Home Improvements

Water Balance In Swimming Pools And How it Affects Maintenance

Attention: Water balance is very important to ensure that your swimming pool chemicals work properly and for as long as they should

Make sure that you understand the workings of your swimming pool or spa before adding any swimming pool chemicals Good water circulation and filtration are essential to achieving a safe and clear bathing environment.

Water balance is the first thing to establish when treating your pool or spa. This helps make sure the later stps like sanitation are effective and use the minimum chemicals required The main criteria affecting water balance are calcium hardness, pH and Total Alkalinity.

Calcium hardness

Hardness depends on the levels of calcium salt in your water. This depends on where you live Low calcium hardness can cause damage to your pool materials. High calcium hardness levels (hard water) often leads to the formation of scale in pipe work and equipment.
Calcium Hardness Guide Measures
•    Ideal calcium hardness levels are between 100 – 200 ppm (mg/l).
•    If the measurement is below 75 ppm (mg/l), use Hardness Plus
•    When the measurement is above 200 ppm (mg/l), use Scale Inhibitor.

pH Measures

The pH scale has a range of 1 – 14 with 1 being very acidic, 7 being neutral and 14 being very alkaline. Make sure you keep your water within the 7.2-7.6 range which, because it is mildly alkaline, will protect equipment from corrosion and provide the perfect conditions for bather comfort
•    Ideal pH level for spas is between 7.2 – 7.6.
•    If the measurement is below use pH Plus
•    If the level is above 7.6 use pH Minus
Note
pH can be hard to control in spas as the system water turns over fast, is very agitated and is at higher temperature than swimming pools. [All these factors

This can lead to rises in pH which reduces the performance of chlorine sanitisers like chlorine shock. Significantly greater doses of chlorine sanitiser are then needed You can avoid this by using Bromine which is more stable over a larger range of pH than Chlorine It is also less volatile than chlorine and will remain in the spa for a longer period reducing your spa chemical usage and ensuring hygienic conditions prevail.

Total Alkalinity

Total alkalinity works to buffer pH changes If TA levels are too low the pH will fluctuate widely.

•    optimum Total Alkalinity is 100 ppm (mg/l) When it drops below 80mg/l remedy it with Alkalinity Plus
•    When Total Alkalinity is greater than 140mg/l remedy it with pH Minus to reduce it
The balance of the water needs to be monitored regularly because it is essential to the effectiveness of your other treatments

Use Test strips to measure your water balance, they are very easy to use

Swimming Pool Chemicals – A Simple Tutorial to Keeping a Clean and Healthy Swimming Pool

By Pool Support , Online Pool Chemicals

Balance

Managing the right equilibrium of pool chemicals in your water is essential to a hygienic pool and getting an enjoyable swim many times. The water will keep looking and smelling inviting and, really critically, the growth of bacteria and algae will keep to a minimum, this will ensure that everyone can enjoy your pool in safety.

The initial stage is to ensure that the pool has the right mix of chemicals when you fill. A swimming pool chemicals starter kit might be the best thing to use here to ensure you get it right from the beginning, and there is a large selection available on the market just like the ones we manufacture and distribute from our swimming pool and spa chemicals store.

Keeping Things Going

After this you need to make sure you test using a testing kit. This makes sure you get the right balance of chemicals

{To let you enjoy your swimming pool spa or hot tub it is important that the water is tested on a timetabled basis and you ensure you keep it in a healthy state. You can do this by the regular use of pool treatment chemicals. The testing of the water may at first seem initimidating, however test kit instructions are easy to use and can be relied on to give quick accurate results. }

The fundamental tests are
1.     pH
2.     Alkalinity
3.     Sanitiser (Free Chlorine or Bromine)

Visual Inspection
1.     Investigate the pool water for clarity, and ensure it is clear.

Other Tests
1.     Calcium hardness
2.     Combined chlorine
3.     Copper levels

It is a sensible idea to regularly note your results and the chemical dosings you carry out. Keep a note book with the test kit and chemical treatments.
Don’t Forget to test the water again after the addition of chemicals to ensure you have created the correct chemical levels.

Remember

* If the water is foggy then it is not safe to swim, swimmers cannot see the bottom and might dive into dangerously shallow water!
* Bathers in difficulty under the water will not be seen!
* Foggy water is a sign that there is a problem with the treatment.

Sanitisers

Sanitation is the most important for using swimming pool chemicals. If not properly treated, a swimming pool can become a breeding ground for bacteria and algae. The algae can damage the pool but the bacteria can make you ill!

The answer is a sanitiser like Bromine or Chlorine. You will need to ensure that the level is maintained at all times and levels should be checked and topped up weekly or as required. Don’t Forget, if you want to reduce the levels, just put increased water to your pool to reduce the concentration of the chlorine. There are a number of options for adding the Chlorine to your pool. Consider using slow dissolving tablets in conjunction with a chlorinator or, alternatively, a floater. You may need to be careful that the floater stays in your pool though!

Twice monthly you also need to treat your swimming pool with extra products to deal with the waste by-products left by the Chlorine, i.e. the dead bacteria and algae. Most will, of course, have been removed by your filtration process but some will remain and decompose leading to unpleasant smells and skin and eye irritation. You will soon tell when this is necessary because your water will appear cloudy, you can use clarifiers and flocculents to solve this.

When testing your pool, watch the ph levels. This determines the acidity in your pool. The balance needs to be kept stable to enable the Chlorine to work efficiently. After that, an effective pool filtration system will help you to keep your water clean and sanitary. And that is the key to an enjoyable swim every time!

If you live in the UK, you can  check online for Pool Chemicals at www.onlinepoolchemcials.com where you can find great deals at wholesale prices.