Having a pool in your backyard is a true luxury, but taking care of the water within it can sometimes feel like a chore. From the mechanical pumps and filters to the detailed concoction of pool maintenance chemicals, it’s hard to know where to start. Get more familiar with your pool water’s composition and needs by consulting the following guide.

Finding a pH Balance

Arguably the most important aspect of pool maintenance is ensuring the pH level of the water is between 7.4 and 7.6, just above neutral. To stay within this range, you’ll have to juggle three separate chemicals: pH increaser, pH reducer, and alkalinity increaser. If the pH level is below 7.0, you’ll need to add a base to avoid a corrosive, acidic state. If it’s above 7.8, only half of the chlorine in the pool will be active, and you’ll see scale form and cloud the pool. To prevent this, add an acid. Alkalinity increaser should be administered if total alkalinity measures below 100 parts per million. To protect your pool walls and equipment, add calcium hardness to the water until the levels read 175 to 225 ppm.

Cleaning the Water

Chlorine keeps pools clean and gives them their characteristic smell. This element kills both bacteria and algae for a relatively low price and can be added in tablets, granular, or powdered form. Ideally, chlorine levels should remain at 3 ppm. If you use tablets, add them to a floating dispenser, chlorinator, or your pool’s skimmer basket.

Stabilizing the Pool

After the pH balance and chlorine levels have been established, you’ll want to maintain this delicate balance with cyanuric acid. Also known as a water stabilizer, this pool maintenance chemical slows down the rate at which chlorine gets burned off by UV rays. For the best results, keep cyanuric acid levels between 30 and 50 ppm.

Pool maintenance chemicals can be a hassle to manage, so let Aquapulco of Kihei and Lahaina, HI, take care of them for you. The Better Business Bureau®-accredited company offers comprehensive pool services, from routine cleaning appointments to pump and filter repairs. To learn more about their work, visit the website, or call (808) 879-6666 to make an appointment.