The Importance Of Balancing Your Pool's Water Chemistry Before Winter Arrives

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The hazy, lazy days of summer are starting to turn into the darker, colder days of winter, and that means it is time to get your pool ready for the no-swimming days ahead. As someone who has not winterized their pool before, it is important you take a few moments to learn about why water chemistry is important during winter. By doing so, you are less likely to find yourself with a damaged pool next spring.

What Does Unbalanced Water Do To A Pool?

Unlike the regular attention a pool gets during the summer months, once winter arrives your pool sits completely unloved until the days start to warm up again. Because of this, you want to make sure the water in your pool is completely balanced.

To do this, purchase a water testing kit from your local pool store if you don't have one already. You need to adjust the pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness in your pool to the following levels:

  • Alkalinity in the pool should be between 80 and 120 ppm. You want to adjust this first as alkalinity will affect the pH level of your pool. Additionally, low alkaline water can cause corrosion on metal surfaces in your pool, such a light surrounds or pool ladders.
  • The ph level in your pool should be between 7.4 and 7.6 to make your chlorine most effective. You want effective chlorine so your pool water does not become home to bacteria or algae.
  • Calcium hardness should be adjusted until it is between 200 and 400 ppm. By doing this you are reducing the chance of calcium scale building up on the sides of your pool. Calcium scale can stain or eat into the surface of the pool if it is left to sit too long.

If you are not confident about doing this test yourself, arrange for your pool contractor to do it for you and show you the results.

How To Balance The Water

Balancing the water is done in the same way you would do in the summer time, it is just more important to get it right at winter since this is the last treatment your pool will have until spring rolls around again.

Your pool contractor has the chemicals you need to make a difference to the alkalinity, pH level and calcium hardness of your pool. They can also give you advice on the right amount of chemical to use based on your water test results. Soda ash, for example, is added to your pool water to raise the pH level is it is too low.

Since this is your first time winterizing your pool water, it pays to have a professional help you get it right so your pool makes it through the winter undamaged.

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9 May 2016

Salt Water Pools: Pros, Cons and Analyses

Welcome to my blog. My name is Katie, and due to a sensitivity to chlorine, I converted the pool in my yard to a salt water pool. Through the process, I studied a lot about these pools, and I learned their various pros and cons. If you are thinking about installing a pool or hot tub in your yard, you should think about salt water. I invite you to get comfortable and explore this blog. I hope these posts encourage, inspire and inform you so that the next time you are ready to get wet, you have the pool you want and need.