Swimming pools are a great source of enjoyment, relaxation, and exercise for many people. However, that crystal clear pool of blue water is deceptively challenging to keep clean. The key to this clean water is pool chemicals, and understanding this chemistry is crucial for any pool owner.
At Keystone Pool and Patio, we believe you deserve a clean, clear pool! In this blog, we’ll discuss why keeping a pool clean matters, from the basics of pool chemistry to common problems with pool chemicals.
Ready? Let’s dive in!
Why Does Keeping a Pool Clean Matter?
Aside from the obvious “because a dirty pool will look disgusting,” a clean pool is essential as it ensures the health and safety of swimmers. Pools can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses if improperly maintained.
The unwanted microorganisms that breed in pools can cause illnesses such as ear infections, skin rashes, and severe gastrointestinal diseases. Additionally, a well-maintained pool prevents the growth of algae, which can make surfaces slippery and hazardous.
Maintaining clean water also enhances the swimming experience. Swimmers prefer crystal-clear water, free from unpleasant odors and irritants. Proper pool maintenance also extends the life of the pool’s infrastructure while preventing scaling, corrosion, and other chemical imbalances.
The Basics of Pool Chemistry
The chemistry of a swimming pool is a delicate balance of three key components: pH level, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Each plays a vital role in maintaining water quality and protecting swimmers and pool equipment:
- pH Levels measure how acidic or basic the pool water is. The pool’s pH must be between 7.2 and 7.8. If it falls below 7.2, the water becomes too acidic, irritating skin and eyes and corroding pool equipment. On the other hand, a pH above 7.8 makes the water too basic, resulting in scaling on surfaces and cloudy water. Maintaining water pH is similar to maintaining water chemistry in a tropical fish tank.
- Total Alkalinity acts as a buffer to help stabilize pH levels. A buffer is an aqueous solution that can resist significant changes in pH levels, so small additions of acids or alkalis wouldn’t upset the water’s pH levels. Ideally, total alkalinity should range between 80 and 120 parts per million(ppm) to maintain pH balance in the water. If alkalinity is too low, pH levels will fluctuate wildly, and too high alkalinity leads to difficulty adjusting pH and scaling.
- Calcium Hardness refers to the amount of dissolved calcium in the water. While low calcium can cause etching of the pool surface, high levels can lead to scaling and cloudy water. It is recommended that the calcium hardness range between 200 and 400 ppm.
Pool Sanitizers
Now that you’ve got a perfectly pH-balanced pool of water, you’ve created the optimal environment to grow bacteria and algae. Wait, that’s not what you want! You’ll need to make sure that doesn’t happen either. To keep your water clear of microorganisms, you’ll need sanitizers. The most common pool sanitizer is chlorine, but we’ll also discuss alternatives.
Chlorine is effective because it oxidizes contaminants and kills microorganisms.
It is available in liquid, granular, and tablet form. In water, chlorine forms hypochlorous acid, the active agent responsible for disinfecting pools.
However, chlorine levels need to be monitored carefully. The ideal range is 1 to 3 ppm. Too little chlorine is ineffective and leads to bacterial growth, while excess chlorine will cause skin and eye irritation (also known as swimmer’s eye).
Here’s a fun fact: a pool that smells strongly of chlorine comes from combined chlorine. What you are smelling are the chloramines, which are the byproducts of used-up or “dead” chlorine that have reacted with organic material, whether bacteria, sweat, hair products, lotions, or skin oils. So, any pool can get that smell if the bather load is high enough, and it is a sign that you probably shouldn’t get in the water.
Alternative Sanitizers are available if someone has a chlorine sensitivity or allergy or requires a different approach to sanitizing water (such as for hot tubs).
We’ll discuss these alternatives briefly:
- Bromine: Similar to chlorine, bromine is effective in killing bacteria and viruses. Warmer water accelerates the chemical reduction of chlorine, making bromine a good choice for hot tubs or pools with warmer water.
- Saltwater systems use a chlorine generator that converts salt into chlorine using electrolysis on dissolved salt. The generator continuously produces chlorine while removing combined chlorine from the water, providing a gentler swimming experience that’s easier on the skin and eyes.
- Ozone and UV Systems: These premium sanitizer systems disinfect pool water with ozone gas or ultraviolet light. However, ozone and UV-treated pools still need chlorine to supplement their sanitizing effectiveness, though at reduced levels.
Balancing Chemicals for Safety and Comfort
The right balance of chemicals in your pool is essential for safety and comfort. By regularly testing and adjusting the chemical levels in your pool water, you can ensure a pleasant swimming experience.
Let’s discuss some chemicals you’ll need to keep your pool clean and balanced.
- Testing Kits: No pool owner will be caught without one! A reliable pool testing kit has everything you need to check pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and sanitizer levels at least once a week. You could use water testing as an excuse to hang out at the pool!
- Adjusting pH and Alkalinity: pH increasers and decreasers adjust pH levels. Sodium carbonate (soda ash) can increase alkalinity. However, baking soda can also increase alkalinity subtly and is less harsh than soda ash.
- Calcium Harness Adjustments: There are several ways to increase calcium hardness, such as adding calcium chloride into the water, diluting it with soft water, or using a calcium hardness reducer.
The Role of Pool Stabilizers
The sun’s ultraviolet rays break down chlorine, which is unfortunate because the pool sits under the sun all day. To prevent the sun’s UV rays from dissipating, a stabilizer, such as cyanuric acid, can be added to the pool between 30 and 50 ppm. However, too much cyanuric acid can lead to a condition known as “chlorine lock,” where chlorine loses its effectiveness.
Common Pool Chemistry Problems and Solutions
We’ve discussed pH levels, alkalinity, calcium, chlorine, balancing chemicals, and stabilizers. Sounds like we’ve got everything figured out! However, despite your best efforts, pool chemistry issues can still arise. Here are some common problems and their solutions.
- Algae turns pool water green and makes surfaces slippery, which is a significant safety and liability hazard. It thrives in warm, under or unchlorinated water and is assisted by sunlight.
Algae can be frustrating to combat as it involves several steps:
- Brush: Algae is likely sticking to everything in the water, making it slippery. To loosen the algae, you’ll have to scrub the pool’s walls, floors, steps, and ladders with a pool brush.
- Shock the Pool: Use an algaecide or increase the chlorine level in the pool, also known as shocking. One weapon against algae is a calcium hypochlorite shock.
- Circulate: Allow the shocked water to circulate for 24 hours.
- Vacuum: Using a pool vacuum removes dead algae from the pool water and walls. A flocculant can help clump up the particles. The dead algae must be vacuumed to waste, not back into the filter.
- Clean the Filter: During the cleaning process, the filter must be cleaned frequently, possibly every few hours, as dead algae can clog up the filter.
- Maintain: Once the water is clean, restore chemical levels. Treat the pool with algaecide every two to four weeks as a preventative.
- Scaling occurs when calcium levels are too high, leading to deposits on pool surfaces and possibly damaging equipment. For example, if you have used a coffee maker, you’ll probably notice hard, white deposits when it starts having trouble pushing boiled water out! That is an example of scaling caused by high calcium levels. A similar scaling problem can happen in your pool, but a descaling agent, such as muriatic acid, will help dissolve the calcium.
- Cloudy Water can result from imbalanced pH, high calcium hardness, or inadequate filtration. Regularly clean filters, maintain balanced chemistry, and use a clarifier to help clear the water.
Conclusion
We hope this blog has been informative and gives you a better understanding of the complex maze of pool management. Maintaining a swimming pool involves understanding and managing its chemistry. Pool owners can ensure a safe and enjoyable swimming environment by keeping pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness in check, using appropriate sanitizers, and employing stabilizers. Regular testing and adjustments can prevent common problems like algae, scaling, and cloudy water, ultimately protecting swimmers and the pool. By mastering these aspects of pool chemistry, you can enjoy a sparkling, clean pool all season long.
At Keystone Pool & Patio, we’ve been synonymous in the Florida Gulf area with high-quality materials, superior craftsmanship, and custom designs since our parent company, Keystone Custom Decks, started in 1983.
That’s why we offer a variety of safety options and features on all the pools we build, including:
- Salt-water systems that are safer for your body, skin, and the pool
- Automatic and mechanical safety covers that help prevent children and pets from falling in
- Alarms that sound when a person or animal enters the pool unexpectedly
- Fencing and self-locking gates to help prevent unsupervised access to the pool
- Lighting that provides both safety and style
Maybe you’re thinking about building a pool and came by this blog looking to learn more about pool water. We would love to help you build the pool of your dreams! We can even build a patio to connect your backyard to the pool and round it out with an outdoor kitchen system for maximum outdoor enjoyment!
And if you already have a pool, talk to us about whether we can retrofit these systems!
Contact us today!
