Owning a private pool in the backyard is like a dream come true. But, maintaining a beautiful pool takes a massive amount of work.
After all, who doesn’t like to have a relaxing weekend lounging around the swimming pool and soaking in the summer sun? But to do that, you have to make sure that your swimming pool is in its best condition.
And if you’re a first-timer, treating the water all by yourself might seem a bit daunting.
However, treating water to keep your swimming pool in top shape can be easy with proper preparation. Once you know the relevant tips and tricks, treating water will come as second nature to you.
And that’s where we come in. This article will talk about everything there is to know about treating water for first-timers. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
The Right Preparation
Preparation is key when you’re planning to treat the water for the first time or after a long while. As a rule of thumb, you need to choose the right chemicals, look for the perfect chemical levels, and treat the pool water frequently.
Any experienced pool owner will tell you that the most important tool for treating the pool water is a water testing kit or strip. Using any water testing kit will help you identify what needs to be treated in the pool water.
It is best to keep in mind that just because the pool water looks crystal clear doesn’t necessarily mean it is perfect for skinny dipping. As most water-borne contaminants are microscopic, they’re invisible to the naked eye. Hence, it is best to take precautions and test the water using a kit before the contamination becomes visible and too much to handle.
How Frequently Should I Treat The Pool Water?
To keep your private pool in the best condition, it is best to treat the pool water weekly. If you’re a frequent user, try to treat the water twice a week. But, if you’re an occasional swimmer, treating the water once a week can be sufficient. Try to maintain this weekly routine, and you can keep your pool in good shape.
What Are The Pool Chemicals That I Need To Treat The Pool Water?
When it comes to treating pool water, you’ll need a lot of chemicals. So, let’s take a look at all the necessary products:
- Pure liquid chlorine or chlorine granules
- Stabilised chlorine or chlorine tablets
- pH regulators
- Cyanuric Acid
- Calcium
With these primary pool-treating chemicals, you can use clarifiers, algaecides, scale and stain removers, and phosphate removers. It’s not mandatory to use the additional pool chemicals if the chemical balance of your pool is adequate. However, the new pool water treatment will be a breeze if you decide to use the other chemicals.
Additionally, you’ll be saving your expenses on chemicals as a whole. To sum it up, these additional chemicals are often highly recommended for easy and effective pool water treatment.
Keeping Track Of All The Chemical Levels
When treating the pool water, you can’t add all the chemicals at random. There’s a fixed order to maintain, and we’ve discussed this below:
1. pH Levels
pH levels indicate the acidity and alkalinity of your pool water, which affect all the chemicals. So, it’s best to adjust the pH to an optimum level before adding any other chemicals.
If not, water that is too acidic will damage your pool’s surfaces. However, calcium deposits and staining may cause other problems if it’s too basic.
The pH levels also affect the action of chlorine. Thus, keeping the pH levels in check is crucial for treating the pool water.
2. Calcium Levels
Once your test kit shows the calcium levels in the pool, you can add the required calcium to increase or decrease the concentration accordingly. After adding the chemical, check the calcium level of the pool once again.
3. Cyanuric Acid Levels
Cyanuric acid prevents the chlorine in your pool water from burning in the sun so that it can adequately sanitise the pool. Too much cyanuric acid can also render the action of chlorine ineffective. You have to be very careful while adding cyanuric acid to the pool water.
Additionally, stabilised chlorine already contains cyanuric acid. So, if you’re using chlorine pucks, consider that before adding any more of the chemical.
4. Chlorine Levels
Once all the other chemicals are added and adjusted, you can finally add the essential chemical — chlorine. After adding chlorine, let the water circulate for a while, and then use your water testing kit to check the chemical levels one last time.
Treating Your Pool Water
Proper treatment of the pool water is crucial if you want to keep your private pool in the best condition. And as a first-timer, the process might seem like a backbreaking task. But, after going through our article, we hope you have a better idea about how to treat pool water.
As an added tip, we’ll suggest taking extra precautions and safety gear when you’re adding all the chemicals to avoid any health hazards. Also, buy a reliable test kit to check the chemical levels in the water.
And on that note, we’ll be signing off. Take care, and we’ll see you next time!
