If improperly treated or neglected, the water in your pool could easily become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and algae that could lead to illness. In order to keep your pool and your family safe, it is essential that you maintain proper water chemistry. And according to Bruce Wetterer, owner of Imperial Pool and Spa Services in Indianapolis, two things are crucial to preserving your pool’s water: the pH level and the sanitizer level.
pH level: pH is a measurement of acidity or basicity in any given solution based on a scale of numbers zero through 14. At a level seven, a solution is said to be neutral, such as pure water, and anything with a pH level of below seven is increasingly acidic and levels above seven are alkaline or basic. Examples of acidic and alkaline solutions are lemon juice (acidic pH of 2.3) and toothpaste (basic pH of 9.9). When it comes to your pool, Wetterer says that pH is the most important element in the water’s chemistry.
The ideal level you should strive to maintain for you pool is slightly alkaline at 7.2 to 7.8. If the water becomes too acidic, it can start eat away put holes in heaters or leach plastics out of pool liners. An acidic pool will also be bothersome to your eyes. Reversely, if the pH level is too high, scales could form on the walls of your pool and the water will become cloudy. To test the pH of your pool yourself, you can purchase testing strips at your local pool store. The process is pretty simple and should be outlined in the package’s directions, but Wetterer says that you will dip the strip into your pool water for the allotted amount of time and then use a color-coded chart to determine if your pool falls in the correct range.
If the water test reveals that your pool falls too far on either side of the chart, you can buy the correct chemicals at your pool store to balance out the levels in the water and return them to a standard that is safe for swimming. After allowing the added chemicals to circulate properly, the water should be tested, and treated again if necessary, until it falls into the correct spectrum. To keep your water continuously safe through out the summer months, it should be tested more frequently when it is introduced to elements that are known to have a strong affect on the pH. For example, human waste can make the water much more alkaline. So if you have a large party where people are in and out of the pool, the water should be tested and treated afterwords. Additionally, rain can make your pool more acidic because of the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, making it important to test levels after a heavy storm.
Sanitizer level: The most common disinfectant used to sterilize swimming pools is chlorine. And for good reason too. If it’s used properly, chlorine is great for killing bacteria, viruses and algae in your pool but won’t harm or irritate swimmers. In its natural state, however, chlorine is highly toxic, so a number of compounds that include levels of chlorine have been developed that are both safe and effective for the average homeowner. Not all chlorine products are created equal however, explains Wetterer, so the type that you buy determines how much chlorine is actually present in your pool. For instance, he says that tablets, which are relatively inexpensive, contain only 66% chlorine and may leave behind a residue if not dissolved completely. Trichlorine on the other hand is slightly more expensive and is composed of 90% chlorine.
It is important to check the laws in your state as to which chlorine can be used in your pool, warns Wetterer. Some areas restrict the use of chlorine that contains sodium or calcium because of possible links to cancer.
If you ever have any questions about how to care for your pool, or you don’t have the time to maintain a proper cleaning schedule, it may be beneficial to hire a company that specializes in maintenance and sanitizing. These specialists can treat and clean your pool so that everything is hygienic and safe for upcoming weekend pool parties.
