Keep It Sparkling with Our Summer Pool Water Chemistry Checklist!

In order for you and your family to enjoy all the benefits of having a pool, you must keep your swimming pool maintained throughout the year. While it can be easy to overlook your pool during the summer months, this is a time when you need to stay vigilant about proper upkeep. When it comes to proper maintenance, there is nothing more important than good swimming pool water chemistry. This Summer Pool Water Chemistry Checklist will help you keep a sparkling pool all season long!

Test Your Water

Your pool water can change very quickly and if you are not routinely checking the pH balance, the chlorination levels, or the calcium levels, you could potentially find yourself in a sticky situation. To know how to treat your water, you need to first test it to show you the levels of: chlorine, stabilizer, pH, alkalinity, and calcium.

Sanitize

The most common sanitizer for pool owners, chlorine helps kill bacteria and it keeps your water clear. It is recommended that you keep your chlorine levels around the 1.0 parts per million or ppm for short. Chlorine comes in tablet form, granular form, as well as liquid form.

Stabilize

A stabilizer is a type of acid that is used in swimming pools to help your chlorine work better and last longer. The sun will break down chlorine over time, and stabilizer keeps this from becoming too much of an issue. It is best to keep your stabilizer around 40 ppm. This chemical is typically used 3-4 times throughout the year.

Balance Alkalinity

Alkalinity is a measure of the carbonates and bicarbonates in your pool. It is a good idea to keep this level in the range of 80-120 ppm. When kept in the safe range, this will allow you to better control your pool’s pH balance.

Balance pH

The pH level of your water is a measure of the baseness or acidity of your water. The best pH level for a pool water is in the 7.4-7.6 range. Not only will a proper pH level allow the chlorine to work better, but it will help maintain the integrity of your pool.

Monitor and Adjust Calcium as Needed

Calcium tests will measure the hardness or softness of your water. The acceptable range varies, but most will agree that the best range is between 180-220 ppm.