Have you ever looked at all the pool chemicals on the shelf and wondered, “Do I really need all of these?”
The good news is that maintaining your pool water doesn’t have to be complicated. Understanding what each essential chemical does can help you keep your water clean, clear, comfortable, and balanced.
Here are the basic six chemicals that play an important role in maintaining healthy pool water:
Chlorine is the primary sanitizer. It helps kill bacteria, algae, and other contaminants that enter the pool.
pH increaser and pH decreaser help maintain the proper pH range. Balanced pH helps protect your pool equipment and surfaces while keeping the water comfortable for swimmers.
Alkalinity increaser helps stabilize your pH and keeps it from constantly rising or falling.
Calcium hardness increaser helps maintain the proper calcium level in your water. Proper calcium balance helps protect pool surfaces and equipment.
Cyanuric acid (stabilizer) helps protect chlorine from being quickly broken down by the sun, allowing it to work more effectively in an outdoor pool.
Pool shock provides an extra dose of sanitizer when needed to help address contaminants, combined chlorine, or algae.
Living in the South, a good suggestion is to always have on hand a bottle of Algaecide. Pools can rapidly develop algae blooms even in well balanced pools. Summer heat, storms, fertilizers, grass molds, all can easily introduce algae into your pool.
The most important thing to remember is that pool chemicals work together.
Testing your water regularly and good record keeping, tells you what your pool actually needs before you add anything.
A little knowledge and consistent testing can go a long way toward keeping your pool water sparkling, balanced, and ready to enjoy.
At Pool Works, we’re always happy to help make pool care a little simpler.
