| Maintaining good quality water is crucial in order to | | | | and too little may cause your plaster to weaken. |
| get maximum enjoyment from your pool and | | | | Alkalinity - Your total alkalinity should be tested on |
| keep maintenance issues to a minimum. And | | | | a regular basis by a pool chemical store. Proper |
| while every pool is different, this guide to pool | | | | total alkalinity promotes stable pH readings and will |
| water chemistry will teach you what to look for | | | | eliminate drastic changes in pH that will |
| and help you avoid common mistakes which can | | | | consequently affect water quality. |
| cause problems with your water. | | | | Tips for maintaining great water in your pool: |
| What is pH? | | | | Test water regularly – Contrary to popular |
| Simply speaking, pH is a measure of how acidic or | | | | opinion, you cannot determine the condition of |
| how alkaline your water is. On this scale that runs | | | | your pool water by looking at it. Regular weekly |
| from “0” to “14”, a reading of | | | | testing of your water and monthly testing by |
| “7” indicates that your water is neutral | | | | your pool chemical store is the only reliable way |
| (neither acidic nor alkaline). As the reading gets | | | | to maintain good health of your pool water. |
| below “7”, the water becomes | | | | Maintain proper water levels – Failure to |
| increasingly acidic and as it rises above | | | | maintain the proper water level can cause all sorts |
| “7”, it becomes increasingly alkaline. The | | | | of problems. Too little water (near the bottom |
| recommended pH is slightly alkaline, or 7.4-7.6. | | | | of your tile line) may cause the pump to draw air |
| The pH levels in a pool can also impact your | | | | and lose its prime. |
| plaster. Water with low pH levels (below 7.0) | | | | Regularly clean your pump strainer basket - |
| may erode the protective covering from the | | | | Keeping your strainer basket clean is a sure way |
| plaster surface. Water that has high pH levels | | | | to ensure your pump can adequately refresh your |
| (above 8.0) may contribute to the formation of | | | | water supply and keep it clean. If ignored, debris |
| scale and stains. In addition, your chorine will be | | | | can clog the impeller and the pump will not |
| more effective in killing germs and eliminating | | | | perform properly. |
| algae when your pH is in the proper range. | | | | Clean your chlorinator cell - When the cell |
| Salt chlorination raises the pH of your water. If | | | | becomes encrusted with calcium and other |
| you don’t add enough muriatic acid to your | | | | minerals dissolved in your water, the chlorinator |
| pool water on weekly basis, you will develop | | | | will not work. |
| scale. Scale will appear as white streaks and | | | | Clean your filter elements – Like with pump |
| encrustations on your pool plaster. This will be | | | | strainers, dirty or clogged filter elements can shut |
| especially troublesome on colored plaster pools. | | | | your whole system down. |
| Other water chemistry factors | | | | Follow these tips and you will have no problems |
| Calcium – Maintaining good calcium levels is | | | | maintaining good water chemistry and ultimately |
| important for both your pool water and your | | | | good water quality that you and your friends and |
| plaster. Too much calcium may cause deposits | | | | family can enjoy. |