Water Balancers for Inground Pools
Water filtration and disinfectants keep pool water clean, but there are relationships between pool water chemicals that need to be kept in check. Water balancers from Anthony & Sylvan Pool Supplies ensure that the five components of pool water are kept at their proper levels. The five components of pool water balance are total alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, total dissolved solids, and stabilizer. Pool owners can easily identify the levels of these components using a test kit or by bringing a water sample to a local Anthony & Sylvan retail store for a FREE computerized water analysis.
The Five Chemical Components of Balanced Water
Total Alkalinity refers to how much alkaline is present in pool water. Alkalinity and pH go hand-in-hand and are dependent upon each other. Total Alkalinity stabilizes pH levels and prevents rapid pH changes. A proper range would be between 80ppm and 120 ppm.
pH levels refer to how acidic or basic water is. pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, measurements of 7.0 or below are acidic while measurements above 7.0 are basic. When water is below 7.0 on a pH scale it is corrosive to pool equipment and finishes. pH levels should be kept between 7.4-7.6 to keep water comfortable for swimmers and chlorine most effective.
Calcium Hardness is another important factor in balancing. It measures the softness or hardness of pool water. When water contains too much calcium it is hard, meaning water can become foggy and create staining. Water that is too soft, or contains too little calcium, can cause the pool’s surface to erode.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) refers to the sum of all dissolved substances left behind after water evaporates. All chemicals added to pool water contribute to increasing its TDS levels. Swimmers can also affect the levels, leaving behind sweat, hairspray, deodorants and other substances while swimming. When the concentration is too high, pool chemicals may not work as effectively. Adding fresh water to a pool will lower TDS levels.
Stabilizer, otherwise known as cyanuric acid, helps retain chlorine for longer periods of time. U.V. rays break down chlorine and adding cyanuric acid will reduce the amount of chlorine needed to maintain proper sanitized levels. When stabilizer levels are low, chlorine is used a lot faster.
Balancing Water
Oil from skin, pets, environmental elements, and virtually anything else that may come in contact with pool water will change its water balance. This means chemical levels are constantly changing in pools, so it is recommended to test your pool on a weekly basis. Balancing and sanitizing are equally important. When water does not have balanced levels, chemical treatments used for sanitization cannot work properly.
Before measuring with a test kit, it is important to have your pool pump running so that chemical elements are circulated evenly throughout the water. Depending on the chemical measurements, water balancers are added to pools to increase calcium hardness, increase or lower pH and total alkalinity levels. Visit an Anthony & Sylvan location or visit our online store to see the variety of water balancers we offer.
Contact Anthony & Sylvan Pool Supplies or Shop Online
In addition to our water balancer products, Anthony & Sylvan Pool Supplies offers water testing and service packages for opening and closing pools. To speak with a pool professional, call Anthony & Sylvan Pools at 1-888-253-SWIM or visit one of our pool supply stores.