If you have a swimming pool with your home, it is important to remember it needs lots of regular upkeep. This is why you must have a strong grasp on some of the pool maintenance essentials to help you get things done. The best pool maintenance will always include the right chemicals to keep all the bad stuff out.
Balancing the Water Chemistry
Pool chemistry for some can sound really complicated, but it doesn’t need to be that bad. It is an essential part of maintaining the water in the pool and you can do some of the work on your own, though many homeowners have found a lot of success with hiring a professional to get it done for you.
One of the most important things you can purchase to help with the water chemistry is a water testing kit. This will allow you a chance to see what is in the water and figure out if more chemicals are needed or not. You want a good balance of chemicals, too few and they are not able to do their job, too many and it can be really uncomfortable for you to be in the pool.
The three most common parts of pool water chemistry include:
- pH levels: This will help you to figure out how basic or acidic the pool is. Low pH levels are going to be acidic while the higher ones are basic. You want the pool to be somewhere between 7.4 and 7.6.
- Alkalinity: You need to also check the alkalinity to make sure the pool does not get too acidic along the way. Baking soda will balance out everything no matter which way the pool has gone. You do not want to have it too base or too acidic, and your water tester will help you fix this.
- Sanitizer levels: This would be the amount of bromine or chlorine in the pool. The right levels will depend on which of the sanitizers you go with.
Once you know these levels, it is easier to add in the right chemicals to help balance out the water and make it safe.
The Best Chemicals for Your Pool
The two most common types of chemicals to add to your pool are bromine and chlorine. Chlorine is often the one used because it works quickly and can be really strong. But then bromine is a good choice because it will not cause as many skin irritations as the others. Bromine does take a little bit longer to absorb into the pool so you will really need to keep up with the maintenance or may miss out on some of the swimming that you want to do. Both of these are effective for your needs.
Understanding all of the different types of chemicals necessary to keep your pool clean and healthy can be confusing to do on your own. If you do not want the hassle and just want to sit back and relax in the pool, then contact us at Nationwide Pool. Our professionals are here to help you plan out your pool and ensure the chemical balance is just right. Contact us today to get started.