Archive for Balancing Pool Water

Aug
21

Preventing Cloudy Pool Water

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How to prevent and eliminate cloudy water

Cloudy Pool NSPFAs bather loads peak in the summer heat, it is that time of the year again when sparkling clear water can become clouded and unsanitary. What is a pool operator to do? Cloudy water is an indication that the disinfection and filtration systems are not keeping up with the load being placed on them by the number of bathers using the pool. Cloudy water is not just unappealing to the bather. It can also be a health hazard by inducing potential spread of illnesses and decreasing the lifeguards’ ability to see submerged drowning victims. There are many reasons water can become cloudy. Let’s break down the causes, then review the remedies of unsightly and potentially hazardous water. Read More→

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Jan
08

How to Achieve Crystal Clear Pool Water

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When it comes right down to it, there are three basic elements to getting (and keeping) a crystal clear, sparkling pool. Get these three elements under control, and you can enjoy a truly paradise-like, perfect, sparkling pool.

Let these elements get unbalanced and out of whack, and you will be faced with everything from algae growth, to cloudy water, to skin irritation, to chemical stains to scale formation …. and the list could go on and on.

Suffice it to say that with these three key areas, the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not be more accurate! So here are 3 keys to having perfect swimming pool chemistry (and, by extension, to enjoying a perfect, crystal clear, sparkling pool).

Read More→

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Jan
01

Stabilizer Levels

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It is important to keep proper ‘Stabilizer’ (cyanuric acid) levels in all pools. This will allow chlorine to stay in the pool longer, thus, saving chemical cost. It is also important to keep proper ‘Stabilizer’ levels in pools using Chlorine Salt Generators. This will allow chlorine to stay in the pool longer, thus, will not unnecessary overwork the generator.

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Alkalinity in pools is an extremely important topic as it’s what helps  prevent sudden pH changes. Total alkalinity is a measure of alkaline substances  in this case, ionic compounds, that act as buffers that resist pH change.

Don’t worry, this is just a bunch of chemistry and scientific mumbo jumbo  that you really don’t need to know. What is important to understand is that  alkalinity helps stabilize the pH balance in your pool, and keeping it within  normal range can save you a lot of headaches as well as solve a lot of  problems.

The recommended range for a swimming pool’s total alkalinity is between 80  and 120 parts per million. Any good pool testing kit will let you determine the  range, and it’s important to test often.

So, when it comes to alkalinity there are really only 3 states in can be in:  Too High, Too Low and Just Right.

Low Alkalinity With low alkalinity your pH levels can swing back  and forth between too high, and too low. It’s not uncommon for these numbers to  shift drastically causing an unbalance in your pools pH.

Some problems that are associated with this include: -Chlorine  inefficiency -Metal Corrosion -Pool Staining -Scale

You can easily raise a pool’s alkalinity by using a chemical called sodium  bicarbonate which is, baking soda. The recommended dosage is 1.5 pounds of  sodium bicarbonate per 10,000 gallons of water. If you’re unsure how much water  you have you can find a good estimate by using this formula: Read More→

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Oct
07

Stains on Swimming Pool Surfaces Due to Metals

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Most, but unfortunately not all, staining on pool surfaces are preventable.  The problem is most people don’t realize they have metals in their water.  Even  trace amounts of these metals (iron, copper, manganese, cobalt, silver) can  cause staining.  In fact there’s enough copper in ONE penny to completely stain  an average sized swimming pool!  Obviously, the conditions have to be right.   This is where prevention & good, proper pool care come into play.

Here’s what happens:  metals come into your pool whenever fresh, make-up  water is added.  They’re dissolved in the water.  Whether it’s municipal water  or well water, metals can be present.  As the metals accumulate, the greater the  chance that they will eventually come out of solution.  Once out of solution,  they make the water cloudy or worse, they “plate out” on the pool’s surfaces & stain.  Metals can come out of solution through a variety of ways.  But  there’s 2 that typically happen.

When a pool is shocked whether with chlorine or a non-chlorine oxidizer, the  shock oxidizes everything in the water, including metals.  Oxidized metals  become “rust” in the case of iron or “Verdi gris” in the case of copper.

In the second way, metals come out of solution or are left “exposed” when the  pH, Total Alkalinity and/or Calcium Hardness are left unchecked & allowed to  go low (pH below 7.2, Total Alkalinity below 80 ppm [non-Pristine Blue pools],  Calcium Hardness below 100 ppm).  The water becomes aggressive & the metals  are more susceptible to oxidation.  In many cases, pool-owners don’t properly  test their water & more likely rely on the “look” of the water (the water’s  clear, everything must be alright).  This is typically the case with blonde hair  turning green – low pH helps bring copper out of solution & “plates” it out  on the person’s hair!  Then people blame the chlorine!  It’s the copper in the  water.

When it comes to testing, remember that you can only test for metals when  they are in solution.  Once oxidized, the metals come out of solution &  cannot be tested.  That’s why once a metal stain has occurred, the metal test  will NOT show any metals present.

Here’s how to prevent metal stains: Read More→

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Sep
11

Purpose and Application of Conditioner

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Conditioner or stabilizer is an essential chemical used in the proper disinfection of swimming pools. Its chemical name is cyanuric acid and it forms a protective bond around the chlorine, making it more resistant to being burned off by the sun. This chemical is typically added during the spring months, but pools with high water loss will also need to be reconditioned throughout the summer. This is a very expensive chemical and we ask that you DO NOT backwash or clean your filter for a few days after this chemical has been added. Pools should also be stabilized whenever large amounts of fresh water are added. It will sometimes appear as a white powdered substance on the bottom of the swimming pool, but will dissipate after a few days (brushing helps).

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Jacks
CPO

Providing Pool Cleaning and Service to Palm Beach County:

Hypoluxo, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Lantana, Manalapan, Loxahatchee, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Shores, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Tequesta, Wellington, and West Palm Beach.