Swimming pools offer one of the best ways to cool down on a hot day, and swimming is one of the healthiest forms of exercise for our bodies.
In short, we love our pools in Arizona. However, they also are a fantastic receptacle for all the substances swimmers introduce into them. All of the products swimmers apply, like sunscreen, while at the pool, plus products already on our skin, like deodorant, lotions and makeup, find their way into that beautiful blue water.
Water balance is a very important factor not only for our health, but also for the health of our pools. You will avoid potential issues with your pool, including cloudiness and algae, by keeping your water in check. For instance, if your water is acidic (low pH), it will eat up the sanitizing chemicals faster, and prevent them from killing off bacteria and debris.
On the flip side, if your pH is high, your water will leave a film, called scaling, around not only your pool edges, but also on your pool equipment, as well. If there is extra scaling in your pool heater, it will cause your heater to use more energy and work harder.
Out of balance water not only causes your pool to get sick, but it also can lead to unhealthy effects on swimmers. Have you ever noticed that a child has an upset tummy after swimming? Even though pool water appears clean, microorganisms can be present even after the water is treated with sanitizing chemicals. These chemicals do kill most germs within minutes, but some pesky microorganisms take up to a few days to destroy.
Red eyes and itchy skin can be side effects of unbalanced pool water. Improper pH or high chloramine levels cause these problems. So, maintaining balanced water consistently, over time, will drastically reduce the chances of contamination and side effects.
Your pool water should be tested weekly, using a test kit or test strips. If you are doing this yourself, you will want to look for the following ranges set by the National Swimming Pool Foundation: 7.2 and 7.8 is acceptable on the pH scale, but the ideal range is between 7.2 and 7.6, alkalinity levels between 80 and 120 ppm (parts per million) is acceptable, but the ideal range is between 80 and 100 ppm. Remember, pH is in everything, from animal fur and our skin, to plants and rain. Therefore, these numbers can change rapidly, and they need to be checked weekly.
At Sterling Pools, our customers can see their chemical levels right on their weekly pool checklists. We send the checklists out electronically before we even leave the property. We are a certified pool operator, as designated by the National Swimming Pool Foundation, and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We are happy to answer any questions. Simply give us a call at (480) 241-4206.