Swimming Pools & Spas

Swimming pools develop calcium scale buildup if the water's calcium hardness is high (above 250 parts per million). Calcium deposits have a white, caked-on look and appear on tile work and stone...

Hot tubs, like swimming pools, rely on free chlorine to kill algae and bacteria. The chlorine attacks the water molecules, displacing some of the oxygen, which then kills the anaerobic organisms...

Calcium hypochlorite is a chemical compound, similar to bleach, that is often used in water treatment processes. This chemical is also known as hypochlorous acid, calcium salt and chlorinated lime.

Saltwater chlorine generators use electrolysis of salt molecules to generate chlorine. Unfortunately, the electrolysis causes calcium ions and other mineral salts to build up on the cathode...

Minerals from water can leave deposits on your gunite swimming pool and build up rather quickly. Calcium is the most common mineral deposited on swimming pool walls, leaving thick white spots on...

Owning a swimming pool can be a great property investment and fun for the family. During the hot days of summer, you can relax and cool off in your swimming pool or use it as a form of exercise....

When your pool tiles show signs of white deposits, it is an indicator of high calcium in your water. They key to controlling calcium deposits is to prevent them from forming. If your pool has...

Hardness or calcium hardness refers to the total amount of minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, etc...) that are present in the fill water. The ideal range for hardness is 150ppm-250ppm, not...

Swimming pools are a popular form of enjoyment and relaxation. They come in all shapes, sizes and building materials, but all require the initial addition of chemicals along with weekly...

Pool chemicals are required to create a balance of chemistry within the pool water to control pH, acidity, alkalinity, water clarity, metals, algae and bacteria. Filtration systems, such as sand...

A clean, sparkling swimming pool can be an exciting and enjoyable amenity for your home. You’ll be able to shrug off even the hottest days of a long, sweltering summer. Maintaining the crystal...

Chlorine is nothing more than the sanitizer of your pool. Swimming pool chlorine is the most widely used and one of the more cost effective ways for disinfecting your pool. Using pool chlorine...

Fiberglass swimming pool maintenance is similar, in many ways, to the maintenance of other types of pools. Like all pools, chemical balance is the key to keeping the water safe and enjoyable....

No matter how clean and sparkling clear you keep your pool water, if the pool tile looks dirty or has a dingy white film along the water line, it spoils the whole effect. With a little effort and...

Spa water is in limited quantity, measuring in the hundreds of gallons range. You must balance the water's chemistry each week throughout the three-month duration it is in use. After that time,...

Chemicals need to be added to spa water for various reasons. Some of them are used to alter the water's chemistry, enabling sanitizers and oxidizers to work properly. Other chemicals are used to...

Your swimming pool should be an oasis for you, your family and friends throughout the swimming season. It should not only look as good as it can through proper maintenance, but it should feel and...

Super chlorination is the process of sanitizing pool water with a large dose of chlorine. Weekly sanitizing maintains water that is free from disease and parasites. Chloramines are formed in your...

The water in your swimming pool is made up of different properties. For example, it is wet to the touch and can be either warm or cold. However, the chemical properties of water on a molecular...

Chlorine used to be the primary way of sanitizing pool water until the early 1980s, when a chlorine alternative named Baquacil was developed and introduced into the marketplace. This alternative...

Calcium is a key element of the chemical treatment for your swimming pool water. Learn how to test the PH balance of your swimming pool water in this pool care video from our swimming pool expert.

Swimming pools must have calcium. If you do not provide it, the water will start to break down the vinyl liner or PVC pipe and extract the calcium.

Since leaves have a tendency to accumulate in the center of the pool floor, start the cleaning exercise by attacking that area first. Place your pole and vacuum-head in that area with the filter...

Swimming pools have long been a source of recreation and relaxation for families across the country. In order to remain usable, however, regular swimming pool maintenance must be performed...

There are certain chemicals that are used in spas to keep them clean and healthy. It can be confusing trying to figure out which ones to use and when. It really isn't that complicated, though,...

A pool is a great addition to a home, and regular maintenance will keep the water in prime condition for swimming. Chlorine is the most common disinfectant used in swimming pools, but it is highly...

A swimming pool in your backyard is great fun for the entire family. To keep your swimming pool water clean and crystal clear, maintain the proper chemical balance. Test your swimming pool water...

Water is considered "hard" when calcium is present in high levels. Built-in pools are susceptible to damage from calcium salts in the water. If the calcium levels are too low, water can leach the...

Swimming pools require calcium. Swimming pool scale, however, results from high amounts of calcium and/or silicate deposits. Scale adheres to walls, floors, plumbing and heat exchangers. High...

Calcium hardness measures the mixture of all the chemicals in your pool, including sodium and magnesium. The level for calcium hardness is 200-400 ppm. If you go lower than this level, your pool...

If your pool shows signs of calcium deposits, it could be an indicator of high calcium concentration. One possible cause is the water consistency. If you have hard water it can cause an...