Having a pool at your home in the summertime is refreshing and fun. Taking care of a pool is simple once you have a routine and know how to read test strips to check the levels of chemicals in your pool. Chlorine is an important factor because it eradicates the bacteria from pool while working with other chemicals to make sure your pool has clear and sparkling water all season long.
The number of gallons in your pool and the location of your pool (in-ground or above ground) will determine how much chlorine and other chemicals to put into it. Pool manufacturers and pool stores will give you this information when purchasing the pool, and you can also figure out the gallons by consulting charts online that give gallon information by a calculation formula of the length, width, depth and shape of your pool.
Chlorine can be distributed into your pool a couple of ways. Chlorine tablets are the most popular and convenient. They are distributed evenly into your pool water by a feeder that floats in the water or a system with packs that hooks into your filter. The chlorine is distributed in small amounts throughout the week, making it more convenient than the granular type of chlorine that is manually poured into the pool daily. The granular chlorine, which looks similar to laundry detergent, needs to be mixed in a bucket with water and diluted before being deposited into the pool. This process is the less expensive of the two, but is more time-consuming.
Once you have calculated the gallons in your pool, you can begin depositing the recommended amount of chlorine into it daily or weekly. According to the Pool and Spa website, you add 2.5 ounces of the chlorine for every 10,000 gallons of water. This is generally the standard with most chlorine manufacturers, but reading the label of the brand you have purchased is suggested, in case of slight differences.
After adding the chlorine, start a routine of checking the levels of chlorine in the water. A test strip kit can be bought from a pool store, and will help you determine if you have high or low levels of chlorine. Rain, sun and bacteria can fluctuate, resulting in the need to adjust levels of chlorine.
Always consult a professional in the pool industry before handling chemicals and depositing them in your pool. Some chemicals, when mixed, can cause a reaction that can lead to injury. Always check the chlorine level before swimming to determine if it is safe. High chlorine can cause burns to the skin, and low-chlorine pools can have bacteria present.