How to Use Swimming Pool Chemicals

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 chemical is needed is the key to keeping the water clean. Learning how to use a pool chemical test kit and how certain weather affects the pool's chemical balance is the easiest way to keep up with chemicals. This is easy to learn and will take only a few minutes each day to analyze.

Things You'll Need

• Pool chemical test kit
• Chlorine
• pH balance chemicals
• Algaecide
• Chelating agent
• Chlorine-administering basket or chlorinator

Instructions

Use Swimming Pool Chemicals

1. Test chlorine and pH levels once a week or more often during extremely hot or sunny weather. Fill test kit with water from the top of the pool after back washing. Using drops or tablets in the test water, determine if chlorine is needed and if the pH is balanced. If chlorine is needed, the color of the test water will tell you how much to put in. The color of the pH test water will tell you if you need to add pH plus or pH negative. Let the water filter for a few hours and test again to make sure the correct amount was added. To keep the level of chlorine from dropping below recommended levels, you can use a basket that holds chlorine tablets in your pool and dissolves them slowly, or you can hook up an automatic chlorinator to your pool's filtering and pump system.

2. Check the pool for any staining, such as rust or a metal-color stain. If none is present, than you don't need to test for metals. If you do see stains, then you will need a chelating agent. These chemicals may be called various names at your local pool store, so ask for a metal coagulant or chelating agent to clump the metals together. They can then be vacuumed or filtered out of the water.

3. If you are having problems with the water turning green and feeling slimy, you have an algae problem. This can happen in very rainy or humid weather. It can also be a result of improper pH balance and not enough chlorine. Use an algaecide and follow the manufacturer's or pool store's recommendations as to how much to use. As soon as it is cleared up, make sure to return your water to the proper balance.