Water balance is the measure of the dissolved mineral content present, water requires a certain mineral composition to prevent damage to equipment. Water with too few minerals (soft) is corrosive to surfaces, irritating to bathers, and will cause sanitizers to dissipate quickly. Water with too many minerals (hard) causes scale to form on surfaces, water may become cloudy, and sanitizers are lazy and inefficient. The issues caused by improper water balance cross all aspects of maintenance.

Yes, you do have to shock your pool and/or hot tub weekly. The way chlorine works is once it attaches to bacteria in the water it holds on to the bacteria giving off that “chlorine” smell you may know far to well from entering a public pool. The only way to remove the “smell” (chloramines) from the water and have chlorine back to fighting is to shock the water.

Before you go in the pool or spa you should test to be sure there is adequate sanitizer. Pools and spas can be excellent breeding grounds for harmful microorganisms such as bacteria (ie: e-coli, pseudomonas, staph), viruses (ie: rhinovirus, influenza, hepatitis A), fungus’ (ie athelet’s foot), protozoans, parasites (ie: giardia, cryptosporidium). Microorganisms are constantly being introduced by bathers and the environment. An effective chlorine or bromine residual ensures microorganisms are killed on contact, preventing cross-infection. Always maintain a level of 1 – 3 ppm of chlorine or bromine.

In Canada all pools and spas are required to be sanitized with a sanitizer registered with Health Canada. All approved sanitizers carry a registration number referred to as the PCP Number. Only bromine and chlorine products are registered for use. Using an oxidizer is a simple way to remove waste without increasing the bromine or chlorine level in your pool or spa but a residual reading is always required.

• Typically test strips will show more readings than a kit, generally they will show total chlorine, free chlorine, pH, and alkalinity. Some also show calcium hardness and stabilizer. The color shades can be difficult to read and also in most cases the ideal settings on the strips will not match the ideal readings for your pool.

• Ideal chemical levels are based on many different parameters, its best to consult a professional to gauge the ideal chemical levels for your pool. Test kits generally only show pH and chlorine/bromine. The colors are easy to read and liquid reagents can be replaced at very little cost. The only downside to the kit is that the sanitizer reading will show only combined sanitizer not free and total so they can be slightly misleading when being used in a problem solving situation.

• For home testing either strips or a kit will give you a general reading and are great to use as a guide, but for start ups, close downs, and problem solving its best to bring your water in to our water test lab for more detailed testing.

Stabilizer, CYA, or Cyanuric Acid as its formal name. Helps to prevent chlorine from being “zapped” out from the sun. Without stabilizer in your pool the chlorine would dissipated very quickly. Stabilizer also helps with preventing your vinyl pool liner from aging and wrinkling prematurely. Stabilizer is only required in an outdoor pool and not in a hot tub.

Did you know? The warmer the weather outside, the more chlorine is required in your pool to maintain proper sanitation.