How Do You Balance Your Pool Chemicals?

Balancing Pool Chemicals is Simple. You must first measure the Existing Levels of Chemicals in Your Swimming Pool.

What to Test for In Swimming Pools?

Sanitizer (Chlorine or Bromine)

• What it does: Kills bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms
• Ideal Range: 1.0 - 3.0 ppm (parts per million)
• Free Chlorine: 1.0 - 3.0 ppm
• Combined Chlorine: Should be less than 0.2 ppm

Bromine

• Ideal Range: 2.0 - 4.0 ppm (parts per million)
• Free Bromine: 2.0 - 4.0 ppm
• Combined Bromine: Should be less than 0.5 ppm

pH

• What it does: Measures how acidic or basic your water is
• Ideal Range: 7.2 - 7.6
• Impact: Affects chlorine effectiveness and swimmer comfort

Total Alkalinity

• What it does: Acts as a pH buffer, preventing rapid pH changes
• Ideal Range: 80 - 120 ppm
• Impact: Helps stabilize pH levels

CYA (Cyanuric Acid)

• What it does: Protects chlorine from UV degradation (chlorine stabilizer)
• Ideal Range: 30 - 50 ppm
• Impact: Too high reduces chlorine effectiveness; too low causes rapid chlorine loss

Calcium Hardness

• What it does: Prevents water from becoming corrosive or causing scale buildup
• Ideal Range: 150 - 300 ppm
• Impact: Protects pool equipment and surfaces

Metals (Iron, Copper, Manganese)

• What it does: Can cause staining and water discoloration
• Ideal Range: As close to 0 ppm as possible
• Iron: Less than 0.2 ppm
• Copper: Less than 0.2 ppm

Phosphate Levels

• What it does: The food algae needs to thrive
• Ideal Range: Less than 100 ppb (parts per billion)
• Impact: Higher levels promote algae growth
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
• What it does: Measures all dissolved substances in water
• Ideal Range: Less than 1,500 ppm above fill water TDS
• Impact: High levels reduce chemical effectiveness and water clarity

Salt (for Saltwater Pools)

• What it does: Enables the salt chlorine generator to produce chlorine
• Ideal Range: 2,700 - 3,400 ppm (varies by manufacturer)
• Impact: Too low = insufficient chlorine production; too high = equipment damage

Testing Frequency Recommendations

• Daily: Chlorine and pH
• 2-3 times per week: Total Alkalinity
• Weekly: Calcium Hardness, CYA
• Monthly: Phosphates, TDS, Metals
• As needed: Salt levels (saltwater pools)

Why Proper Balance Matters.

All of the above are factors in balancing your swimming pool water and can have an impact on

• Operating Costs: Properly balanced water uses chemicals more efficiently
• Equipment Longevity: Prevents corrosion and scale damage
• Swimmer Comfort: Eliminates eye and skin irritation
• Water Clarity: Maintains crystal clear, inviting water
• Algae Prevention: Creates an environment where algae cannot thrive

How to Determine the Right Chemical Dosage for Your Swimming Pool?

Here are the formulas you will need to measure your swimming pool's dosage accurately. Additionally, remember to take accurate depth measurements, as this can significantly impact the accuracy of your pool volume calculations. The type of pool bottom you have also matters. Do your depths differ at different points in your swimming pool?

If so, then you will need to take the average depth.

Rectangular/Square Pools

Volume = Length × Width × Average Depth

Round Pools

Volume = π × (Radius)² × Average Depth
Alternatively: Volume = π × (Diameter ÷ 2)² × Average Depth
Where: π ≈ 3.14159

Oval Pools

Volume = π × Length × Width × Average Depth ÷ 4

Here, Length and Width refer to the pool's maximum dimensions.

Important Notes on Average Depth Calculation

Constant Depth: Average Depth = Pool Depth
Varying Depth (from shallow to deep end): Average Depth = (Shallow End Depth + Deep End Depth) ÷ 2

Units

When measuring in feet, the volume will be in cubic feet.
To convert cubic feet to gallons, multiply by 7.48.

When measuring in meters, the volume will be in cubic meters.
To convert cubic meters to liters, multiply by 1,000.

For a rectangular pool measuring 20 feet in length, 10 feet in width, with a shallow end depth of 3 feet and a deep end depth of 8 feet:

Average Depth = (3 + 8) ÷ 2 = 5.5 feet
Volume = 20 × 10 × 5.5 = 1,100 cubic feet
In gallons, this equals: 1,100 × 7.48 = 8,228 gallons.