How to Get Perfect Pool Water

Crystal clear pool water is what every pool owner wants. No one wants to swim through cloudy or green swimming pool water. Maintaining swimmer-approved water takes work. Follow these tips for perfect pool water.

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#1. Test the water frequently, especially during the swimming season.

You should check your pool’s free chlorine level and pH 2 to 3 times a week when your pool is open. Keeping the pH balanced helps the chlorine in your pool do its job. The ideal pH range is between 7.4 and 7.6. The free chlorine level lets you know if you need to add more chlorine to your pool to keep it sanitized. Your pool’s free chlorine level should stay between 2.0 to 4.0.

Before testing your water, be sure to have all of the supplies you need:

Test kit.
Alkalinity balancer.
pH balancer.
Water-hardness balancer.
Stabilizer or conditioner.

#2. Check the calcium hardness and total dissolved solids once a month.

Hard water can corrode metal in your pool and harm the lining. That’s why it’s essential to check the hardness once a month. The calcium level in your water should be between 200 and 400 parts per million (ppm). Total dissolved solids (TDS) are organic and inorganic matter in the water like dust, pollen, chemicals from sun tanning lotions, etc. If the TDS level in your pool water is too high, your pool chemicals won’t be as effective. The maximum TDS level in your pool should be 2,000 ppm.

#3. Clean out the skimmer basket, pump basket, and keep the pump impeller clean.

It’s important to keep these clean to ensure your pool water can circulate. Allowing any one of these to become clogged can impede water flow in your pool. Stagnant water can quickly become a breeding ground for algae, especially here in Florida.

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#4. Run the pump and filter once a day for 1 to 2 cycles (depending on the time of year).

The length of pool pump cycles varies depending on the size of the pool and the speed of the pump. For example, if you have a 20,000-gallon pool and a pump that pushes 100 gallons of water through a minute, one cycle will equal 3.3 hours. Experts recommend running the pump and filter for at least two cycles a day during the swimming season. When your pool is closed, you can reduce the time to one cycle a day to save energy.

#5. Backwash the filter at least once a month.

Backwashing your filter clears out bacteria, algae, and debris that build up inside. Most filters need to be backwashed at least once a month. Otherwise, it may become too clogged to filter the water effectively.

Following these 5 pro tips will help you maintain perfect pool water. If you need help keeping your pool water crystal clear, stop by PoolWorks or a trusted pool supply and cleaning service near you! We can test your pool water and let you know precisely what you need to do to clear up any issues. Or you can invite one of our pool technicians to your home to take care of it for you.