When you think of having a pool, it’s easy to just think of all the fun you are going to have. How nice it will be to swim on those hot days and enjoy the company of your friends and family. While all these things are nice to think about, it’s important to realize the maintenance that is required to achieve that fun. Your pool can develop algae, skin cell and oil buildup, as well as other bacteria from natural contaminants, so pool chemicals are required to help keep your pool safe and clean. There are quite a few different pool chemicals used to help maintain the water, but here are the basic ones and their levels that you need to sustain to keep your pool swimmable.
- Chlorine levels should be at 3ppm (parts per million) at all times. If your pool’s chlorine levels are below 3ppm, your pool is starting to grow bacteria. If they are above 3ppm, you need to dilute the chlorine in your pool. Chlorine is an important pool chemical because it sanitizes and neutralizes the bacteria and other contaminants in your pool.
- Pool shock is so important to have on hand and is something you should use every single week. When you shock your pool, you are removing overworked chlorine particles that are no longer fighting off bacteria in your pool. Shocking your pool will eliminate the rest of the bacteria without messing with your chlorine levels, and it helps to keep everything stabilized.
- Calcium hardness levels are best kept in between 175ppm and 300ppm. Calcium hardness is needed to help protect your pool walls and equipment. If your pool loses calcium, your water starts to damage your pool’s plaster and other places while trying to find more calcium. This is what causes calcification in your pool.
- Alkalinity balancers catch the big changes to the water before they influence the pH levels. The best alkalinity level is between 100ppm and 150ppm. Alkaline levels change so often, it is ideal to have alkalinity balancer on hand.
- pH increaser/reducer helps to balance the pH levels in your pool. Pretty much anything that passes into your pool can affect the pH level. If the pH level goes too low, the water can become acidic, and if it gets too high, it can become basic. So it is ideal to have pH balancers to help keep your pool’s pH level balanced. The best pH level ranges from 7.4 to 7.6.
Here at Carolina Pool Builders, Inc., we carry the pool chemicals you need at our storefront in Hickory, North Carolina. Stop by today, and we will be happy to help you find what you need.