Pool Water Testing

 

 

Bibens Ace will test your pool water for FREE! Bring in a fresh sample of your pool water and we can help you get the products you need to get your pool sparkling.

 

 

HTH 4-Step Program Offered at Bibens Ace

  1. Testing and Balancing Your Water (color code purple)
  • If PH too low, PH+ brings it up, if too high, PH – brings it down
  • If Calcium hardness is high, easiest thing to do is drain pool a bit and add some water, it too low, use Calcium +
  • Cyanuric Acid (should be between 20 and 50 ppm and never exceed 100)
    • If low, add stabilizer and conditioner to skimmer
  • Chlorine levels should be between 1 and 4ppm (if above 4ppm, do not swim in the water)
  • Yellowrid great for getting rid of yellow algae coating pool
  • Metal control – dissolves metals and precents them from causing staining
  • Clarifier – clears up coudy/murky water without affecting PH
  1. Sanitizing Your Pool (color code yellow)
  • Liquid chlorinator
  • Dual Action Chlorinating Tablets – built in stabilizer, works best with 7.2-7.8 PH levels
  • Unstabilized – 3-in-1 chorinating tablets
  • Chlorinating granuals
  1. Shock Your Pool (color code red)
  • Strong chlorine smell is usually a sign of not ENOUGH chlorine
  • Replace lost chlorine while killing contaminants – shock water by concentrated levels of chlorine (shock)
  • Red packaging – (Super Shock n’ Swim) – 52% cal-hypo
  • Blue packaging (Shock n’ Swim) – 47% cal-hypo
  • Use once a week by sprinkling granuals in the deep end
  • Good after heavy storms, during really hot weather, beginning or end of season, or after heavy use
  1. Prevent Algae (color code green)
  • Algae Guard – liquids product that helpd prevent algae from growing in the first place
  • Super Algae Guard – more concentrated
  • Algae Free – long lasting treatment – single treatment can precent algae for up to 3 months

 

PARAMETER WHAT IS IT? WHEN TO

TEST

IDEAL

RANGE

PRODUCT TO
ADJUST LEVELS
pH A measure of the water’s acidity Every day 7.2-7.8 hth® pH increaser or hth® pH decreaser
Free Available Chlorine (FAC) The amount of active chlorine in the water Every day 1-4 ppm when using chlorine as the sanitizer Any hth® granular or tablet chlorine sanitizer according to label directions
Total Alkalinity (TA) The water’s ability to keep pH at a proper level Once a week 60-120 ppm hth® alkalinity increaser
Total Hardness (TH) The amount of dissolved calcium in the water Monthly Acceptable:

200-1000 ppm

Ideal: 200-500 ppm

hth® Calcium Hardness Increaser
Cyanuric Acid (CYA) / Stabilizer The amount of stabilizer available to prevent the degradation of Free Available Chlorine (FAC) caused by the sun’s UV rays Twice a season Ideal: 20-50 ppm, DO NOT EXCEED 90 ppm hth® stabilizer

 

OPENING YOUR POOL

There are two essential elements to ready your pool for the season:

  1. ensuring the equipment is in proper working order
  2. balancing the water

Use the hth® pool care kit for opening and closing in addition to the steps below.

Preparing the Pool Water

  • Test the water using the hth® multi-purpose 6-way test strips, or other hth® test kits or strips.
  • Adjust the TA, pH, FAC, and TH to the ideal levels recommended in the Balanced Pool Care Chart.
  • If needed, stabilize the water using hth® stabilizer.
  • Shock treat pool water with an hth® shock product.
  • Continue routine maintenance following the 4-Step Program for the entire season

 

Preparing the Equipment

  • Remove any water and debris that have accumulated on your pool cover during the winter.
  • Take off the pool cover. Clean the cover to prevent mildew and premature deterioration.
  • Reconnect all plumbing and electrical connections for the pump, filter, and circulation system.
  • Make sure the skimmer(s), filter(s), pump(s), drain(s) and other equipment are clean and free of winter debris.
  • Use the hth® Leaf Skimmer to scoop up all surface and submerged debris.
  • Clean the pool floor and walls with a curved wall brush.
  • If necessary raise water level to middle of skimmer.
  • Make sure all hoses and electrical hookups are in working order.
  • Turn on filter pump and check the circulation system for leaks.
  • Check the skimmer, drain and filter to make sure they are functioning properly.
  • Use a pool vacuum to remove any remaining debris.
  • ]Run the filter for 12 hours.

 

CLOSING YOUR POOL

  • Test and adjust water balance using hth® 6-way multi-purpose test strips or other hth® test kits or strips.
  • Clean pool by thoroughly vacuuming and removing any floating debris.
  • Use the hth® pool care kit for closing your pool. Carefully follow label directions for order of addition and proper dosage of each product.
  • Follow pool manufacturer’s directions on draining the pool so that water level is below the skimmers, and flush and drain any hoses that will remain outdoors during cold winter months
  • Drain pump, filter, heater and all other equipment according to manufacturer’s directions.  Properly store all equipment indoors to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.  Follow manufacturer’s directions for lubrication and proper storage.
  • Clean the filter
  • Cover pool with a properly fitted pool cover. Cover should be resistant to water, weather and pool chemicals.  Seal the edge of the cover to prevent wind from getting beneath the seal.  This will save you cleanup time when you re-open your pool by keeping out unwanted debris.