Category Archives: Pool and Spa Chemicals

Pool and Spa Chemicals, Chlorine, Shock, Algaecide, Ph Increaser, Stabilizer every kind of pool chemical you will need to keep your swimming pool water clean and sparkling all summer long.

Pool and Spa Chemicals, Pool and Spa Maintenance

How to Clean Your Pool’s Filter Cartridge

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The following directions will help ensure that your swimming pool’s filter cartridge gets a proper cleaning.

1.  Remove the cartridge filter from the filter’s housing following the manufacturer’s instructions.

2.  Use a garden hose to with a straight flow nozzle to wash down the filter cartridge.    Work from the top down, cleaning both the inside and outside.  Hold the spray at a 45 degree angle for best results.   Clean between all the pleats.

3.  Rinse and repeat until dirt and debris are completely gone.

4.  If the filter cartridge is still dirty or has been used in a spa or swimming pool where sun tanning lotions or oils are frequently used, then soak the filter cartridge for at least one hour (overnight is more effective) using one of the following options:

— A commercial filter cleaner,
— A solution of one cup of Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) to five gallons of water, or
— A solution of one cup of dishwashing liquid to five gallons of water.

5.  Rinse the filter cartridge again, and repeat steps 2-4 if needed.

6.  If the filter cartridge has a coating of algae, calcium carbonate (residue from calcium hypochlorite), iron, or any other minerals, soak the filter cartridge in a solution of one part muriatic acid to twenty parts water until the bubbling stops.

WARNING:  Failure to remove all oils and cleaning solutions from steps 2-5 above could result in the permanent restriction of water flow through your cartridge filter resulting in a partial or complete failure of the filter.

7.  Rinse the cartridge filter completely and replace it within the filter’s housing according to manufacturer’s instructions.

NOTE:  It is not recommended to use Diatomaceous Earth (DE) powder with any filter cartridge.   The powder particles will become trapped in the body and will shorten its life expectancy greatly.

Pool and Spa Chemicals, Pool and Spa Maintenance

Get the Skinny on Pool Algae

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Algae makes swimming pool water green

Green Algae in Pool Water

Did you know that there are 21,000 known species of algae?  Luckily, pool owners usually have to contend with only a tiny fraction of these.  Algae are microscopic aquatic plant life that are introduced by rain or wind and grow in colonies that produce nuisance masses.  While algae do not cause disease, they can harbor bacteria, create a high chlorine demand, and pose a dangerous slipping hazard.

The most common types of algae that can grow in swimming pools are black algae, blue-green algae, green algae, and mustard algae (which can be yellow or brown).  Prevention is the key to controlling algae.  Preventing algae growth in swimming pools is as easy as maintaining proper sanitizer levels and proper filtration, brushing pool surfaces,  and using super-chlorination.

To rid a pool of algae once it has become established, the use of a high-quality algaecide is recommended.  The best choice is an algaecide that will not only kill existing algae, but prevent them from forming again.

Pool and Spa Chemicals

Ideal Chemical Levels for Your Pool

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Proper Chemical Balance in Pools

Maintaining chemical balance in your swimming pool’s water is essential for keeping algae and bacteria at bay as well as ensuring that the water is safe and comfortable for swimmers.  Here’s a quick reference guide that gives you the ideal chemical levels and recommendations for how to raise or lower the levels if they are out of balance:

Chlorine

  • Ideal level = 2.0
  • To raise chlorine levels = Shock the pool
  • To lower chlorine levels = Turn the chlorinator down

pH

  • Ideal level = 7.4 (Summer), 7.8 (Winter)
  • To raise pH = Add soda ash
  • To lower pH = Add muriatic acid (diluted) into the pool with the pump running to ensure that the acid spreads throughout the water as quickly as possible.

Total Alkalinity

  • Ideal level = 80-100 ppm
  • To raise total alkalinity = Add baking soda
  • To lower total alkalinity = Add muriatic acid to the deepest part of pool while the pump is off.  Allow this to sit for at least 20 minutes, then turn the pump back on.

Calcium Hardness

  • Ideal level = 250-500 ppm
  • To increase calcium hardness = Add calcium chloride
  • To decrease calcium hardness = Drain pool and refill

Stabilizer

  • Ideal level = 20-50 ppm
  • To raise stabilizer levels = Add cyanuric acid
  • To lower stabilizer levels = Drain pool and refill
Pool and Spa Chemicals

Considering Bromine: A Chlorine Alternative for Pools and Spas

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Bromine Tablets for Pools and Spas

It’s no secret that chlorine can be harsh on skin and irritate eyes.  Plus, the strong smell of chlorine is more than a little unpleasant to many swimmers.  For these reasons, bromine tablets are a desirable alternative for sanitizing pools and spas. 

Because bromine doesn’t have a harsh chemical odor, like chlorine, it is often used in indoor pools where chlorine odor can be overpowering.  Bromine is also preferred in spas and hot tubs because it is more stable in high temperature water than chlorine, making it a more effective spa sanitizer.

Using bromine in standard outdoor swimming pools is something to consider, too.  Bromine continues to kill bacteria even after the pool’s weekly shock treatment, unlike chlorine.  Because of this, the volume of bromine required to clean a pool is much less than the volume of chlorine required.  Using less chemical means that it needs to be purchased less often.

The downside is that bromine generally costs more than chlorine.  For many pool and spa owners, though, the advantages make it worth the extra expense.

Pool and Spa Chemicals, Pool and Spa Maintenance, Pool and Spa Safety

Keep the P and Poo Out of Your Pool: Tips for Healthy Pools

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Pool Signs

Pool signs, like the one above, are a funny way to remind those who swim in our pools that the pool water is not a bathroom.  Contamination of water, though, can be a serious problem.  If a pool’s pH level is out of balance, the chlorine is unable to effectively kill harmful germs that are introduced into the water by swimmers.  Everything from dirt to sun to leaves and other debris can alter the pH level of pool water, so checking the pH level on a regular basis and adjusting the chemical balance as necessary is a crucial step in maintaining a healthy pool.

In addition to ensuring that there are always correct levels of chemicals in your pool’s water, you should insist that all swimmers follow these three rules to avoid contaminating the pool water:

  • Never swim when you are sick.  Germs can be spread to others in the pool.
  • Avoid swallowing pool water or getting water in your mouth.
  • Keep yourself clean.  Take a shower and soap up before taking a swim, and don’t forget to wash your hands after going to the bathroom or changing a diaper.  Even the smallest amount of contamination on your body can be transferred to pool water and cause illness in others.

(Source: Centers for Disease Control)

Being a diligent pool owner will help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses and keep your swimming pool a healthy place for everyone to enjoy.

Use the following easy-to-read charts when determining proper chemical balance and adjusting pH levels: