Clear Water

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PLEASE READ: Why it is Important to Test Your Water After Your Pool Opening!

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You’ve waited all winter for this and the time has finally come- it’s time to open your pool! You see your pool is crystal clear and you may be ready to dive right in BUT before you do, it is important to have your water tested within 24-48 hours of starting your equipment after your pool is opened. Clear water can be HIGHLY ACIDIC water. Acidic water can severely damage your pool and its equipment within days of operation.

Poor water quality can lead to:

  • Corrosion and damage of pool equipment (especially the components in heaters!)

  • Damage to ALL pool surfaces (vinyl liners, gunite & fiberglass)

  • Additional, potentially costly, expenses to return the pool to a useable condition

  • Cloudy, murky and unsightly water

  • Swimmer eye and skin irritation

  • AND MORE!!

Here at Colley’s Pools & Spas, all 4 of our locations offer COMPLIMENTARY computerized water testing. While your water may look clear and safe, it has been sitting stagnant all winter and may be unsafe for swimming and damaging to the pool and equipment!

Maintaining quality pool water is vital to keeping your pool and pool equipment in tip-top shape all summer long. Frequent water tests (we recommend weekly, but at minimum, twice a month) will help you figure out which chemicals you need, which helps increase the longevity of your pool and its equipment and, in turn, SAVES YOU MONEY! Just because your pool water looks clear- doesn’t mean it is safe!

Testing your pool water with Colley’s Pools & Spas is easy!

  1. Use a Colley’s water sample bottle or any clean container.

  2. Take the sample away from jets and skimmer.

  3. Dip container upside down until elbow deep, then take the sample.

  4. Bring it into one of our 4 locations for a COMPLIMENTARY water test.

Based on the computerized outcome, our pool experts can recommend which chemicals you may need to improve your water quality.

A General Guide to Pool Chemicals

Our February 20% off chemical sale is here! You may want to take advantage of the deals we have going on but are unsure of what chemicals you may need or what role they serve in the maintenance of your pool or spa. In our first blog post, we’ll be going through a general overview of the main chemicals used in pools and spas and what they do. Not every pool and spa is the same so it is always best to consult Colley’s knowledgeable pool experts when looking to purchase chemicals from us!

Chlorine: Probably the best-known pool chemical, chlorine is a sanitizer that keeps algae and bacteria at bay. It comes in liquid, powder, and tablet forms. When water reacts with chlorine, it forms hydrochloric acid, which is the compound that fights bacteria.

Shock: Shocking a pool is the act of "unbinding" or oxidizing the inactive chlorine (chloramines). Shocking can be done with increased dosages of chlorine or MPS (sodium monopersulfate) non-chlorine shock. When added to the pool, whatever chemical is used starts a process called superchlorination. Shocking the pool helps kill all the bacteria and sanitizer byproducts. Usually sold as a separate product, shock is used about once a week or every two weeks, depending on pool usage.

Bromine: This is an alternative to chlorine, but typically used in warmer water such as that used in hot tubs. Because hot tubs tend to have a higher pH level (alkalinity), and bromine works better at a higher pH level, bromine is more effective in warmer water.

Cyanuric Acid: The sun’s ultraviolet rays can speed up the decomposition of chlorine in the water. Cyanuric acid helps slow that process down by stabilizing, or protecting, the chlorine. However, there is a limit to the amount of cyanuric acid that can be in the pool: too much can also slow the destruction of bacteria. Some chlorine products come with cyanuric acid added; be sure to check before adding cyanuric acid separately.

Algaecide: Often copper-based, these polymers serve as a preventative barrier against algae. After the pool has been shocked, algaecide is added to keep the algae from returning.

Calcium chloride: Your pool requires a minimum level of calcium hardness before molecules start to look elsewhere for its minerals and eat away at your tile and metal. Calcium chloride will increase calcium hardness.