Pool Tips
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Swimming Pool and Spa Safety
Safety tip
To add granular chemicals, mix them first in a bucket by adding the gradules to the water.
Never pour water on top of granules because they are likely to splash out and can cause serious injury
Forms of chlorine
Sodium Hypochlorite – available in liquid form and contains about 12-15% free chlorine
Calcium Hypochlorite – availble in granular form and contains about 65-70% free chlorine
Dichlor – available in tablet form (disolves quickly) and contains about 60% free chlorine
Trichlor – available in tablet form (disolves slowly) and contains about 90% free chlorine
Factors that affect chlorine / disinfectants
Bathing load – more swimmers require more chlorine
Sunlight – weakens chlorine
Water temperature – warmer water shortens the life of many pools chemicals
Wind & rain – carry unwanted material into the pool
PH balance – high pH levels reduce the effectiveness of chlorine
Total alkalinity – low TA makes it difficult to adjust pH
TDS – high levels on Total Dissolved Solids reduce the effectiveness of chlorine
Common Pool Problems
Strong chlorine smell / Eye irritation
Reason: Low pH, chloramines present, chlorine levels too low
Action required:
Check and adjust pH
Superchlorinate
Maintain correct pH and total alkalinity levels
Maintain correct free available chlorine levels
Green Pool / Algae present
Reason: pH too low or high. Ineffective chlorine
Action required:
Check and adjust pH
Superchlorinate and floc
Vacuum to waste (next day) then resume filtering