Tip:To make efficient use of your swimming pool chemicals, managing good water balance is the main factor

Before adding swimming pool chemicals it is important that you read and familiarise yourself with the workings of your spa / pool and support equipment. A clear, clean fresh spa or pool is only possible if you have good filtration and clear water flow

The first step in treatment is to ensure good water balance, which will create the right conditions for bather comfort, chemical efficiency and equipment protection. There are three major factors affecting water balance, they are pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness

Calcium hardness

Hardness is the measurement of calcium salts in the swimming pool or spa water and this will vary depending where you live. Low calcium hardness levels (soft water) can lead to corrosion of the materials of construction. Hard water (water high in calcium) can lead to limescale foriming in your pipes and equipment
Calcium Hardness Guide Measures
•    Ideal calcium hardness levels are between 100 – 200 ppm (mg/l).
•    When the level is below 75 ppm (mg/l), apply Hardness Plus
•    When the measurement exceeds 200 ppm (mg/l), apply Scale Inhibitor.

pH Measures

pH can range from 1 to 14 where 1 is very acid and 14 very alkaline It is essential to maintain spa water within the 7.2 – 7.6 range which, because it is slightly alkaline, will protect equipment from corrosion and provide the optimum conditions for the people enjoying the pool or spa and also ensures  the best sanitiser efficiency.
•    Ideal pH level for spas is between 7.2 – 7.6.
•    When the level is below use pH Plus
•    When the measurement is greater than 7.6 apply pH Minus
Note
pH can be tricky to manage in spas as the system water turns over fast, is very agitated and is at higher temperature than swimming pool systems. [All these factors

pH rises can be caused by this which causes chlorine products such as chlorine shock to lose effectiveness. Much higher doses of chlorine sanitisers such as will then be required. avoid this problem by using Bromine. Bromine works effectively over a wider pH range than chlorine Unlike chlorine, bromine keeps working in a spa for longer and so helps you minimise your spa chemicalsuse

Total Alkalinity

pH Changes are buffered by total alkalinity If TA levels are too low the pH will fluctuate widely.
If Total alkalinity is too high then water clarity can be affected but it also makes it difficult to make changes to water pH levels
•    optimum Total Alkalinity is 100 ppm (mg/l) When it is below 80mg/l use Alkalinity Plus
•    When Total Alkalinity is above 140mg/l remedy it with pH Minus to reduce it
You should definitely check your water balance on a regular basis as it is the basis for your other chemical treatments

Use Test strips to measure your water balance, they are very easy to use

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If you're lucky enough to own a private swimming pool, spa or hot tub. Then you'll know that it's essential to keep your pool clean to use. To do this, you have to use swimming pool chemicals. Most people will know about pool chemicals, but do they know how potentially dangerous they can be?

Swimming pool chemicals can be dangerous, and even deadly. On January 14th at Clear Lake High School in Texas, 5 workers were taken to hospital after one of the 5, a contractor, mixed 2 chemicals together. The gases given off by the chemicals gave the contractor a head ache. He and four other school employees were sent to hospital.

Another example, which had the potential to harm alot more than 5 people, was in Ceres, a home depot store. The store was evactuated after a fire began in the Garden Center part of the store. The fire then spread to pool chemical containers which were then damaged, releasing toxic fumes into the store. Chlorine and other chemicals were released, however, the fire was contained thanks to the stores sprinkler system.

Only one person was injured due to the fumes, however, if the sprinkler system has not proven to be affective, then the fire could have become even more serious as more chemicals became involved.

These 2 stories show how dangerous and lethal swimming pool chemicals can be. So, how can you protect your family from these chemicals.

Here are a few tips to help you stay safe when using and storing pool chemicals:

• Never smoke when using pool chemicals.
• Never mix chemicals.
• Wear protective glasses when handling pool chemicals.
• Store the chemicals in a cool, dry space and out of direct sunlight.
• Make sure the chemicals are out of the reach of pets and children.
• Never store the chemicals above an adults head height.
• Always store liquid chemicals below powder chemicals.
• After handling pool chemicals, always wash your hands.

Those were just a few tips on how you can help to protect yourself and your family from the dangers of swimming pool chemicals.

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If you have been lucky in life and been able to buy your own swimming pool, spa or hot tub. You will know the importance of having a filtration system within your pool.

Due to the importance of having a filter in your pool. You should always ensure that it is working, if your filtration system stops working without you knowing, your pool could soon become dangerous to use and maybe even deadly.

The first sign that your filter system has stopped working is that dirt will begin to collect at the bottom of the pool, this is simply because the pool is not being cleaned by the filter system, maybe not dangerous or life threatening, but certainly not pleasant to swim in.

The biggest reason why your filter system should always stay active is to circulate the swimming pool chemicals, such as chlorine. If your filtration system stops working, the chlorine, used to kill bacteria, within your pool can stop circulating, this means that chlorine can collect in the pool, making it cloudy to view. However, cloudy water wouldn't be your only worry, because the amount of chlorine has risen, it becomes very dangerous and potentially deadly.

Because chlorine is designed to kill bacteria, if it's in high concentration, it can become poisonous and can damage your skin.

So, as you have seen, keeping your pool filter working can be life saving, however, if you have a pool filter or are going to get one, make sure that you have a drain cover on the filter. If you don't then this too can become a hazard. If a person gets sucked into the filter, it can seriously injure or even tear someone apart due to the force of the filter.

These are just a few tips that you should follow for maintaining your swimming pool and keeping it safe to use.

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