Pool Water FAQ
Q. As a pool owner, I have a general idea of how to keep my pool water clean. But I’m not sure I’m doing it right. How can you help me?
A. Surprisingly, most pool owners don’t really feel confident about the way they maintain their pools. That’s why we produced this FAQ Sheet.
Q What is a properly maintained pool.
A. A properly maintained pool is one that is visually and biologically clean.
Q. I can tell if it’s visually clean just by looking at it. But how do I tell if it’s ‘biologically clean’?
A. By using a test kit, and measuring your pool’s chlorine, Alkalinity and pH levels. (This is a very easy procedure and your pool supply dealer will be happy to show you how it’s done.) So, if you maintain the proper chlorine and PH levels, bacteria and algae will be killed, and your pool will be "biologically" safe.
Q. I’ve heard of chlorine before, but I’m still not really sure what pH is.
A. "PH" refers to the acidity/basicity level of your pool water. The reason it’s important is that unless your pool is within a certain pH range, your chlorine can’t chemically interact with the bacteria and algae it’s supposed to kill. Most pool owners don’t realize how important the pH level is. The proper range is 7.2-7.8, ideally 7.6.
Q. How do I maintain Proper PH?
A. Measure your pool’s current pH level, If the level is too high (your test kit tells you how to determine that), add "pH MINUS", If the level is too low, add "pH PLUS."
Q. Where do I get this ‘pH minus’ & 'pH plus’?
A. You can view our pricelist for chemicals by clicking this link.
Q. Now that my pool’s pH is balanced what do I do?
A. You add chlorine. The idea is to maintain a Free Residual Chlorine level of 1.0-1.5ppm.
Q. That’s a new one for me. Just what does ‘Free Residual Chlorine’ actually mean?
A. ‘Free Residual Chlorine’ is the amount of chlorine that remains available to kill bacteria and algae as they occur in your water.
Q. How can I be sure I always have enough ‘Free Chlorine’ in my pool?
A. Just ask your pool chemical dealer for a test kit that measures the ‘Free Chlorine’ level. It’s easy to use and you should use it daily.
Q. Are there different types of chlorine?
A. Yes, but basically we recommend just one type. Any chlorine that is of a "Stabilised Tri-chlor" type.
Q. Why This specific type?
A. Because it’s very effective in fighting bacteria and algae, it’s very easy to use, and it lasts up to 4 times longer than liquid bleach, shock, or calcium hypochlorite.
Q. What are the advantages of Stabilised Chlorine?
A. Stabilized Chlorine may cost a little more initially, but will save you money in the long run. The sun will cause liquid bleach or shock and calcium hypochlorite to lose their effectiveness after 4 hours. But if you use chlorine with a built-in-stabilizer, it will keep working for over 24 hours. More chlorine is left in the water to do the job of sanitizing, and less is wasted - being burned off by the sun. A smaller amount of Stabilized Chlorine will last you longer than 2-3 times as much as unstabilised chlorine.
Q. How do I use Granular Chlorine?
A. Once your pH is balanced, simply add the recommended dose of granules for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Q. How often do I need to add granulated chlorine?
A. You do have to add it every day unless otherwise indicated by your test kit. This is this disadvantage of a granular product.
Q. how do I add it to the water?
A. You should mix it with water in a bucket first. This will ensure that you don't stain your pool bottom. Remember, always add chemicals TO water, not water TO chemicals.
Q. I think the tablets would be easier. Am I right?
A. Yes. Simply place the tablets either into your skimmer basket. Usually only once per week!
Q. How many tablets do I use?
A. This depends on how large your pool is but rough rule of thumb is 1 per skimmer basket. Try this dose and test regularly to see if it needs adjustment.
Q. What’s super-chlorinating, and how often do I do it?
A. You put in 5-10 times the normal amount of Chlorine in the pool. This is only usually required after a heavy rain, a very hot weekend or when the pool’s been heavily used. Before swimming, you must wait until the free residual chlorine has returned to below 3 ppm.
Q. What’s total alkalinity, and why do I have to test for it?
A. This is the water’s ability to resist changes in pH. The same conditions that produce the need to Super-chlorinate may also affect your water’s total alkalinity. A simple test kit will help you keep total alkalinity at the proper level of 80-120ppm. Your pool chemical dealer can supply the test kit and the chemicals you need.
Q. I have More questions who can I ask?
A. You can always return to our web site and email us a question, or call us on (00357) 2481 5104.