Pool Chemicals 101

There is a multitude of pool care products available and not only is it tough to understand what role they play in keeping the pool water balances. Read on to learn more about pool chemicals, what they consist of and what they do for your swimming pool!

What Do Pool Chemicals Do?

• Algaecides: These are used to stop the growth of algae in your pool and to provide prevention so algae does not grow from the outset.
• Alkalinity Balancers: These maintain a safe range of alkalinity to ensure your swimming experience is comfortable.
• Alkalinity Increaser: It raises the level of alkalinity. If you have low total alkalinity it may cause the pool water to become corrosive to plaster, metal and other materials causing etching, staining or distortion of various surfaces in and around your pool. Correct Alkalinity prevents these issues and eliminates what is colloquially known as “pH bounce”  providing a buffer against large changes of the pH in the water. For pools with vinyl later, the alkalinity range should be 80-120 and 125-150 is ideal for other types of pools.
• Calcium Hardness Increaser: This raises the level of calcium hardness in the water of the swimming pool. Low calcium levels cause hardness issues and may cause the pool water to become corrosive, resulting in etching, staining, and pool finish distortion. Plaster effected by this may become uncomfortable and abrasive for swimmers. Rough plaster can also be a cause of algae problems and makes the cleaning process far tougher.
• Chlorine Stabilizer: This helps maintain the pool chlorine and helps chlorine depletion because of the effect of sunlight. The filter or backwash needs to be cleaned before the addition of the product to the pool. The pH of the pool should be in the 7.2 to 7.8 range.
• Hardness Balancers: These keep your pool in the ideal calcium hardness range of 200-300 ppm.
• pH Balancers: These maintain a healthy pH range in your pool. pH Down is a chemical in a granular form designed to slowly lower the PH of your pool water. Conversely, pH Increase does the opposite. pH should ideally be between 702 and 708 for ideal best water quality and chlorine activity. For vinyl liner pools, the ideal pH is 7.6. Always use an accurate and reputable pH testing kit as it is one of the most important aspects of pool maintenance.
• Pool Shocks: When the sanitizer is overworked, pool shocks clean your pool after many people have used it following rainfall. By shocking your pool, you eliminate bacteria without taking a toll on the chlorine levels. it goes a long way in keeping the pH balanced.
• Sanitizers: Perhaps the greatest chemical that can be used to kill off bacteria and keep algae, viruses and other contaminants from forming in your water. The two most popular types of sanitizers are bromine and chlorine.

Advantages of Using A Professional Pool Service

Professional and experienced Technicians must be familiar with engineering, plumbing, electrical components and chemistry to service your pool properly. However, many national companies who have high rates of turnover because of low pay frequently rely on inexperienced new employees. However, a local expert will likely offer a level of experience, ability and local knowledge that are worth a great deal. You should also search for and read positive online reviews for companies near to where you are located.

Free Pool Cleaning Estimates in Ahwatukee, Arizona

Receive a free pool care estimate in Ahwatukee, Arizona, by giving BPC Pool Maintenance a call today at 480-907-7959. Learn more about our pool service in Ahwatukee.