The Importance of Testing & Water Balance

The importance that should be attached to regularly testing your swimming pool water cannot be overstated.  Having water that is over laden with chemicals and causing a 'chemical soup' to swim in is every bit as bad as not having any protection from the many bacteria and algae that will move in to enjoy poorly controlled water!

How often should the water be tested?  Some prefer to test the pH and Chlorine levels every other day - others only once a week.  The frequency of testing is however probably best determined by usage.  Testing can be done as often as every day and this should be considered during periods of heavy usage and during summer months.  Certainly, if at any time you notice change in the water quality the first thing to do is check the water!

It's not a difficult job with many different simple to use aids on the market to help you take a quick and accurate reading.  The following will take care of this important part of your pool care.

• 2 in 1 Test StripsTests Free Chlorine and pH
• Aquacheck Test Strips (Yellow) Tests Free Chlorine, pH, Total Alkalinity and Stabiliser

About Chlorine, Algaecide & Shock Treatment

Chlorine

Chlorine is the most commonly used and effective sanitiser and has been used for many years in the maintenance of swimming pools.  It is a product that is easy to apply and one that kills bacteria and algae instantly as well as oxidising any organic matter also present.

Chlorine can be added by means of tablets, granules or in liquid form and well maintained water will have no Chlorine odour.

Algacide

The proper way to get rid of algae is to use a product called Algaecide - but unless you add correct dosages it won't kill any of the algae, so following the directions on your algaecide product is particularly important and guards against not only unnecessary expense but the staining and foaming of your pool - a common problem causing by using too large dosaging!

Make the use of your Algaecide product a lot more efficient and effective by adding it not only in the correct dose but during the algae's growth time.  Add the algaecide in the morning of a bright sunny day to achieve best results, as it is during sunlight that algae grows the most and will consequently have the largest intake of the product if applied under these conditions.

If you have black algae you will find that by brushing it at least once a day will quicken the process of it's effective removal.  Simply by brushing it the dead cells get removed leaving the still living algae a lot more vulnerable to the algaecide product.

Shock Treatment

A strong chlorine odour could be an indication that the water needs 'Shocking' particularly if the combined chlorine test reveals a level of 0.2ppm or more.

It is important to realise that most pools contain both good and bad chlorine.  Another term used for good chlorine is 'Free Chlorine' - good simply because it is te one capable of killing germs.

'Combined Chlorine' on the other hand is the term used for bad chlorine.  This type is a poor germ killer and not only forms an unpleasaqnt chlorine odour but also contributes to eye and skin irritations. This problem in pools is often blamed as being as a result of too much chlorine - often an inaccurate accusation!

The composition of pool water always includes some undesirable elem,ents and it is these that actually contaminate the water, reducing the efficiency of the disinfecting sanitiser used.  Undesirable elements cover such things as hairspray, suntan oil and / or cosmetics, as well as perspiration.  These and other organic materials react and combined witht he chlorine form 'Combined Chlorine'.

Routine shock treatment destroys the compounds of combined chlorine and restores the water composition to 'free chlorine' efficiency.  Pools can be shocked by a process of 'Superchlorination' which is basically a large dose addition of chlorine or by adding a non-chlorine shock specifically designed for the purpose.

• Trade Chlorine Granules
• Chlorine Tablets
• Granular Shock Chlorine
• Non-Chlorine Shock
• Summerlong

About pH, Alkalinity & Water Hardness

The key to successful water management is maintaining the correct pH of your water.  These pH levels can range from 0 through to 14 and by taking the appropriate test you will know whether your water is either acidic or alkaline.

Too acidic will be indicated by a reading of below 7.  If the water is too acidic it will not only cause probable eye and skin irritations but it will also affect pool finishes and metal equipment with corrosion.

A reading too high means that the water has become too alkaline.  Water that has become too alkaline may become cloudy and even result in scale forming - rather similarly to the type found inside a kettle from a hard water area.

Toa avoid all the above problems you ideally need to maintain your pool water slightly alkaline between the range of pH 7.2 and pH 7.6, with the additional benefit of having best performance achieved from your selected sanitiser.

The following products will help you achieve the correct level of pH as part of your pool care programme, but we recommend that you apply the relevant chemical in small amounts, rather than one bigger dose to prevent over doing and consequently causing your water balance to swing out of balance in the opposite direction!

• pH Plus
• pH Minus

About Cleaning & Water Clarity

Having crystal clear water is perhaps the most compelling reason why so many of us love getting in the pool!  Cloudy water is consequently a concern but there are several checks that can be easily done so you can regain clear water again more quickly.

• Are the pH levels within the correct range?  To find out more information on pH levels refer to our guidance notes above.

To totally eliminate leaves, dust, insects and all manner of other types of everyday debris is of course unavoidable during use and if not removed quickly the water will soon appear cloudy.

Water filtration systems within pools are of course designed to remove some of these solid intrusions if they are floating in the water.  However, smaller particles which are often not even visible to the naked eye just pass through these systems, again causing problems with clarity and cloudiness.

• Has the pool filter been checked?  A clean is all that may be needed but replacement may also be necessary dependant on the type used.

During the peak swimming season it may well be necessary to run the pool filtration system 24 hours a day to maintain the water in a first class condition, as cloudy water represents a safety hazard to swimmers in addition to not looking quite so appealing.

• The sanitiser's level is therefore another check to be made.  If it's low you may need only to raise the level to resolve the problem.

Using a water clarifier will help the filter system to be more efficient as it is desigtned to coagulate many of the water elements that cause cloudiness.  Clarifying your water will not only assist the filter system but can also decrease maintenance costs.

• Granular Floc