If you own a swimming pool in the Las Vegas area, there are numerous benefits that can be enjoyed but you must have proper swimming pool water chemistry. Simply put, whether you are exercising or lounging in the pool, having one is not only a luxury but to be honest a must in our climate. Between our extremely high temperatures and wind, they can be a lot more challenging to maintain and if you don’t know what you’re doing it will be a major headache for you! A majority of swimming pool owners think brushing the interior finish and tile, skimming all the debris out, vacuuming from time to time and balancing water chemistry is enough but it takes more than that. Swimming pools should be maintained at least once a week (if not more during summer and after storms) to keep them looking great and ready to swim in. On a weekly basis, the water tile line and interior finish of the swimming pool should be brushed to prevent calcium buildup and dirt which can cause staining. Debris should also be skimmed out of the swimming pool immediately as it can change the water chemistry and could cause excess use of chlorine or an increase in your phosphate levels.
Maintaining Proper Water Chemistry
Maintaining proper swimming pool water chemistry levels is vital to prevent algae and other bacteria from growing. During the summertime in Las Vegas, algae will develop rapidly in your pool if your chlorine levels are too low or if you aren’t filtering long enough. That’s why checking water chemistry once a week is vital. The following is a breakdown of appropriate water chemistry:
Chlorine: 3-5ppm (summer) and 1-3ppm (winter)
pH: 7.4 – 7.8
Total Alkalinity: 80 – 120ppm
Cyanuric Acid: 30 -50ppm (check manual if you have a salt pool)
Calcium Hardness: 200 – 400ppm (which is hard to achieve in Las Vegas)
Balancing your water isn’t complicated. Your water is constantly changing, year round especially with more bathers. Everything from weather to body oils, to suntan oils, to dirt and cosmetics, to urine affect your water chemistry. Continuous filtration and disinfecting remove contaminants which keep the water enjoyable, but please note, it does not balance your water chemistry. A pool is considered balanced when it has proper levels of chlorine, pH, Total Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness. That is why monitoring the swimming pool regularly is extremely important.
During storms, you will need to monitor your pool more. Skimming out debris and removing them from the skimmer as well will allow for proper filtration and prevent major changes in water chemistry. Keep in mind, Calcium Hardness (CH) is also important to refer to because our water is extremely hard in Las Vegas. Typically, you will see levels coming out of the tap at 400ppm and higher which is at the maximum recommended level. When calcium levels rise it will scale the water tile line, interior finish, filtration equipment, spillways, salt chlorinators and decorative water features. Lowering calcium levels, when they rise above 600ppm, will prolong the lifespan of your investment and help you maintain proper chemistry in your pool.
When the water reaches 600ppm Calcium Hardness, 3000ppm Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) or 150ppm Cyanuric Acid (CYA) we strongly recommend changing out the water using our Reverse Osmosis (RO) mobile filtration trailer. Your end product will be drinking quality water and give you and your family the best water to swim in. Owning a swimming pool can be challenging especially when the water warms up and the number of bathers increases. Hiring a professional can make your job a lot easier so all you have to do is swim!
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