Pool Chemicals 101: The Complete Guide for Beginner’s

Having a pool is, without a doubt, one of the luxuries in life. But like anything, pools require a little bit of work and regular maintenance to keep them in good shape. The best way to keep your pool clean and looking its best is by using the appropriate chemicals to kill any bacteria and algae that form in the water; in fact, this is the only way to keep your pool operable.

In this article, we will go over everything you need to know about pool chemicals, including why you should use pool chemicals, the most common pool chemicals, how often you should use them, and the sorts of problems you can avoid by doing so.

The importance of using pool chemicals

It would be nice if you could just fill your pool up with water and enjoy it without having to do any more work, add any chemicals, or worry about maintenance. Unfortunately, this is just not the case. The problem is that pools are breeding grounds for all sorts of nasty organisms such as E. Coli, algae, and other bacteria, all of which are harmful to people. As such, it’s necessary to regularly test your pool water for these sorts of contaminants and add the appropriate chemicals to keep your pool safe and swimmable.

The most common pool chemicals

There is no such thing as a one-and-done pool cleaner. In order to maintain your pool and keep your water clean, you'll need to use, at the very least, several different products. So let’s go over the most common pool chemicals now and explain what they are used for and why each one is necessary.

Chlorine

By far, the most common chemical used in pools is chlorine. Some people think that chlorine is the only chemical used for sanitizing pools, but this is a misnomer. The fact is that chlorine is simply the most popular pool cleaning agent because it's inexpensive and does a good job. Chlorine cleans your pool water by oxidizing the contaminants. In other words, the chlorine enters into the molecules of the bacteria and neutralizes them from the inside out. Chlorine does a great job at killing algae, bacteria, and viruses, but it’s also effective at preventing these contaminants from developing in the first place.

Chlorine comes in two main forms, but both do essentially the same thing. Liquid, or granule chlorine, is the most common. You pour it into your pool in measured quantities, and your pool filter naturally distributes it evenly throughout the water, effectively cleaning and decontaminating your pool. The second form is chlorine tablets, which, when added to the pool, dissolve and again are spread throughout the water via your pool filter and water pump. The biggest difference between liquid and tablet chlorine is the price, with chlorine tablets being slightly more expensive.

Bromine

Bromine is the most popular alternative to chlorine, and it essentially does the same job of disinfecting your pool, but rather than oxidizing the contaminants in the water, it iodizes them. Bromine is slightly more expensive than chlorine, but it breaks down much slower, meaning that you don't need to add it to the water as frequently; as such, the value for money is roughly the same as chlorine.

pH up and pH down

pH is the measurement of how acidic liquid is. The pH scale ranges from 0-14, with 7 being considered neutral pH. Liquids with a pH value below 7 are acidic and can burn your skin. Likewise, liquids with a pH above 7 are considered "basic," which means that they potentially dry out your skin. In terms of pool maintenance, you should always strive to keep the pH level of your pool water between 7.4 and 7.6.

When the water is within this pH range, it is not harmful to you, and these values enable your chlorine or bromine to work effectively. So, two of the most common chemicals that all pool owners should have on hand are known as pH up and pH down, which, as you may have guessed by their names, raise or lower the pH levels of the water in your pool.

Alkalinity

The purpose of using alkalinity in your pool is to prevent the pH levels from fluctuating dramatically. By adding an alkalinity solution to your pool water, you can keep the pH in the optimal range for a much longer period of time. Rather than buying an alkalinity chemical, you can also use normal baking soda, which does effectively the same thing; it's really a matter of personal preference.

Water Clarifier

Water clarifier is another good chemical to have in your pool shed. A water clarifier is really just a band-aid chemical that's used to make your water look clean and clear. So, say you have a pool party planned for this afternoon, but you wake up to discover that the water has become a little murky overnight; you can use a water clarifier to make your pool look clear. That said, you should always check the pH of the water before allowing anyone to swim in your pool.

Other Chemicals

There are a number of other pool chemicals on the market, but mostly these chemicals are alternatives to the ones we’ve looked at above. Algaecides are designed to kill algae, but your chlorine can do that. Flocculant allows you to shock your pool, making it look clearer, but a water clarifier can do that. The exception to this is if your pool contains well water or other "hard water" in these cases, your pool can develop calcium hardness, in which case using a flocculant is advisable.

How often should you use pool chemicals?

The frequency at which you should add chemicals to your pool depends on many factors, including the pH level on any given day, the calcium hardness of your pool, how clear the water is, and how much chlorine is in the water. Generally speaking, though, you should add chlorine every day and use pH up or pH down whenever the pH level falls outside of the optimal range. You should only use water clarifiers and flocculants when absolutely necessary.

An example of a maintenance schedule

An ideal daily pool maintenance schedule is as follows. In the morning, add some chlorine and check the pH levels. If the pH is low, add some pH up; if it's high, then add some pH down. Once per week, add some alkalinity or baking soda. Also, be sure to skim your pool for leaves and debris on a daily basis, as this prevents contaminants from building up in your pool and keeps the water looking its best.

Consider a pool and spa service team

If you don’t have the time to maintain your pool but still want to be able to enjoy it whenever you’re in the mood to take a dip, then hiring a professional pool and spa service team might be the best option for you. A pool and spa service team will be able to keep your pool looking its best year-round while also ensuring that your pool water is always safe and swimmable.