH levels can make chlorine and other pool sanitizers less effective, which means your pool water may contain dangerous bacteria and pathogens.

• Minerals – Silver and copper minerals can sanitize your pool or spa, but you will still need to use chlorine to complete the sanitization process. Minerals increase the softness of the pool water and can make it more pleasant. 

• Pool shock – Pool shock is an important chemical that can quickly stabilize and sanitize your pool water. You may need to use pool shock when your pool has been closed down for the season, after a big storm that affected the clarity and safety of the pool water, or after improper levels of sanitization from other pool chemicals. Pool shock can regulate the balance of your pool water and eliminate foul odors, algae, moss, oil, and other issues.

• Sodium bicarbonate – Sodium bicarbonate is a pool alkalinity increaser and it raises the alkalinity of your pool water to the proper level and stabilizes its pH level. If your pool’s alkalinity is too low, your equipment may become corroded.

• Sodium carbonate – Sodium carbonate is a pool pH increaser. It raises the pH level of your pool water and corrects water acidity. Low pH levels mean your pool is too acidic and swimmers may develop skin rashes or burning eyes.

Maintaining a Careful Water Balance

Maintaining the water balance of your pool can be a delicate process. You don’t want your pool water to be too hard or too soft, and you have to manage the use of your pool chemicals to maintain optimal pH levels. There are three elements to maintaining the balance of your pool:

• pH levels – The ideal pH level for your pool is between 7.4-7.6. You should be aware of the factors that affect your pool’s pH level, including swimmers, rain, wind, and debris. A low pH means your pool water is too acidic. A high pH means your pool water is too basic. A pH increaser can help you adjust and maintain the pH level of your pool.

• Alkalinity levels – The ideal alkalinity level for your pool water is between 100-150 ppm. Alkaline is a pH buffer and can reduce the risk of your pool water’s pH level increasing suddenly and drastically. Alkalinity increaser can maintain the stability of the alkaline levels of your pool water.

• Calcium hardness levels – The ideal calcium hardness of your pool water should be between 175-300 ppm. If your pool water doesn’t have sufficient calcium, your pool may become calcified and you will notice your pool’s plaster walls and floors becoming flaky, cracked, and damaged. Too much calcium can cause scaling and other problems. Maintaining the proper calcium hardness level will protect the lifespan of your pool and pool equipment.

Schedule Pool and Spa Maintenance in Tucson, AZ

If you don’t have the time or desire to handle your own spa and pool maintenance in Tucson, AZ, our team at Valley Oasis Pools can help. We offer customizable pool maintenance schedules as well as pool sitting services, pool opening and closing services, pool chemical services, and pool inspections. To learn more about our pool and spa services, call us today or contact us online.