How to Properly Maintain Swimming Pool Water Chemistry

Owning an inground swimming pool is a fun addition to your backyard. In order to keep your swimming pool clean and safe throughout the seasons, however, you need to maintain a consistent and healthy water chemistry. The two main measurements for keeping up your pool’s water chemistry: water balance and sanitization levels.

Maintaining Even Water Balance

Water balance is composed of three essential parts: pH levels, total alkalinity levels, and calcium hardness levels. The goal for an even water balance is to create a chemical identity that is neither scale forming nor corrosive, meaning the pH isn’t too high or the levels aren’t too low.

If the levels are too high, you will have cloudy water and calcium deposits attaching to your equipment and clogging your filter. On the other hand, if your levels are too low, your pool equipment and pool finish can be negatively affected by the low pH level. Water balance is not only important for equipment but essential for swimmer comfort.

Here are simple guidelines for checking each aspect of your water balance:

pH Level Requirements

• Levels should be between 7.2 – 7.8 , ideal range is between 7.4 – 7.6
• Recommended to test daily

Total Alkalinity Requirements

• Levels should be between 80 – 120 ppm for gunite or concrete pools
• Levels should be between 125 – 175 ppm for fiberglass pools
• Recommended to test daily

Calcium Hardness Requirements

• Levels should be between 225 – 400
• Needs weekly testing

Measuring Your Water Sanitization Levels

Although your pool water may be chemically balanced, another item to test is pool sanitization. Pool chemicals keep the water healthy and balanced, but it does not keep it clean.

Using additional pool chemicals such as chlorine to sanitize your pool helps keep your pool clean and safe for swimming.

Here are some guidelines for keeping your sanitization levels up:

Chlorine Levels

• Levels should be between 1.0 – 3.0 ppm
• Check weekly (more during peak season)

Find out More at Your Local Anthony & Sylvan Pool Supply Store

No matter what type of in-ground pool you own, you need to properly maintain it to ensure it lasts a lifetime.

Unsure of what type of maintenance you need? Contact an Anthony & Sylvan Pools near you. You can also buy pool supplies such as chlorine on our online store.