In What Order Do I Add Chemicals to My Pool

Written by admin in Mastering Your Pool,Opening & Closing Pools,Pool Chemistry,Pool H2O & Chemicals,Pool Maintenance & Operation,Response Post,Water Education

Adding Chemicals to your pool should be done according to the most important to least important order relying on what works best by trial and experience but most of all try to be patient and not hurry, give the chemicals the time they need before moving on to the next step on the list. In What Order Do I Add Chemicals to My Pool?

  • Alkalinity(80-140 ppm) wait time 4-8 hrs.
  • Retest TA
  • pH (7.2 -7.6 ) wait time 30 min.
  • Retest pH
  • Calcium Hardness-(200–400 ppm) wait time-30 min.
  • Cyanuric Acid-(25-50 ppm) wait time 30 min.
  • Shock the Pool-10 ppm wait time-4 hrs.
  • Algaecide after shock wait time-5 days
  • Clarifier-after algaecide wait time-5 days

This sequence is from my 30 years of opening, balancing, and putting the muscle back into the swimming pool’s water chemistry over the years this order can get your pool rock and rolling fast.

In What Order Do I Add Chemicals to My Pool?

 

After you take the pool cover off, clean up the surrounding area, top off the water level, visit the Pool Supply Store, begin the work needed to open your swimming pool, and keep it clear and clean for the entire summer season. There is a method used by pool owners that put things into a rhythm of sorts brought on by the familiarity of seasons past.

I know because I have opened and run my inground pool for years. You know what to expect. You know how many chemicals will get you through until Fall. You know what kind of chemicals you’ll need to open the pool and add for the first part of the season and those last “dog days of summer”

All this will depend on some variables like how bad the pool water looks after you pull the pool cover off. The mechanical operation of the pump and filter system and if all the pool tools like brushes and skimmers held up over the winter. When everything is operational from the sand filter to the GFI switches it’s time to adjust the pool water chemistry.

Once the pool is full or topped off after the long winter months and you remove the pool cover the sunlight that hits the water for the first time in 6 months can kickstart an algae bloom so as they say “times a wasting

 

Can I add Alkalinity, and Shock at the Same Time?

No, Never add chemicals at the same time, whether you’re balancing the H2O, shocking the pool, or adding a specialty chemical. For most H2O balance changes, the pump needs to run for at least 4 hrs, or long enough …………………………………………… Read more

 

You got to start rebuilding the chemical structure and integrity of your pool water before things get out of hand. So where do you start?

  1. Adjust Alkalinity-A pool with low alkalinity has high acidity-or a pool with high alkalinity has low acidity. Bring Total Alkalinity level to (80-140 ppm)- wait time 4-8hours-re-test
  2. Adjust pH Levels– from (7.2 -7.6 ) pool water that is not in this range will affect disinfection efficiency-wait time 30 min. re-test
  3. Balance Calcium Hardness-(200 – 400 ppm) Wait times-30 min.
  4. Measure Cyanuric Acid (CYA) Levels-(25 – 50 ppm)  range should not exceed 100 ppm –dissolve it in a bucket of warm water-wait time 30 minutes
  5. Measure Dissolved Solids- Not critical at this point (500 – 5000 ppm) wait time-instant
  6. Shock the Pool-super-chlorinate-wait time-4 hrs.
  7. Algaecide after every shock chlorine treatment
  8. Clarifier after every shock and algaecide treatment
  9. Re-Test the Pool Water-only after wait times are over or the pool has been turned over through the filter pump system (for shock-chlorine-when residual comes back down to 5 ppm)

 

How Long Do You Wait Between Adding Pool Chemicals?

All pool chemicals take their own time to mix and dissolve when added to pool water then changing the chemistry of the pool water but it all depends on the chemical’s active ingredients or strength …………………………………………………………………. Read more

Pool Chemical Tips

 

  • Always read and follow the chemical’s instructions to ensure the safe use of chemicals
  • Wait for pool water results after adding chemicals before testing pool water again
  • Wear appropriate protective equipment, especially eye protection
  • Handle pool chemicals in a well-ventilated area
  • Use separate, clean metal or plastic measuring cups for each chemical to transfer or measure chemicals
  • Protect pool chemicals from moisture and humidity even water such as a cup of water or coffee
  • When needed always dilute chemicals by adding them to water, especially muriatic acid, never the other way around, Never add acid to H2O
  • Never mix different pool chemicals together
  • Do not put spilled pool chemicals back into their containers
  • Do not smoke when handling pool chemicals
  • Do not expose pool chemicals to heat or flames

How Do You Make the Water in Your Swimming Pool Soft and Silky Smooth?

  • By dropping levels of Calcium dissolved in the H2O using Muriatic Acid,
  • Take Calcium out of the solution by Raising pH & Alkalinity to 10 pH in warm temps.
  • Add Flocculant
  • Circulate
  • Let pool Sit
  • Vacuum floc to waste
  • Lower Alkalinity, pH with Muriatic Acid .……………………………………………………………………..  Read more

 

JimGalloway Author/Editor

 

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