Does your pool water look like this? If you answered yes, then you do need to test your pool water! If you’ve ever swam in cloudy, dingy pool water, you know it can be quite unsettling. One reason we enjoy swimming pools is for the clear, sparkling water otherwise we would swim in a lake!

So why does the water look green or cloudy sometimes? The short answer is that fine, microscopic debris is causing the discoloration. There are multiple reasons this can occur. Assuming you are maintaining your pool filtration system properly, the problem is most likely due to a chemical imbalance. Lack of, or no chlorine can be the problem or combined chlorine, which means chlorine has combined with nitrogen in the water, can also be the problem. This is actually caused by swimmers’ suntan lotion and sweat. Another possible reason is algae build up due to insufficient sanitation/ oxidation of the pool. And then there are uncontrollable environmental factors such as heavy rains causing soil runoff and other debris from yards and trees etc.

The ultimate goal is to have crystal clear, dazzling water. Acepools.com, where the pool people shop, offers a variety of easy to use water testing kits. Keep in mind these guidelines for maintaining the proper chemical balance for your swimming pool:

Here are some generally accepted guidelines to follow concerning how frequently you should be testing the pool’s water. The most important thing to keep in mind is consistency. As long as you remain consistent in your testing schedule, the easier it will be to maintain accurate readings and determine the cause of imbalance as it occurs.

A few other tips include:

• Check your water testing supply inventory before opening your pool so that you are sure to have supplies on hand when needed.
• Remember to test the water from below the surface, between 12 – 18”, should be sufficient. Surface water will not provide accurate readings.
• Make sure to store your testing supplies in a cool dry place.

Testing your pool water on a regular basis will help ensure you maintain proper chemical balance. This will ensure you maintain that beautiful crystal clear water throughout your swimming pool season.

Please visit Acepools.com, where the pool people shop, to find all of
your water testing and other swimming pool needs.