Chemicals and Cleaners

You can easily and safely complete most of the water testing and maintenance that your pool requires. Your Backyard Place retailer is ready to provide you with all the supplies and helpful advice you need.

Water Testing
Your Backyard Place retailer stocks several types of water test kits and meters. Carefully follow the directions that come with the kit. For the most accurate results, take each water sample at the same time of day and reach far below the water surface to obtain the sample.

Your testing kit helps you determine the pH level of your water. If the water sample registers below 7.2 pH, the pool water is more acidic. If the water is too acidic, it can damage the piping and pool surfaces. Soda ash or sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate may be used to raise the pH level.

Chemicals
Chlorine, bromine, shock treatments, sanitizers, algaecides and other chemicals all play an important role in maintaining the safety and beauty of your pool. Your Backyard Place retailer can explain the benefits and proper use of these supplies.

Chlorine and Bromine
Chlorine and bromine protect your pool from germs and algae.

Pool Shock and Super Chlorinators
Lotion, cosmetics, perspiration and other organic material may react with the chlorine in your pool water and form combined chlorine. Combined chlorine is a very poor disinfectant and can cause eye and skin irritations as well as a strong, unpleasant chlorine odor. Routine shock treatment, through super chlorination or the use of non-chlorine shock, is necessary to destroy combined chlorine compounds and restore the efficiency of the chlorine sanitizer.

Super chlorination, adding large amounts of chlorine to your pool, has some disadvantages. Large amounts of chlorine can damage pool liners and disturb the chemical balance of the pool water. After super chlorination, swimmers must wait, often a day more, until the chlorine drops to a safe level and they can return to the water. However, a non-chlorine shock product allows swimming almost immediately after its application and is safe for pool liners and water balance.

Algaecide
Algaecide kills algae growing in your pool. This product should be added exactly as specified by the manufacturer’s directions. Since algae are plants that grow in the presence of sunlight, this product is most effective when added to pool water in the morning on a bright, sunny day. If black algae are present, brushing the algae once a day removes dead cells and makes living algae more susceptible to the algaecide.

Sanitizer
You should regularly add and maintain a proper level of an EPA-approved sanitizer, especially when using non-chlorine shock treatments.

A few more words about chemicals and cleaners
Unless you are super-chlorinating, you can generally use your pool once the chemical has been dispersed – approximately fifteen minutes to one hour after adding the product.

Always store chemicals and cleaners in a safe and secure area away from children and pets. Regularly check expiration dates, use protective gear and follow manufacturers’ instructions.

You should also be aware that water chemistry varies from pool to pool. Talk with your friendly Backyard Place retailer if you have questions about water testing, water chemistry or pool chemicals.

For more information on chemicals, visit our online catalog or contact a local Backyard Place retailer today.

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