How Do you Balance Pool Chemicals?
Pool corrosion, skin conditions, and illnesses. Just three things that can happen to both you and your pool if it isn’t maintained properly. Balancing the pool chemicals in your inground pool is important to keep you and your equipment safe and healthy.
Avoid any of these ill-effects by keeping your pool in the happy medium. Keep reading to learn how easy it is to maintain a clean pool water balance all season long.
How to Balance Pool Chemicals
Adjusting the Chlorine Levels
If the chlorine level is too low, bacteria can grow and make swimmers sick. If it’s too high, it can irritate the skin and eyes. The key is to maintain a consistent level – around 2 ppm – so that bacteria don’t have a chance to grow, but swimmers aren’t uncomfortable.
You can increase the chlorine level by adding chlorine tablets to your chlorinator or floater. To lower the chlorine levels, you need to do what’s called “shocking” the pool. This involves adding a large dose of chlorine – usually 1lb per 10 gallons of water – to kill off any bacteria that may be present. Be sure to follow the directions given by a Pools of Fun store associate on the BioGuard shock product you’re using, as they can vary. After shocking the pool, we suggest testing the water again with us and adjust the chlorine level as needed.
Adjusting the pH Levels
The pH level is a measure of how acidic or basic ( alkaline) your water is. The ideal range is 7.2 to 7.6, which is slightly alkaline. If the pH level is too low, it can be corrosive to your pool equipment and swimmer’s skin. If it’s too high, it can cause skin irritation and cloudiness in the water.
You can increase the pH level by adding sodium carbonate (such as BioGuard Balance PAK 100) to the pool water. You can also decrease the pH level by using specific BioGuard pool chemicals offered at Pools of Fun.
Be sure to always follow the directions on the product you’re using, as they can vary. After adding the chemicals, test the water again with us and adjust the pH level as needed.
Adjusting the Alkalinity Levels
The alkalinity level is a measure of how much acid is needed to lower the pH level. The ideal range is 80 to 120 ppm. If the alkalinity level is too low, it can cause the pH level to fluctuate. If it’s too high, it can make it difficult to adjust the pH level.
Leave It to the Professionals for Pool Chemicals
Maintaining a proper water balance is important for both your health and the health of your pool. If you’re not comfortable adjusting the pool chemical levels yourself, you can always hire Pools of Fun to do it for you with selecting one of our weekly pool care packages.
