Skip to Content
Call Us Today for a FREE Estimate! 888-303-5565
Top

Pool Chemicals 101: What You Need to Know

We Make Swimming Better
|

Fiji Pools Blog

If you have a pool and want to keep the water in great shape, knowing how to use pool chemicals is important. Standing bodies of water are the perfect place for pathogens and other harmful substances to spread. Unless you maintain the right chemical levels in your pool, you could put your swimmers at risk for a variety of diseases. This guide covers the most common chemicals in pool maintenance and how you can use them to keep your water clear and clean.

Chlorine

Chlorine is the fundamental pool chemical that kills diseases and other pathogens that get into the water. Pools that have the right amount of chlorine keep swimmers safe from a range of health concerns, so make sure you know how to use it. Read your pool’s manual to discover how many gallons of water it holds, and you can then decide how much chlorine you should add. Chlorine tablets from the store tell you how much water they treat so that you won’t have to worry about complex calculations.

Bromine

Bromine is a great choice for spas and indoor pools because it does not give off the chlorine smell that you notice at most pools. You will need to use a little more to get the job done and prevent diseases from spreading. Since bromine quickly destabilizes when exposed to ultraviolet light, it’s not the best choice for outdoor pools.

Calcium Hypochlorite

Chlorine attacks pathogens by binding with them and killing the organic matter, but the bond remains after it does the job. When chlorine combines with organic material, it forms substances called chloramines, and they are what create the chlorine smell. In addition to producing a strong odor, chloramines also serve to irritate the eyes, mouth and skin. Calcium hypochlorite oxidizes chloramines and removes them from the water so that you won’t have to worry about the problem.

pH Regulators

Testing your pool water for proper pH levels is a critical piece of the puzzle you don’t want to overlook. A high pH level can cause your water to become cloudy and prevent your pool chemicals from doing their job, exposing swimmers to health hazards. On the other hand, pH levels that are too low make your water acidic and can damage your pool equipment. If you want to avoid those threats, buy a pH kit and add pH increasers and decreasers as needed, and your pool will stay in great shape all year.

Fiji Pools

Maintaining your pool and keeping the chemical levels on point is a complex and time-consuming task. Some people add random amounts of chemicals and hope for the best, and others invest a lot of time to learn how they can do it the right way. The team at Fiji Pools will come to your property and ensure your pool’s chemical levels are where they should be. If you are ready to enjoy the benefits of working with us, we encourage you to contact us right away.

Categories: 
Share To: