Saltwater pools have become increasingly popular in recent years. Many pool owners are opting for the softer, gentler water produced by salt chlorine generators. Your water will be silky smooth and you can stop spending money on traditional pool chemicals. Many in ground pools are already equipped with this technology, but above ground pool owners can ALSO have salt water pools. Above ground chlorine generators have become an affordable and usable solution for many pool owners. They are easy to install and cost less than $300. No more red eyes, skin irritation, or handling harsh chemicals again. All you add is salt! Convert your above ground pool before the next swimming season and be prepared to be amazed by the difference!
Category Archives: Pool and Spa Chemicals
Don’t Jump In: Think Ahead, Buy Quality, Save Money
Longing to jump into the warmer days of summer? Even if there’s snow outside your window, it’s not too early to start thinking ahead to spring and opening your swimming pool. In fact, now is the best time to take inventory of your existing pool supplies and stock up while prices remain low. As we move closer to spring and summer, lower winter prices will begin to melt away.
Don’t jump in when it comes to buying your pool chemicals, though. Pool chemicals are a necessity for every swimming
pool, but not all pool chemicals are of the same quality. Cheaper chemicals can stain your pool and create excessive foaming and cloudy water. Because cheaper chemicals are often watered down, you need to use more of it, too, which ends up costing you more over time.
Take some time now to select your pool chemicals for the upcoming swimming season. Look for chemicals that are highly concentrated so less is required. Look also for chemicals that use only the purest ingredients to ensure crystal clear water. You may pay a little more up front, but better quality chemicals will last longer and save you money.
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Reduce Indoor Pool Energy Costs by 70 Percent
Indoor pools may offer water-lovers a welcome relief from cold or stormy weather, but maintaining an indoor pool can cause an unwelcome increase in energy costs. Heat loss through evaporation accounts for a whopping 70% of the energy consumed by an indoor pool, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). With evaporation left unchecked, other problems arise such as excess chemical consumption, an overabundance of humidity, and building maintenance problems related to humidity.
Dealing with the humidity from an indoor pool means installing a ventilation system that replaces indoor air with unconditioned air from outside. The cost of running such a ventilation system to keep humidity at bay can be steep. But all of the problems associated with water evaporation from an indoor pool can be significantly reduced with the use of pool covers.
Pool covers reduce evaporation dramatically, and as a result, energy costs can be lowered by as much as 70%, according to the DOE. Additionally, pool covers keep chemical consumption at a minimum, and humidity levels are kept in check. Lower humidity levels reduce the need to ventilate the air, which decreases energy costs even further.
Use pool covers only when the pool is not in use. Pool covers should be removed from a pool completely before swimmers enter the water.
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Save Swimmingly During Off Season Sales
Did you know that the best time to buy pool supplies is during the off season? Most suppliers experience a dip in sales once the swimming season has ended, so they hope to keep their business going strong through the winter months by lowering prices. Pool owners can often find everything from basic pool necessities like pool chemicals to upgrades in equipment at significantly lower cost than if they wait until spring or summer to purchase.
Take some time in the next few weeks to make a wish list of pool supplies and equipment upgrades you’ll need for the upcoming season. Then, compare prices online, and you may be surprised to find that you can save a bundle by buying now rather than later.
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Check and Balance Your Pool Chemicals
Making sure that your pool chemicals are balanced during the winter is very important. Chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and stabilizer levels should all be checked and regulated so that spring opening is easier. The following levels should be maintained throughout the winter.
Chlorine: 2.0 ppm
- To raise the chlorine level, you should shock the pool.
- To lower the chlorine level, you should turn down your chlorinator.
pH: 7.8 ppm (or 7.4 ppm in summer)
- To raise the pH level, add soda ash.
- To lower the pH level, add muriatic acid.
Total Alkalinity: 80-100 ppm
- To raise total alkalinity, add baking soda or sodium bicarbonate
- To lower total alkalinity, add muriatic acid
Calcium Hardness: 250-500 ppm
- To raise calcium hardness, add calcium chloride.
- To lower calcium hardness, drain your pool and refill.
Stabilizer:
- To raise stabilizer level, add cyanuric acid.
- To lower stabilizer level, drain your pool and refill.
To test your chemical levels, you can either take a sample of pool water to your local pool retailer or save time and money by testing it yourself. With an Aquachek Digital Reader, you can test your pool water quickly and accurately on your own. It takes only 15 seconds to get a clear and precise reading.