| Last but not least it's water chemistry. Pool water | | | | they wonder why they use so much chlorine. |
| chemistry IS easy - just 4 simple steps: Before we | | | | Shocking puts the sparkle back in the pool water. |
| look at these 4 steps, please remember that you | | | | Shocking breaks up the waste that attaches onto |
| don't have to be a certified chemist to operate your | | | | the sanitizer & prevents it from doing its job. |
| home swimming pool! Many of the Pool water | | | | Shocking is a good thing to do before a party to |
| chemical programs available are pool owner & | | | | prevent icky water from developing while the party |
| consumer friendly. These pool care programs, no | | | | is going on AND after to eliminate all of the "stuff" |
| matter which one you choose, was designed with | | | | that got left behind. In bromine pools, the shock |
| your safety & enjoyment in mind. As long as | | | | recharges the bromine to make it last longer. |
| you can "follow the program, " pool water care is | | | | Use the appropriate type of shock for your pool. |
| easy & shouldn't take much more than 5 - 10 | | | | BioGuard® Burn Out Extreme® or Smart |
| minutes (including clean up) each week to accomplish | | | | Shock® for chlorine & bromine pools - every |
| this task. Although similar, Water Chemistry & | | | | 1 to 2 weeks. Soft Swim® "C" or formulated |
| Water Testing go hand in hand & you can't do | | | | hydrogen peroxide for biguanide (Soft Swim® or |
| one without the other. | | | | Baquacil®) treated pools - typically shocking |
| Here are the 4 Steps to Pool Water Chemistry : | | | | every 3 to 4 weeks. Pools that use ionizers such as |
| | | | Nature2® should use the chlorine shocks |
| 1. Maintain a constant level of sanitizer in the pool. | | | | mentioned above or BioGuard® Easy Shock |
| Slow dissolving chlorine sticks or tablets; proper level | | | | & Swim®. Shock the pool at start-up or |
| of biguanide (Soft Swim); bromine; salt level. | | | | opening (even if the chlorine or bromine level is good) |
| 2. Shock the pool weekly or at a minimum every 2 | | | | to oxidize & neutralize contaminants that have |
| weeks (biguanides shock every 3 to 4 weeks). | | | | hung in over the winter. After that follow a regular |
| Shocking oxidizes un-filterable wastes & breaks | | | | schedule. |
| up chloramines that lead to cloudy water, algae, | | | | 3. Add algicide weekly or at least every 2 weeks to |
| smelly pools & red eyes. | | | | prevent algae growth. A good quality algicide |
| 3. Add algicide weekly or at least every 2 weeks to | | | | (concentrates sold in quart sizes with active |
| prevent algae growth. A good quality algicide | | | | ingredients of at least 40% - plus look for the |
| (concentrates sold in quart sizes) backs up the | | | | highest level of carbon 14 - at least 58%) backs up |
| chlorine or sanitizer in case it is exhausted due to | | | | the chlorine or sanitizer in case it is exhausted due to |
| heavy bather load or heavy rain | | | | heavy bather load or heavy rain. |
| 4. Maintain good water balance. Without good water | | | | Good quality algicides such as BioGuard® Back |
| balance, the sanitizer doesn't work properly or | | | | Up® or Algae All 60® are also good |
| efficiently. The water can become cloudy (high pH) | | | | surfactants. Surfactants are chemicals that like to |
| or aggressive (low pH - water is often times really | | | | cling to or hang around surfaces. They help to make |
| clear). You'll also protect your friends & family | | | | the water "wetter". Because they like surfaces, they |
| who use your pool. | | | | stay where algae likes to grow. |
| 1. Maintain a constant level of Sanitizer in the Pool - | | | | Not using an algaecide on a regular basis is asking for |
| What does that mean? It means to constantly keep | | | | trouble somewhere down the line. You could have a |
| a good, solid level or chlorine, bromine, biguanide or | | | | beautiful clear, blue pool one day, then it rains & |
| other sanitizer level in the pool water at all times. | | | | it has been transformed into a green monster - and |
| Chlorine: 1.0 - 2.0 ppm; Bromine: 2.0 - 6.0 ppm; | | | | you have a pool party in 3 hours! Regular shocking |
| Biguanide: 30 - 50 ppm; Pristine Blue: 0.5 - 1.0 ppm. | | | | & algaecide would have prevented that sorry |
| When maintained at those levels, bacteria & | | | | mess. |
| algae are kept under control. The water feels & | | | | 4. Maintain good water balance. Without good water |
| smells clean. Higher levels of sanitizers is typically | | | | balance, the sanitizer doesn't work properly or |
| unnecessary unless recommended by your Pool | | | | efficiently. The water can become cloudy (high pH) |
| Professional in certain circumstances such as pool | | | | or aggressive (low pH - water is often times really |
| parties. Slow-dissolving Chlorine such as | | | | clear). You'll also protect your friends & family |
| BioGuard® Silk Tabs®, Silk Sticks® & | | | | who use your pool. Learn more about Good Water |
| Smart Sticks® can be applied to the pool through | | | | Balance with Key 4 - Water Testing. |
| the skimmer or an automatic chlorinator. How about | | | | As an option that will save you from a variety of |
| Granular chlorines? They work well, but you do have | | | | pool care problems (algae, cloudy water, water |
| to add these products every day. | | | | balancing), consider using a borate or boric acid based |
| Chlorine floaters aren't recommend because they can | | | | product such as BioGuard® Optimizer Plus®. |
| be tossed out of the pool or get stuck causing a | | | | Optimizer Plus®, when used properly, suppresses |
| concentration in one area of the pool. Bromine must | | | | algae growth, helps allow the sanitizer to do a better |
| always be dispensed using a brominator. Biguanides | | | | job at killing bacteria, acts an additional buffer for the |
| such as BioGuard® Soft Swim® or copper | | | | pH & Total Alkalinity making water balance |
| based products such as Pristine Blue® are both | | | | simpler. Optimizer Plus® is added at the start of |
| liquids that typically added only once every 2 weeks | | | | the season & is topped up as needed. Optimizer |
| or so. | | | | Plus® is great to use in ANY pool, with any |
| 2. Shock the pool weekly or at a minimum every 2 | | | | sanitizing system. |
| weeks (biguanides shock every 3 to 4 weeks). | | | | By following all 4 of these steps, from pool opening |
| Shocking oxidizes un-filterable wastes & breaks | | | | to pool closing, you will virtually guarantee you and |
| up chloramines that lead to cloudy water, algae, | | | | your family a crystal clear, sparkling blue pool all |
| smelly pools & red eyes. | | | | season long. Not only that but you'll add life to the |
| Pool owners who don't regularly shock their pool | | | | pool and its equipment as well. |
| (they think they're saving money) always end up | | | | Remember to follow the other 5 Keys to Pool Care. |
| with bad, cloudy water & algae problems and | | | | They're just as important. |