The most important aspect of pool maintenance is monitoring and maintaining proper water chemistry. But it confuses a lot of people; it really isn’t that complicated. The first step in this process is to test the water regularly. During the summer months this should be either daily or every other day. In the winter you can probably go once a week. If you schedule regular water tests and adjust the chemical balance accordingly; this should take minimal time. But if you neglect this task, you run the risk of algae growth and potential damage to your pool maintenance Babcock Ranch FL and your equipment. Learning the following basics will help you avoid difficult cleanups and expensive repairs.
This is one that everyone knows.
Chlorine is a chemical that cleans water, kills bacteria and inhibits algae growth. Pool chemistry is measured in parts per: million gallons of water, which you will see as (ppm) for short. The preferred chlorine range is 0.5 to 3.0 ppm. If the level falls below this level, there is a risk of discolored, cloudy water and algae growth. If above the acceptable limit; Water can irritate your eyes and skin. Water chlorination is generally accomplished by automatic chlorination with pellets or granular chlorine. Liquid chlorinators are also available, but built-in models are preferred due to their ability to control the amount of distribution. Sometimes it will be necessary to super scratch or shock the water. This is done as a preventive measure against algae and bacteria. How often you need to do this depends on usage and weather conditions. On shocking the pools; allow chlorine levels to return to normal before allowing swimmers. During the summer months and hot temperatures, chlorine burns off quickly with heat and sunlight. It is important to stick to a set schedule because the water will change color quickly when the water level is low, and when it turns, it will take a lot of work to recover it.
This is the acidity of water.
When testing pH levels, the acceptable range is 7.2 to 7.6 ppm. PH can be the most important factor in pool water chemistry due to its effects and potential damage. Low pH can cause excessive acidity in water, which can lead to corrosion of metal parts, etching of plaster and staining. Low pH is also the most common cause of eye burns, and chlorine will accelerate the burn. A high pH limits the effectiveness of chlorine and can cause water to become cloudy. Add muriatic acid to the water around the perimeter of the pool equipment repair Babcock Ranch FL to lower the pH. Use caution to stay away from ladders or other metal objects due to their corrosive nature. Brushing the pool is recommended to prevent acid from settling on the plaster. The pH value can be raised by adding soda water (sodium bicarbonate). Materials should always be added in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and safety documentation.
Technically a measure of the ability of water to neutralize or dissolve hydrogen ions in an acid.
Basically, having the desired level of alkalinity helps control pH fluctuations when chemicals are added. The desired total alkalinity level is between 80 and 120 ppm. Low levels will cause large fluctuations in pH, which can damage pool equipment. Higher levels make the pH more difficult to adjust and make chlorine less effective. Total alkalinity can be increased by adding sodium bicarbonate or soda and decreased by adding formic acid or sodium bisulfate. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct amount of chemicals.
Calcium hardness
This is a measure of calcium dissolved in water. Preferred levels are between 250 and 500 ppm. It is important to maintain the desired level for the safety and longevity of the plaster. Lower levels will leach lime from the plaster and create holes and reduce surface life. Large quantities of lime and cloud water can be produced. Add calcium chloride to increase the hardness of the calcium. Add a small amount of disodium phosphate to the backwash from the pool cleaning company Babcock Ranch FL to lower the level and replace with fresh.
Stability
Chlorine molecules are unstable and dissolve quickly with sunlight and heat and reduce free chlorine levels. Adding cyan uric acid balances the molecules and slows the release of chlorine. In other words, adding a stabilizer reduces the amount and frequency of chlorine in the pool. Some chlorine tablets are immobilized, so you may already have some cyanide. Preferred levels are between 30 and 50 ppm. Cyan uric acid should be added at a concentration not exceeding 50 ppm.