Pool Maintenance Guide by Matt from Swim University

Importance of Pool Chemical Balance

• Weekly Adjustment: Adjust pH and chlorine levels at least once a week to prevent algae growth, eye irritation, and damage to pool equipment.
• Testing Types: Use test strips, liquid test kits, or digital readers for accurate water testing.

Water Sample Collection

• Collect a water sample using a clean cup, submerge elbow deep, away from skimmer or jets.

Testing Procedure

• Test strips measure pH, alkalinity, chlorine, and more.
• Test at least once a week, especially after heavy pool use, rain, or adding fresh water/chemicals.

Reading Your Test Results

1. Calcium Hardness: Should be between 175-275 ppm.
2. Total Chlorine/Bromine: Ideal is around 3 ppm.
3. Free Chlorine: Should be between 1-3 ppm.
4. pH Levels: Maintain between 7.4-7.6.
5. Total Alkalinity: Maintain between 80-120 ppm.
6. Cyanuric Acid (CYA): Should be between 30-50 ppm.

Necessary Pool Chemicals

• Alkalinity Increaser/Baking Soda
• pH Increaser/Soda Ash
• pH Decreaser/Muriatic Acid
• Chlorine (Tablets, Granules, Liquid)
• Chlorine Stabilizer/Cyanuric Acid
• Calcium Hardness Increaser
• Pool Shock (Non-chlorine and Chlorine)
• Metal Sequestrant (if needed)

Adding Chemicals

• Add chemicals slowly with pump and filter running.
• Wait 20 minutes between adding each chemical.
• Order of Addition:
  1. Total Alkalinity: Adjust using increaser or pH decreaser.
  2. pH Levels: Use pH increasers/decreasers as needed.
  3. Chlorine: Add appropriate form based on pool type.
  4. Cyanuric Acid: Add stabilizer if necessary.
  5. Calcium Hardness: Adjust for long-term pool health.

Shocking Your Pool

• Use non-chlorine shock for maintenance.
• Use chlorine shock for heavy swimmer use, rain, cloudy water, or algae.
• Balance pH before shocking for effectiveness.
• Retest water after shocking.

Additional Resources

• Get a free pool care cheat sheet at swimuniversity.com/cheatsheet.
• Subscribe to Swim University's channel for more tutorials.