Water Chemistry in Las Vegas Swimming Pools

If you own a swimming pool in the Las Vegas area, there are numerous benefits that can be enjoyed but it all starts with proper/balanced swimming pool water chemistry. Simply put, whether you are leisurely swimming in the pool, hosting a barbecue, or exercising, having one is a luxury in our extremely warm climate. Between our extremely high temperatures and wind, swimming pools can be a lot more challenging to maintain and if you don’t know what you’re doing it can be a disaster 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 our storms) to keep them looking great and ready to swim in. If you have a swimming pool in an area with lots of trees, skimming out the debris daily would be recommended! In short, 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 modify the water chemistry and could cause excess use of chlorine or an increase in your phosphate levels.

Maintaining Proper Water Chemistry

If you want to prevent algae growth and keep your pool looking great, maintaining proper swimming pool water chemistry levels is vital. 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 the water long enough. That’s why checking water chemistry once a week is vital. The following is a breakdown of appropriate water chemistry:

Chlorine: 3-5 ppm (summer) and 1-3 ppm (winter)

pH: 7.4 – 7.8

Total Alkalinity: 80 – 120 ppm

Cyanuric Acid: 30 -50 ppm (check the manual if you have a salt pool)

Calcium Hardness: 200 – 400 ppm (which is hard to achieve in Las Vegas as the water coming out of the tap is 400 ppm and higher)

Balancing your water isn’t complicated. Your water is constantly changing, year round especially with the increase in bathers. The weather, body oils, suntan oils, dirt, cosmetics, and urine affect your water chemistry. Continuous filtration and disinfecting will 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, Cyanuric Acid (CYA), and Calcium Hardness (CH). That is why monitoring the swimming pool regularly is extremely important.

During storms which frequent the Las Vegas area, 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. Some pool professionals will recommend turning on your filter before a storm approaches to keep the debris moving into the skimmer. But, please note you will want to make sure the skimmer is free of debris which means it should be emptied after a storm. Maintaining a pool with a lot of swimmers and our extreme heat can be challenging. That’s why Clark County Pool & Lawn is the best answer for weekly pool service in Las Vegas. Contact us today to learn more!