Pool Care Hints 
From The Most Trusted Name In Water Testing, 
Taylor Technologies

"I Never Liked Chemistry"

A Little Water Chemistry For A Lot Of Fun!

As the owner of a pool/spa, endless hours entertainment, recreation, and relaxation await you. Moreover, these benefits will be enhanced by maintaining your pool/spa in tip-top shape.

Caring for your pool/spa will become a routine and pleasure part of your daily activity. You will be able to keep your pool/spa water clear and healthy, and maintain your pool/spa equipment in excellent condition.

Of course, learning to use treatment chemicals economically and effectively requires some understanding of water chemistry. Even though you may say "I Never Liked Chemistry", you'll see how the application of a little water chemistry can add up to... a lot of fun.

It's really rather easy, so ... let's begin!

Table of Contents

• Pool/Spa Capacity - it's important
  
• Circulation/Filtration - must be efficient
  
• Testing - your key to beautiful, sparkling water
  
• Balanced Water - it's easy to protect your pool/spa
  • pH
  • Total Alkalinity
  • Calcium Hardness
• Clean Water - it's easy to protect bathers
  • Chlorine
  • Bromine
• Shock Treatment - the miracle cure
  
• Easy Problem - Solving
  • What Causes Loss Of Disinfectant?
  • What Causes Cloudy Water?
  • What Causes Colored Water?
  • What Causes Stains?
• Lets Review
  • Summary of Tests
• Your Pool / Spa Data

Pool / Spa Capacity - it's important

Capacity is the number of gallons of water a pool / spa contains. By knowing the capacity of your pool / spa, you will be able to select a properly sized filter and pump. In addition, you will be able to add the correct amount of treatment chemicals to obtain balanced, clean water.

To calculate capacity, find the average depth and refer to the appropriate formula below. Make all measurements in feet. If your pool / spa has an irregular shape or sloping sides, ask your POOL/SPA DEALER to help you calculate capacity.

1st Determine Average Depth (in feet)
(Depth at shallow end + Depth at deep end) divided by 2 = Avg. Depth

2nd Determine Average Pool/Spa Capacity

Rectangular / Square Formula
Length x Width x Avg. Depth x 7.5 = Gallon of water

Oval / Round Formula

Circulation / Filtration - must be efficient

Your pool's / spa's circulation system contains a filter and pump. Together, these components function to provide uniform distribution of treatment chemicals and removal of algae, dirt, dust, and leaves. Thus, a good circulation system works in harmony with treatment chemicals to keep your pool's / spa's water clean.

To be efficient, the circulating system needs to be operated for the proper amount of time each day, and maintained in superb condition. You can care for this system simply by following the filter and pump manufacturer's recommendations.

Should problems arise, consult your POOL / SPA DEALER. He or she can assist with any difficulties you may encounter.

The pool/spa circulation systems is important in removing wastes such as dust, dirt, algae, etc.


Testing - your key to beautiful, sparkling water

Beautiful, sparkling water excites the senses, inviting one to experience its pleasure's. Furthermore, it suggests to us that water in this condition is balanced and clean.

Your key to obtaining and maintaining water exceptional quality is TESTING. By testing, you will be able to balance water, to disinfect water, to maintain your pool /spa in splendid condition... year after year. Setting up a testing schedule will ensure a good testing routine.

Testing is easy. All that you need is an accurate, reliable test kit. If you choose a BASIC test kit which only tests pH and disinfectant levels, occasionally take a water sample to your POOL / SPA DEALER to have water balance tests performed. On the other hand, you may elect to use a more COMPLETE test kit which enables you to test for disinfectant, pH, acid demand, base demand, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and stabilizer... all the tests necessary for you to personally maintain balanced, clean water. It's also a good idea to take a sample of your pool / spa water to your POOL / SPA DEALER at the beginning and end of each pool / spa season.

Tips On Storing & Using Your Test Kit

• Store in a cool, dark place
• Store away from heater
• Store away from pool / spa chemicals
• Use your test kit on a regular basis
• Follow directions precisely
• Obtain water samples far below water surfaces
• Take samples at same time of day
• Rinse sample cells before and after each use
• Hold reagent bottle in a vertical position when dispensing
• Replace the reagents each pool / spa season

Balanced Water - It's easy to protect your pool / spa

Up to this point, you have been told that balanced water is important. However, you really need to know what it is, why it's important, and how to do it.Balanced water is water that will neither corrode nor scale pool / spa surfaces and equipment.

Balanced water ensures that pool / spa plaster will not be etched and that metal pipes and heater elements will not be corroded. Also, balanced water protects pool / spa surfaces, pipes, and heater elements from unsightly scale deposits which reduce the efficiency of pool / spa equipment.

You can obtain balanced water by correctly adjusting a few chemical components in the water. Specifically, you will need to adjust pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness.

pH

Measured on a scale that runs from 0 to 14, pH indicates whether water is neutral, acidic, or basic. For example, the drawing below shows that a pH equal to 7.0 is neutral, a pH below 7.0 is acidic, and a pH above 7.0 is basic.

Recommended Range

7.2 to 7.6

Potential Problems

pH Too Low

• Corrodes surfaces & equipment
• Etches plaster & concrete surfaces
• Excess sanitizer use
• Irritates bather's skin & eyes

pH Too High

• Scale deposits on surfaces & equipment
• May contribute to cloudy water
• Poor sanitizer efficiency
• Eye irritation

Testing

When to test: Daily

A pH test is usually done by color comparison. Simply fill a test cell with pool / spa water, add a pH indicator, and compare the developed color to color standards. Be sure to follow your test kit's instructions and test pH daily.

Adjusting

To raise pH, perform a Base Demand test and add sodium carbonate according to the table provided. To lower pH, do an Acid Demand test and add either muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate as the appropriate table indicates. If your test kit doesn't have tests for Acid and base Demand, take a sample to your POOL / SPA DEALER.

Please note that adjusting pH can change your pool / spa water's total alkalinity. Therefore, it may be advisable to contact your POOL / SPA DEALER for additional guidance if pH adjustments are necessary.

To Raise pH With Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate)

To Lower pH With Muriatic Acid (Hydrochloric Acid - 20 degrees Baume')

To Lower pH With dry Acid (Sodium Bisulfate)

Total Alkalinity

There are minerals in your pool's / spa's water that act as buffering agents. Total Alkalinity is the measurement of these alkaline materials that help prevent changes in pH, which could result in corrosion and staining. If you want to save your pool / spa and pool / spa equipment, and also save money on treatment chemicals, then try to maintain the correct amount of total alkalinity in your pool's / spa's water. This will keep the water's pH consistent, while allowing for economical pH adjustments when necessary.

For example, at low total alkalinity levels, the water's pH easily drifts, making frequent pH adjustments necessary and more treatment chemical expense. On the other hand, high total alkalinity levels keep the water's pH rigidly fixed. Consequently, if pH adjustments are necessary, you will need to use an unusually large amount of treatment chemical to change the water's pH. Again, at more expense to you.

If total alkalinity is too low, the pH may easily fluctuate (go from high pH, to low pH, and back again). This is referred to as "pH bounce".

Recommended Range

80 to 120 ppm

Potential Problems

Total Alkalinity Too Low

• pH difficult to maintain - it drifts
• Corrosion tendencies

Total Alkalinity Too High

• pH difficult to adjust - it remains fixed
• Cloudy water
• potential for scaling
• High pH and low sanitizer efficiency - sanitizer is pH dependent

Testing
When to test: Weekly

Testing for total alkalinity is done by drop test. Fill the test cell with pool / spa water, dechlorinate the sample with Thiosulfate, add the Total Alkalinity indicator, add drops to titrant from a dropper bottle until the color changes from green to red. Then, multiply the number of drops of titrant used by ten to get parts per million (ppm) total alkalinity.

Ideally, you should test for total alkalinity weekly. But, if you are not equipped to perform this test, ask your POOL / SPA DEALER to periodically run this analysis for you.

Adjusting
Total alkalinity can be raised with sodium bicarbonate or lowered with either muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate. Adjustment tables have been provided for your convenience.

However, please be cautioned that total alkalinity adjustments can alter your pool / spa water's pH. For this reason, consult with your POOL / SPA DEALER before attempting to make total alkalinity adjustments yourself.

To Raise Total Alkalinity With Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)

To Lower Total Alkalinity With Muriatic Acid
(Hydrochloric Acid - 20 Degree baume')

To Lower Total Alkalinity With Dry Acid (Sodium Bisulfate)

Calcium Hardness