Tip:To make efficient use of your swimming pool chemicals, managing good water balance is the main factor
Make sure that you understand the workings of your swimming pool or spa before adding any pool chemicals Good water circulation and filtration are essential to achieving a safe and clear bathing environment.
Water balance is the first thing to establish when treating your pool or spa. This helps make sure the later stps like sanitation are effective and use the minimum chemicals required There are three major factors affecting water balance, they are pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness
Calcium hardness
Hardness is the measurement of calcium salts in the swimming pool or spa water and this will vary depending where you live. Low calcium hardness levels (soft water) can lead to corrosion of the materials of construction. Hard water (water high in calcium) can lead to limescale foriming in your pipes and equipment
these are guideline levels
• Calcium Hardness should be between 100 – 200 ppm (mg/l).
• If the measurement is below 75 ppm (mg/l), apply Hardness Plus
• If the level is above 200 ppm (mg/l), use Scale Inhibitor.
pH Measures
pH can range from 1 to 14 where 1 is very acid and 14 very alkaline Make sure you keep your water within the 7.2-7.6 range which, being slightly alkaline, will protect equipment from corrosion and give the best conditions for the people enjoying the pool or spa and also ensures the best chemical efficiency.
• Ideal pH level for spas is between 7.2 – 7.6.
• When the measurement drops below apply pH Plus
• If the level is greater than 7.6 apply pH Minus
Note
pH in Spas can be tricky to manage because the water is circulated fast and the temperature is greater. These issues mean pH will vary more than in a pool
pH rises can be caused by this which causes chlorine products such as chlorine tablets to lose effectiveness. Much higher doses of chlorine sanitisers such as will then be required. avoid this problem by using Bromine. Bromine works effectively over a wider pH range than chlorine Unlike chlorine, bromine keeps working in a spa for longer and so helps you minimise your spa chemicalsuse
Total Alkalinity
Total Alkalinity (TA) acts as a buffer to prevent pH change. The water pH varies drastically when Total Alkalinity levels are very low
If Total alkalinity is too high then water clarity can be affected but it also makes it difficult to make changes to water pH levels
• optimum Total Alkalinity is 100 ppm (mg/l) When it drops below 80mg/l use Alkalinity Plus
• When Total Alkalinity is above 140mg/l use pH Minus to reduce it
The balance of the water needs to be monitored regularly because it is essential to the effectiveness of your other treatments
Testing your water is easy, you just use test strips which are available online
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By Pool Chemicals Care Team, Online Pool Chemicals
Balance
Keeping the right balance of swimming pool chemicals in your pool is essential to a sanitary pool and having an enjoyable swim many times. The pool will keep looking and smelling fresh and, really critically, bacterial and algae growth will remain at a low level, ensuring that everyone can enjoy your pool in safety.
The primary step is to make sure that the pool has the right mix of chemicals when you fill. A swimming pool starter kit is probably be the best thing to use here to ensure you get it right from the start, and there are a wide variety available on the market just like the ones we manufacture and distribute from our swimming pool chemicals store.
After this, you need a good quality pool tester to ensure that the right balance is maintained.
{To let you enjoy your swimming pool or spa it is important that the water is tested on a timetabled basis and you ensure it is kept in good condition. You can do this by the regular use of swimming pool chemicals. The testing of the pool / spa water may at first seem initimidating, however test kits are easy to follow and can be relied on to give quick reliable results. }
The fundamental tests are
1. pH
2. Alkalinity
3. Sanitiser (Free Chlorine or Bromine)
Visual Investigation
1. Check the pool water for a clear appearance, and ensure it is clear.
Other Investigations
1. Calcium hardness
2. Combined chlorine
3. Copper levels
It is a good practise to always note your results and the chemical additions that you make. Keep a noting sheet with the test kit and chemical treatments.
Remember to retest the water after the addition of chemicals to ensure you have reached the correct chemical levels.
* If the water is foggy then it is not safe to swim, bathers cannot see the bottom and may jump into shallow water!
* Bathers in difficulty under the water will not be seen!
* Cloudy water is an indication that there is a problem with the treatment.
Sanitation
Sanitation is the main reason for using swimming pool chemicals. Left untreated, a swimming pool can become a breeding ground for bacteria and algae. The algae will damage the pool but the bacteria can make you ill!
The answer is a sanitiser such as Bromine or Chlorine. Make sure that the levelsare maintained all the time and the level should be monitored and topped up weekly or when needed. Don’t Forget, if you want to reduce the levels, just add more water in your pool to reduce the concentration of the chlorine. There are different choices for delivering the Chlorine to your pool. Consider using slow dissolving tablets in conjunction with a chlorinator or, alternatively, a floater. You will need to be very careful that the floater stays in your pool though!
Twice monthly you will also need to treat your swimming pool with additional products to deal with the waste by-products left by the Chlorine, i.e. the sterilised bacteria and algae. Most will, of course, have been removed by your filtration process but some will remain and decompose creating to unpleasant smells and skin and eye irritation. You should soon know when this is needed because the water will appear , you can use clarifiers and flocculents to sort this out.
When testing your pool, watch your ph levels. This measures the acidity in your pool. The balance needs to be kept stable to enable the Chlorine to work efficiently. After that, an effective pool filtering system will help you to keep your water clean and healthy. Which is the key to an enjoyable swim every time!
If you live in the UK, you can shop online for Swimming Pool Chemcials and Chlorine Granules at www.onlinepoolchemcials.com where you can find great deals at wholesale prices.
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If you have been lucky enough to own a swimming poool. You will know the important of having a working filter in your swimming pool.
Because it's very important to have a working filter in your swimming pool. You should always make sure that it is working, if your filter breaks down without you knowing, your pool could soon become dangerous to use.
The first sign that your filter system has stopped working is that dirt will begin to collect at the bottom of the pool, this is simply because the pool is not being cleaned by the filter system, maybe not dangerous or life threatening, but certainly not pleasant to swim in.
The biggest reason why your filter system should always stay active is to circulate the swimming pool chemicals, such as chlorine. If your filter system stops working, the chlorine within your pool can stop circulating, this means that chlorine can collect in the pool, making it cloudy to view. However, cloudy water wouldn't be your only problem, because the amount of chlorine has risen, it becomes very dangerous and potentially deadly.
Chlorine is designed to kill bacteria, in high concentration, it can become poisonous and damage your skin.
So, as you have seen, keeping your pool filter working can be life saving, however, if you have a pool filter or are going to get one, make sure that you have a drain cover on the filter. If you don't then this too can become a hazard. If a child or adult gets sucked into the filter, it can seriously injure or even kill.
These are just a few tips that you should follow to ensure that your pool is safe to use.
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