Swimming Pools & Spas

Chlorine is a chemical used in most swimming pools to disinfect the water. Unfortunately, prolonged exposure to strong doses of the chemical can be detrimental to your health. Whether your...

Starting a swimming pool pump after the winter months may take a little priming. Before you begin to reassemble your pool, sweep or hose all debris and dirt from the cover and the deck. Turn the...

Algae is a single-celled plant that is a common problem in swimming pools. Algae comes in a variety of colors and forms and is adaptable to almost any condition. Although most forms are harmless,...

Pool alkalinity can change rapidly with improper maintenance. Properly caring for you pool will help to ensure that your pool water does not become drastically out of balance. This is accomplished...

Clear Comfort is a chlorine-free pool care system. Four products are provided to kill bacteria, prevent algae growth, keep water clear and clean the pool filter. Most dip-and-read test strips...

A pH test is a simple way to test the chlorine and acidity of your swimming pool. These test kits often come with the necessary chemicals to test for pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness....

Algae control in pools is important if you are going to have a pool that you can use anytime that you want. Keeping the pool clean can prevent algae, but sometimes the hot sun and rainstorms can...

Pool-water testing kits are available in two basic types: commercial testing strips and liquid testing kits. In order to maintain the proper balance for your pool's water, testing kits should...

When you open your pool in the spring after it has been closed for the winter, you might notice some green algae floating around. The pool water may even be green. Don't worry, it happens to...

The pH level of the water is one of the most important things to maintain to keep your spa healthy. If you do not maintain it, the water can damage your spa and become uncomfortable for people who...

Algae is a problem for pool owners that can be avoided with proper care of the pool water. However, even the cleanest pool may show signs of green algae that must be treated right away before it...

Balance the chemicals in a swimming pool for the good health of swimmers and structural safety of the pool. Incorrect chemical levels in pool water can cause infections as well as eye and skin...

Green algae seems to blossom in above ground pools in a matter of hours. A pool that was sparkling clean the day before can become green and slimy overnight. Maintaining the proper chemical...

Homeowners with traditional chlorinated pools have many reasons to change to a saltwater pool. While saltwater pools still contain chlorine, the chemical is created by reactions in the pool's...

Testing your pool for chemicals is of the utmost importance. There are basically two types of test kits, the dropper kit and Test Strips.

Swimming pools are great – especially if you live in the Sunbelt (I do). But they’re also a lot of work and expensive to maintain, and costs can jump suddenly if the proper level of chemicals in...

Kids love splashing and making waves in the backyard pool; it is a right of passage. Mom and Dad are also spending more time than they imagined keeping the area safe and clean. Although daunting...

Filling the pool with water is now complete and the kids are ready to swim, all you need is a way to treat that water to keep it clean and healthy. The care and maintenance of a pool includes...

Hot tubs and spas are wonderful for relaxing and they are good for those with arthritis. However, the warm water, if not properly treated and sanitized can breed harmful bacteria and...

Maintaining your hot tub or spa has been made much easier by the pool and spa stores these days. You can take a sample of the water to them, and staff will tell you exactly what to use or not to...

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,...

Frustrated with heading to the pool only to find it cloudy, green or covered with 'undesirables?' Once you get started, keeping the balance may be easier than you think.

Find out if you have the right balance of chemicals in your swimming pool. Learn how to use test strips to determine the balance of chemicals in your swimming pool in this pool care video from our...

Once you have your swimming pool balanced, there are factors constantly at work to change that perfection. Temperature, bather load, splash out and evaporation are all working against you....

Your new spa can provide you and your family with many hours of relaxation. Addressing water quality issues, both initially and on a weekly basis will keep it safe to use. It is not difficult to...

Keeping your swimming pool sparkly clean and germ free relies on the proper use of the pool chemicals. Some sanitize the water, while others keep the proper balance of pH. Knowing how much of each...

When chlorine is placed in water, it has a sanitizing effect and is therefore used in pools where water is not drained or dumped after each use. It is, however, a dangerous chemical where the...

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,...

Testing pool water is a critical step in ensuring the safety of your friends and family as it gets warmer out.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE FROM A FORMER POOL SERVICE PROFESSIONAL Have you been around your pool when it smelled like chlorine. Did your eyes burn after swimming in it? DID YOU THINK THERE WAS TOO MUCH...

If you own a swimming pool, then you'll want to make sure you correctly maintain safe chemical levels in the pool. Use swimming pool test kits to check for the total bromine, chlorine, pH balance...

Magnesium hardness is a measure of the amount of magnesium dissolved in your swimming pool water. It contributes to the overall water hardness: Calcium hardness plus magnesium hardness equals the...

If you maintain a swimming pool, you should keep the chemicals at the appropriate levels. There are many different kits from which to choose and the options can often be confusing, but with a...

Doing a swimming pool acid demand test is one of the many pool maintenance chores you regularly need to do when you have a pool. It is important to maintain the acid or chloric levels in your pool...

There are many ways to check the chemicals in your swimming pool. A professional-quality test kit like the Taylor 2005 can be intimidating, but its instructions are very easy to follow. In no...

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...

Swimming pools must be tested regularly for total alkalinity, which is the ability of the pool water to resist changes in pH. This is sometimes called the buffering capacity of the water, and it's...

Keeping the proper chlorine level in your pool is very important for two reasons. First, chlorine keeps the levels of bacteria that could cause cloudy water and algae growth down. Second, you need...

When you own a swimming pool, you need to keep the water free of algae, dirt and parasites so everyone stays healthy. You want to keep your pool safe and maintaining it is easy when you understand...

Weekly pool cleaning services can be costly. Luckily, cleaning your swimming pool is actually fairly easy when you follow a few simple steps. In fact, you'll probably be surprised at what a good...

Maintaining a swimming pool using bromine is not much different than maintaining a pool using chlorine. You still need to make sure your water is circulating, it's being filtered, and the...