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To keep your pool at its best, test at each end a minimum of
twice a week, and test your spa before each use.
Free Chlorine – Ideal Reading: Pool 1.0 – 3.0 ppm; Spa
3.0 – 5.0 ppm
To maintain a clean and clear pool, keep the free chlorine level in the right range.
Free chlorine is the portion of the total chlorine remaining in chlorinated water that
has not reacted to contaminants – and is "free" to go to work to kill bacteria and other
contaminants.
Shock Treatment – Contrary to popular belief, a strong chlorine smell is not
an indication of too much chlorine in the pool but actually a red flag that a super dose
of chlorine may be required to correct the problem. Shock treatment adds a larger-
than-normal amount of oxidizing chemicals to pool water. The ideal frequency for a
super dose is every week, depending on use and water temperature.
Bromine – Ideal Reading: 2.0 – 6.0 ppm
To obtain bromine result, multiply free chlorine value by 2.2. Bromine is a popular
pool and spa sanitizer often used instead of chlorine. Environmental conditions
(leaves, rain) and usage (how many folks are enjoying the pool or spa) will add
contaminants in the water. Those contaminants will decrease the bromine existing in
the water. Be sure to test the bromine before entering the water. Even if the system
is dormant or not in use, you should test the bromine level at least weekly to prevent
any buildup of bacteria or algae.
pH – Ideal Reading: 7.2 – 7.8
Losing control of pH in the water unleashes a whole series of problems. The pH can
damage metal equipment and plaster walls if it gets out of balance. A swimmer' s
body has a pH between 7.2 and 7.8 so, if the pool water isn't kept in this range,
swimmers will start to feel irritation of their eyes and skin. Finally, the pH must stay
in the proper range to maximize the efficiency of chlorine.
If the pH is low, below 7.2, the water is too acidic and it can damage the piping and
pool surfaces under certain conditions. You can use sodium carbonate (soda ash)
to increase pH when levels are too low. Other chemicals that can raise the pH are
sodium bicarbonate and sodium sesquicarbonate.
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