Pool Chemicals
If you’re new to the swimming pool world, you might be wondering what you’ll need to get started with your pool. What chemicals should you have on hand? What equipment will you need? Walking into or clicking around in a pool store, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of products you can choose. The list of things you’ll need on a regular basis, though, is pretty manageable. Here’s a basic list of supplies you should keep around:
- Vac head: There are two main types of vac heads; one for vinyl liner pools and one for gunite pools. You’ll use the vac head (attached to a pole and hose) to keep your pool clean and free of debris.
- Vac hose: The vac hose attaches to the vac head and provides the suction needed to actually vacuum your swimming pool.
- Pole: The adjustable-length pole attaches to your vac head, brush, and leaf skimmer interchangeably. It is extendable to accommodate different pool depths and allow you to reach all areas of your pool without trouble.
- Brush: Attach the brush head to your pole to brush the sides of your pool and keep them clean.
- Leaf skimmer: The leaf skimmer attaches to the pole, as well, and allows you to skim leaves and debris (and bugs…gross!) from the surface of your pool.
- Test strips: Test strips will help you keep your water levels in check–they’ll tell you the levels of chlorine, pH and total alkalinity. This will let you know what chemicals you need to add to keep your pool clean, safe and swimmable.
- Stabilizer: Stabilizer is a chemical that helps prevent chlorine dissipation due to sunlight. Intense sunlight can make it hard to maintain proper chlorine levels, so if your swimming pool is in direct sunlight you may need to use a stabilizer.
- Alkalinity Plus: Alkalinity+ raises the total alkalinity of your pool. Alkalinity that is too low can cause your pH levels to fluctuate excessively.
- Calcium Plus: Calcium+ increases water hardness to prevent foaming, equipment corrosion, and scaling.
- pH Plus: pH+ raises the pH level of your pool water. The proper range will allow your sanitizer to work more effectively, reduce equipment corrosion, reduce eye irritation and reduce skin dryness.
- pH Minus: pH- lowers the pH of your pool water. It’s important to keep your water in the proper pH range (7.2-7.8) to optimize system performance, reduce corrosion and reduce eye and skin irritation.
- Algaecide: This non-foaming algaecide controls and prevents all types of pool algae.
Link to the Ask the Pool Guy Store and List of Products Here
