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Safety Guide

Pool Care

Spa Care Guide

Vocabulary

Pool/Spa Vocabulary

ALGAE: Microscopic forms of plant life which enter the pool by rain, wind, dust storms or by other means. There are numerous varieties - some are free floating, others grow on walls and surfaces. They include green, black and mustard types. Some are more resistant to chemical treatment than others.

ALGAECIDES: Chemicals that prevent and control algae. Some are designed to kill specific types of visible algae growth.

BACTERIA: The germs that can contaminate your pool. Introduced by swimmers, dust, rain storms, and other elements.

BACTERICIDE: A product added to pool water that kills bacteria.

BALANCED WATER: The correct ratio of mineral content and pH that prevents pool water from becoming corrosive or scale forming.

BIGUANIDE: The active non-chlorine ingredient in one type of bactericides used for swimming pool sanitation.

BROMINE: An alternative sanitizer sometimes used in the place of chlorine. Excellent for spas and indoor pools.

CALCIUM HARDNESS: The amount of dissolved calcium in pool/spa water. This should be 175-150ppm depending on the pool surf ace and 100- 150ppm in a spa. Calcium hardness levels can cause cloudy water and scale. Lower levels can harm the pool and its equipment.

CHLORINE: The widely used sanitizer chemical for pools. There are two primary types: nonstabalized inorganic chlorine and stabilized organic chlorine. The latter is preferred because it is stable in the presence of sunlight.

CHLORAMINES: Compounds formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen from urine, perspiration, suntan oil, hair spray, etc. Chloramines cause eye and skin irritation. It is chloramines that you smell as the "chlorine" smell.

CHLORINE RESIDUAL: The amount of free available chlorine in your pool. This reading obtained with the DPD reagent in your test kit.

CLARIFIER: A product used to coagulate smaller particles into large particles to make them easier to filter.

DPD: The preferred reagent used in test kits to measure and indicate chlorine levels,

DRY ACID: This granular chemical slowly lowers pH and total alkalinity. Safer to handle than muratic acid.

FILTER: A device that removes particles from the pool/spa as the water passes through a porous substance called the filter medium. The most common types of swimming pool/spa filters are sand, diatomaceous earth (D.E.) and cartridge.

FREE CHLORINE: Also called available chlorine. It's the most active form of chlorine, free to kill bacteria and algae.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: The active ingredient in many clarifiers. Used to oxidize swimming pool water in non-halogen systems.

MAKE-UP WATER: Fresh water used to fill pools/spas or to top them off to the normal level. Also called source water.

METALS: Most commonly found in pools and spa are copper and iron. If left untreated, they may cause stains, hair discoloration etc..

MURATIC ACID: Chemical used to reduce pH and total alkalinity in pool water. It is extremely corrosive and dangerous to handle.

ORGANICS: The perspiration, urine, suntan and body oils, etc. that swimmers introduce into a pool or spa. Other organic contaminants are bugs, tree and bird droppings, other animal wastes, grass clippings... even motor oil (spilled or put in by vandals). These typically won't filter out, and chlorine works very slowly on them. Most often, enzymes are used to break these down.

OTO: A liquid solution used in some test kits to measure total chlorine. It can't distinguish between free available chlorine and chloramines.

pH: A measurement of acidity and alkalinity. Ideal range is 7.4-7.6. Below 7.0, pool/spa water is acidic and will corrode pool and spa equipment and damage the pool/spa surface. Above 7.8, the water's too alkaline and can cause cloudiness and scale formation. Improper pH also effects chlorine's germ killing power and causes swimmer discomfort.

PLASTER: A mixture of white cement and crushed white marble applied as an interior finish on a concrete and gunite pool/spas.

PPM: An abbreviation for "parts per million", the accepted measurement of chemical concentration in pool and spa water.

PHENOL RED: A reagent used in testing pIL It has an effective range of 6.8-8.4.

SCALE: Sandpaper-like calcium bearing deposits that can coat pool/spa walls and clog pipes, filters and heaters. Generally caused by high mineral content combined with high pH.

SATURATION INDEX: A mathematical calculation based on interrelation of temperature, calcium hardness, total alkalinity and pH which predicts if the pool/spa water is corrosive, scale forming or neutral. Once the saturation index is determined, you can get an accurate picture of your pool/spa water balance.

SKIMMER: A device in the pool/spa wall that continuously directs debris and surface water to the filter.

STABILIZED CHLORINE: Contain stabilizer to provide lasting protection for the pool/spa, meaning fewer applications and less expense.

STABILIZER: Stabilizers prevent sunlight from dissipating chlorine strength and reduce the amount used in season.

SUPERCHLORINATION: Also known as shock treatment. A process of adding significant doses of chlorine to pool or spa.

TOTAL ALKALINITY: Total alkalinity affects and controls pH. If total alkalinity is too high, pH will be hard to adjust. If it's too low, pH will be unstable and difficult to maintain. The desired range for total alkalinity should be 80-150ppm, depending on the pool/spa finish.

WINTERIZING: The procedure for protecting pools from freezing conditions and long periods of off-season inactivity. It includes physical and chemical protection of the pool