Pool & Spa Care

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Can you catch head lice from a swimming pool? The answer is a little more complicated than you might expect, so let’s review the facts: Can head lice survive underwater?According to the Center for Disease Control these insects can survive under water for an extended period … Continue reading “Can You Get Lice From a Pool?”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry When you shock your pool, you add large amounts of chemicals in order to clean the water, and as with any time you measure a substance, there’s a possibility that you might get your measurements off. However, while it is technically not possible to “over shock” … Continue reading “Can You ‘Over Shock’ a Pool?”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Using bleach in your swimming pool isn’t as crazy as people might claim. There are a number of benefits to substituting it for other traditional pool chemicals. Here’s some reasons why you should try it and how to use it correctly and safely. Is It Safe … Continue reading “Can You Use Bleach in a Pool?”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Your swimming pool pump is an important part of your setup. It circulates your water and keeps it clean. But how long do they last, and what should you do if you need to replace one? Here are some tips to help you know what to … Continue reading “How Long Do Pool Pumps Last?”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Shocking your pool is a cleaning method in which excessive amounts of chlorine or other cleaning chemicals are added to the water. Although it is an effective way to occasionally deep clean and remove contaminants, some safety factors should be kept in mind after shocking to … Continue reading “How Long to Wait After Shocking a Pool?”

By Joanna Yocampo, MSc in Environmental Science, Biology and Chemistry Maintaining your swimming pool throughout the year can be a hassle, especially when it’s time to clean and shock it. Shocking is the process of adding chemicals or solutions such as chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, salt, and many more. This is to clean the water from … Continue reading “How Often Do You Shock a Pool?”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Before beginning to drain, turn your pool’s circulation system off to avoid running air through your system and potentially causing lasting damage. Determine if you have access to a medium-sized water pump or if you will drain using a garden hose siphon; if you choose to … Continue reading “How to Empty an Above-Ground Pool”

By Charles Ng’Ang’A, Bachelor of Applied Science in Biochemistry Use lemon juice freshly squeezed from 2 or more lemons (use more lemons if you have more hair), then soak your hair with it for about 5 minutes, and the citric acid in the lemon will break down the green tinge (which is due to oxidation … Continue reading “How to Get Rid of Green Hair From Swimming”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Soft water, or water that is very low in the common mineral calcium, can be found in many municipal and regional water systems around the world – but it can pose a hidden threat to home owners, corroding the metal of fixtures, filters, and heat exchangers. … Continue reading “How to Increase Hardness in Pool Water”

By Mae Araneta, B.Eng in Chemical Engineering More people are becoming aware of how blow-up pools are becoming an essential feature in outdoor living spaces these days. Inflatable pools are enjoyed not only by kids but whole families as well. Big blow-up pools are easy to set up and disassemble compared to their in-ground and … Continue reading “How to Keep Inflatable Pool Water Clean”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Proper alkalinity is an important part of hot tub safety. Alkalinity helps keep pH levels stable. A healthy level in a hot tub should be neutral: 7.2-7.8 is the safest range, but 7.4-7.6 is ideal. Levels above this range is a sign that total alkalinity (TA) … Continue reading “How to Lower Alkalinity in a Hot Tub”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Keeping the alkalinity level in your pool balanced is an important part of maintaining your water quality. But what should you do if it’s too high? Here’s some tips on why it might be too high and how to lower it back down: It Could Be … Continue reading “How to Lower Alkalinity in a Pool”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry What chlorine level is too high to swim in? According the the CDC, your pool only needs a minimum free chlorine concentration of 1 ppm (this minimum rises to to 2 ppm if you use stabilizer). At the upper end industry experts recommend below 4. You … Continue reading “How to Lower Chlorine Levels in Pools”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Cyanuric acid (or pool stabilizer) is necessary to keep chlorine in your pool intact and (as its name suggests) keep it at a stable level, but its short-term effects nearly max out at less than 50 parts per million (with even 10-20ppm being over 85% as … Continue reading “How to Lower Cyanuric Acid in a Pool”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry “Naturally” can mean different things to different people, so this article is going to cover a range of methods including “non-chemical” ones (though technically speaking even pure water is a chemical) and use of household products (and we recommend against most of them, read on to … Continue reading “How to Lower pH in a Pool Naturally”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Not sure how to get phosphates out of your chlorinated pool? You have come to the right place: What are phosphates?Phosphates are just a chemical compound. They are made up of the chemical phosphorus, which occurs naturally and is not metallic. They are usually made up … Continue reading “How to Lower Phosphates in a Pool”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry One of the simplest ways to resolve a chlorine lock is to drain, refill, and then test your pool (repeat the process if necessary) Have the accurate levels of free chlorine, combined chlorine or chloramines and total chlorine before you begin shocking. Only shock your swimming … Continue reading “How to Raise Free Chlorine in a Pool”

By Charles Ng’Ang’A, Bachelor of Applied Science in Biochemistry Before doing anything to increase the PH of your hot tub, you need to know its capacity. Apart from that, you also need to determine the total alkalinity (TA) and PH level of the water at about 12 inches from the surface using a liquid test … Continue reading “How to Raise pH in a Hot Tub”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry An above ground pool can last for many years if properly maintained. Check the outer structure Periodically examine the frame that supports the pool for bends or crimps. If it has a PVC frame, check for cracks in the pipe. Check the pool walls for dents … Continue reading “How to Take Care of an Above-Ground Pool”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Opening a pool for the first time takes a fair amount of preparation, but the moment you first dive into that cool water on a hot day will make it all worth it. Here are some tips to help you get your pool going. Clean Your … Continue reading “How to Treat Pool Water for the First Time”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Normally, pool water should be clear, but you may have noticed yours has turned green. Why is that, and is it okay to swim in it? Here’s some things you should know about green water: It’s Mainly Caused By AlgaeWhen your pool doesn’t have enough chlorine … Continue reading “Is It Safe to Swim in Green Pool Water?”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry If your pool is blue but cloudy and you believe your chemicals are balanced, you should still double-check everything – perhaps by testing with different products and taking samples to different pool stores. A given test kit could be faulty/imprecise and a given pool store could … Continue reading “Pool is Cloudy but Chemicals Are Fine!”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Nothing could be more relaxing after a long, hard day than a nice long soak in a beautiful, well-maintained hot tub – but your hot tub, like all pools, bathing vessels, and recreational equipment, requires proper use and careful maintenance and cleaning to keep it safe … Continue reading “What Causes Foam in a Hot Tub?”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry There’s a secret weapon that should be in every pool chemist’s arsenal: Baking soda. While it’s something commonly found around many households, you should also keep it with your supply of pool chemicals. Here’s some tips on how you can use it in your pool and … Continue reading “What Does Baking Soda Do for a Pool?”

Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry Pool pumps deliver optimal filtration two full cycles per day. A cycle refers to the turnover rate, which ranges from 6-10 hours. For ideal swimming conditions, the pump should run at least eight hours at a time. One rule for determining the amount of time is … Continue reading “The Best Time of the Day to Run a Pool Pump”