Above Ground Pool Chemicals For Dummies

Learn everything you need to know about above ground pool chemicals below!

Above Ground Pool Chemicals

Some work ahead of time will mean a lot fewer corrective measures later when the pool becomes teeming with algae, and/or so imbalanced, the only fix is to drain the pool completely and start over. Whereas keeping the pool clean and sanitized might not be the most enjoyable of tasks, but they are also not hard.

All you need is a little fundamental pool chemistry knowledge, the correct equipment and materials, and a want to maintain your pools cleanliness to keep it swimmable. Let’s take a look at the most common above ground pool chemicals below.

Shock

Pool Shock cleans your pool when the sanitizer is overloaded, following heavy rainfall, or after a large number of individuals have been in the pool (for instance a pool party). Shocking the pool removes bacteria without shifting the chlorine levels and goes a long way in maintaining its balance. It can be easily forgotten to shock your pool, but a good pool owner will check sanitizer levels, prior to shocking the pool.

Chlorine

Chlorine is responsible for killing any algae and bacteria. This chemical can come in many forms, including tablet, liquid and powder. When the pool water reacts with chlorine, it forms hydrochloric acid. This compound ultimately fights off bacteria.

Algaecide

Algaecides are used to put an end of algae growth in the pool and to stop upsurges from occurring in the first place.

Cyanuric Acid

Cyanuric acid will slow the sun from decomposing the present chlorine in the pool water. However, there is a limited amount of this acid that can be added to a pool. If your chlorine already includes cyanuric acid, then it is not necessary to add any more acid. Water balance is achieved at a neutral level of 7.0.

pH Balancers

pH balancers are used to sustain healthy pH ranges in your pool, in which is vital to the pool’s overall health.

Bromine

This is an alternative chemical to chlorine. It is typically used to treat hot tub water. Bromine will work better in water featuring a higher pH level.

Sanitizer

Sanitizers are probably the most vital chemical you can use to kill off bacteria and to keep viruses, algae, and other impurities from developing in the pool water. The 2 most general sanitizers are bromine and chlorine.

Clarifier

Clarifier will work by trapping particles within the filter. This agent can contain numerous chemicals, which include crab shell extracts, enzymes and ammonium chloride.

Calcium Chloride

Pools need to reach a minimum level of calcium hardness before molecules begin to look elsewhere for minerals. This chemical is applied to increase overall calcium hardness.

Hardness Balancers

Hardness balancers are intended to keep your swimming pool in the ideal 200 – 300 ppm (parts per million) range of Calcium Hardness.

Alkalinity Balancers

Alkalinity balancers are utilized to keep a safer total alkalinity range for an enjoyable swimming experience.

Why Do I Need Chemicals For My Above Ground Pool?

Being a pool owner, it’s your responsibility to use the correct chemical care to maintain a healthy body swimming pool for you, your family and your visitors. An unhealthy pool may result in health issues and cause harm to those who swim in it.

How To Add Pool Chemicals

For the safety of your loved ones, it’s crucial that your pool is maintained as an algae and bacteria-free environment. In order to properly maintain the water, pool chemicals need to be added regularly. This may seem like a tough task, but it is quite simple. A pool owner simply needs to know which chemicals to use, when to use them and how long to wait between adding these chemicals.

As mentioned above, the necessary wait time between adding chemicals is at least 10 minutes. Under normal conditions, you will able to swim in the water about 10 minutes after all chemicals have been applied.

Turning your pump on high while slowly pouring the chemical mix in front of the return is the recommended way to add chemicals. Turning the pump on low while adding chemicals will make for a longer process overall.

What To Avoid When Adding Pool Chemicals

Ensure you are avoiding the following situations while adding pool chemicals:

• Avoid adding chemicals at the same time and mixing chlorine/muriatic acid. The interaction of these two chemicals will produce a toxic gas, which poses numerous health risks.
• Wait at least 24 hours before adding chemicals after adding Calcium Hypochlorite to the water. This could alter their pH, leading to cloudy water.
• Simply remember to NEVER mix pool chemicals with one another.
• Trichlor and Cal Hypo, two chlorinating agents, should never be mixed together. Explosions can be created when these two agents are combined.