Just like any other big purchases and investments that you have for your families and homes, such as your house or your car, swimming pools also require proper maintenance. You have to practice measures to help ensure that it will last longer, along with being a cleaner and safer pool to swim in. And while you prepare for the upkeep of your pool, you have to know the different swimming pool chemicals that are necessary to be included in the regular pool maintenance.
Maintaining proper water chemistry is one of the most crucial aspects of pool maintenance. When your pool water is out of balance, it can cause damage to your pool equipment and handrails, discomfort to your skin and eyes when swimming, and a reduction in the life of your pool liner, among other things. A lack of maintenance over time can cause you to spend more money on parts than would otherwise be required.
The look, feel, and smell of your pool water can often indicate whether it is balanced. It should be clear, smooth, and free of a strong chlorine odor. Monitoring your pool cleaning chemical levels requires regular testing. You can use a water test kit to take your own chemical readings. Or you can bring a water sample to your local pool store for quick and easy testing. It may appear difficult at first. But once you have finally learned the various swimming pool chemicals, finding the proper balance for silky, clear pool water is simple.
Chlorine
The most common of all the swimming pool chemicals required for the regular upkeep of the pool would be chlorine. Chlorine is a powerful oxidant of unwanted pollutants, as well as a quick and long-lasting sanitizer. To put it another way, chlorine keeps your pool clean, clear, and safe to swim in. It is a halogen-based oxidant often used in swimming pools. They are used to eliminate and deactivate a variety of harmful bacteria and viruses. All of the other chemicals in a swimming pool work together to keep the water in perfect condition for chlorine to do its job.
Chlorine is available in three different forms: liquid, pill, and granular. Pool shocking should be done with liquid or granular chlorine, while pool maintenance should be done with tablets. To keep the levels between 1 and 3 ppm, chlorine should be added on a regular basis. Consider a salt chlorinator to eliminate the inconvenience of regularly adding chlorine liquid or tablets. Salt crystals are converted into chlorine by automated equipment like these, which is then dispensed into your pool water. The water in a salt-chlorinated pool is softer and gentler on your skin.
Bromine
Another type of pool chemical is bromine, which is a less common sanitizer that is similar to chlorine. But then, it tends to be more stable than chlorine indoors and in hot water or high-heat applications like hot tubs and spas. When they are exposed to UV rays from the sun, it do not survive as long as chlorine. Furthermore, it is an alternative that is easier on the skin and has less odor. Bromine also tends to be a more effective chemical in killing algae than chlorine.
Bromine produces compounds referred to as bromamines, which help to keep your pool water clean. Pool owners with sensitive skin may choose bromine over chlorine because it causes less skin and eye discomfort. This is a pool chemical that is available in tablet and granular forms.
Oxidizers
One of the swimming pool chemicals that is also deemed to be a vital component for fighting off the algae and bacteria that grow in swimming pools would be the oxidizers. Oxidizers are secondary sanitizers and shocking agents that can be used every few weeks. This depends on how often you use your pool. It is done along with other pool maintenance measures. It aids in controlling the growth of bacteria and algae in your swimming pool. Its main responsibility would be destroying those organic compounds that are present in your pool, as well as the sanitizer bi-products in it like chloramines and bromamines. Chlorine and non-chlorine oxidizers are in a powdered form, which you can just pour in the pool during the cleaning.
Because there are so many potential contaminants in swimming pool water, many pool owners use non-chlorine oxidizers as a backup to chlorine to keep their pools clean. Chemical shock treatments, such as potassium monopersulfate, can be added as needed to aid in the breakdown of organic pollutants by chlorine. To protect the oxidizer from being destroyed by UV radiation, shock your pool in the evening or at night.
Water Balancers
Vital in the upkeep and maintenance of swimming pools, water balancers, literally from its name, keep the water in balance. Swimming in balanced pool water is clean, healthy, and safe. It also guards against harm to your pool’s structure and equipment. Part of doing so would be testing the pool several times a week for chlorine and pH levels. Then, adjusting them as needed. Then, total alkalinity should be tested every few weeks or more frequently if you have pH issues, while calcium hardness and cyanuric acid levels should be tested once a month.
As a pool owner, you must realize that the water in your pool changes regularly throughout the year. Everything that enters your swimming pool has an impact on the water balance. Therefore, it is your responsibility to maintain that balance.
Key Takeaway
Given that all these swimming pool chemicals are of huge help in cleaning the pool and ensuring that it is free from algae and bacteria, you cannot deny that these alone would not keep your pool clean. You have to clean them extensively by brushing off any grime or dust, and putting the right chemicals in the filter. But then, even if you do not use your pool very often, having all of these swimming pool chemicals on hand ensures that you can immediately solve any issues that will arise. During the busy summer months, when smiling, sun-screened bodies fill the pool and readily affect the water chemistry. Thus, the levels of swimming pool chemicals should be checked more frequently. Pool sanitation systems allow to automate this time-consuming operation and maintain the chemical balance of swimming pools.
