How to Treat a Pool

Pools are wonderful additions to a house and can give a family plenty of entertainment value as well as a fun way to exercise. However, if they are not kept clean, pools can be unhealthy, causing sickness to the swimmers and damage to the pool system. When starting a cleaning schedule for a pool, it is best to begin when the pool is first filled, and maintain the schedule so that the task does not become a chore.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step 1

Use chlorine to keep down the bacteria level in the pool. Bacteria grows in a pool through everyday use; it develops due to the people who use the pool. Test the pool several times a week to see if it's at the proper chlorine level, and add as needed. Chlorine amounts are based on the size of the pool and how much water it holds. The container should tell you how much to add for your size pool.

Step 2

Shock the system with extra chlorine to kill waste that accumulates in the water. This is normally done in two-week intervals.

Step 3

Put algicide in the water once a week to control algae growth. Algae grows in stagnate water, so the water might need more treatment if the pool is rarely used.

Step 4

Test the water with a pH kit to determine the pH level. Use pH balancing chemicals to level it out if needed.

Step 5

Operate the filtration system around eight hours each day to remove debris and circulate the chemicals so that they work in all parts of the pool.

Article Written By Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.

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