November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
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For a Summer Full of Fun - Balance the Water!
May 2010
by Carole Hicks, Arch Chemicals Customer Care Center
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Swimming pool water chemistry can seem intimidating at times, but knowing a few basic principles can foster confidence for the pool owner and ensure a safe and fun swimming pool season. One term that pool owners need to understand as part of their regular maintenance routine is Total Alkalinity or TA. This is the measure of the pool or spa water’s ability to resist changes in pH. The TA acts as a buffer, or control to keep the pH of your water at industry recommended levels.
Therefore, it is very important to have your water tested as part of the weekly maintenance routine. Your pool dealer can provide computerized analysis of a sample of your pool water. From your dealer, you can also purchase the POOLIFE® Test Strips or POOLIFE® Deluxe 6-Way Test Kit (if using chlorine) or BAQUACIL® 4-Way Test Strips, so that you can regularly test your water. These strips or kits are easy to use and provide almost immediate readings about your water chemistry.
The industry recommended level for TA is 80-120 ppm (parts per million). After testing your water, if you discover that your water chemistry is out of balance, it is very important to adjust the TA first, and then adjust your pH if necessary.
Your pool dealer will be able to provide you with the chemicals necessary to balance your water. For TA that is too low, you will want to use POOLIFE® Alkalinity Plus, or BAQUACIL ® Total Alkalinity Increaser to raise your TA level. If your TA is too high, you will want to use POOLIFE® pH Minus, or BAQUACIL® pH Decreaser, which will lower both pH and TA. It is also important that TA be lowered no more than 10 ppm per day.
Unbalanced alkalinity can lead to serious consequences that will deter summer fun and possibly damage your pool.
Symptoms or problems relating to low TA are:
- pH bounce
- Etching or staining of pool/spa surfaces
- Corrosion of metal parts in your pool or mechanical system
- Wrinkles in liner
Symptoms or problems relating to high TA are:
- Cloudy water
- Scale formation
- pH resistant to change/drifts upward
As you look forward to a season of fun and enjoyment with family and friends, don’t let your plans be interrupted by ignoring this very important aspect of your pool maintenance.
Test, adjust if necessary and have a great summer!
