POOLSIDE BLOG
Pool Chemicals aren’t all created equal
Don’t get sold the wrong pool chemicals for your pool! The short-term saving on your chemical costs will cause issues later due to chemical imbalances & impurities from their pool quality.
Chemicals from large retailers may be cheap, though they will cause expensive problems later.
They chemicals you use affect other parts of the pool & water balance
Pool shops have specialised knowledge on what chemicals to use and what’s in them.
Use the right chemicals less often.
Don’t get sold the wrong pool chemicals for your pool!
Most large retailers don’t specialise in swimming pool & spa chemicals so will sell what has the best profit margins for them, and this usually means the quality is lower. Their staff also don’t have the high levels of knowledge and understanding about the chemicals they are selling, as well as the effects they have on your water & and your health!
Did you know?
The short-term saving on your chemical costs will cause issues later due to chemical imbalances & impurities from their pool quality. For example, did you know that not all pool Chlorine is the same? There are five types!
Sodium hypochlorite,
Calcium hypochlorite,
Lithium hypochlorite,
Trichlor, and
Dichlor.
Each Chlorine type has a different purpose based on what kind of pool you have and the application you’re using it for.
If you want to learn more about the different chlorines, keep reading below, otherwise, come in to and take advantage of the knowledge and extensive training from the team at Poolside Beaconsfield and we’ll make sure your pool is balanced.
Skip to Why is all this important?
Sodium hypochlorite is liquid chlorine, great for killing algae quickly, though is used up just as fast. Calcium hypochlorite is the powdered chlorine most used for pool shock & even day to day use.
The active constituent of chlorine changes from brand to brand and can range from 400gms/kgs for day-to-day use up to 600gms/kg for shock treatments.
These chlorines are also un-stabilised, meaning it does not contain any Cyanuric Acid which slows the chlorine from being broken down by the sun.
Trichlor and Dichlor are stabilized Chlorine, meaning they do contain Cyanuric acid for sun protection.
Trichlor has a high Chlorine saturation and affects a pool’s pH and Dichlor, on the other hand, has a neutral pH level, not affecting the pH of the pool. It also has a high Chlorine saturation, dissolves quickly, and is great for spas.
Trichlor & Dichlor may seem like the way to go… However, you can’t keep putting stabilised chlorine into the pool as this will increase your cyanuric acid (stabiliser) level, and lead to further issues.
Why is this important?
Children and adults with sensitive skin are vulnerable to the effects of over chlorination, changes in pH and other effects of improper pool chemicals.
If you put the same weight of chlorine into a pool or spa and it has a higher level of active chlorine, you’ll run the risk of sore eyes, itchy skin, difficulty breathing, discoloured clothing, reduced equipment life and the list goes on.
What other chemicals are different?
Other cheap chemicals that can cause more problems than just chlorine are algaecides, minerals and salt.
ALGAECIDES
It’s very common to find staining due to copper in algaecides. If you pick up an algaecide from a large retailer, they mostly likely won’t ask you what algae you’re treating, they won’t test your copper levels in your pool or check what equipment you must ensure there are no issues with putting that in your pool.
Using a copper algaecide regularly will eventually build up your copper levels and you’ll have staining occur. From there you’ll need to treat the stains and continually add a product to keep the stains from coming back.
OR
Go to Poolside Beaconsfield and let them take the risk out of copper staining.
SALT
The salt you can buy from the large retailers is what is not good enough for pool shops. This poor/low quality pool salt contains dirt, fillers and even metal shavings. This all goes into your pool and then stays there while you swim and can cause algae problems and staining.
OR
Go to Poolside Beaconsfield and let them take the risk out of salt staining.
MINERALS
Don’t overpay for minerals when your lager retails have a mostly salt content, mixed in with a little Magnesium and possibly some other minerals and passing off as ‘Minerals’. Poolside Beaconsfield have a guaranteed 70% Magnesium content in our bags of minerals, so when you buy Magnesium, you’re getting Magnesium, not a bit of everything else!
OR
Go to Poolside Beaconsfield and let them take the risk out of you minerals.
Overall, you can take a chance with cheaper chemicals from the large retailers, however, if you want you use less chemicals, use the right chemicals makes healthy water to swim in.
Pool & spa chemicals to keep on hand
We encourage everyone to ensure that you have a small stock of pool chemicals on hand for when you can't make it into the pool shop to keep your pool in good working order and avoid any expensive issues in the future.
Ensuring that you have a small stock of pool chemicals on hand for when you can't make it into the pool shop, will keep your pool in good working order and avoid any expensive issues in the future. Here are our top suggestions for which products and how much of each to keep at home.
Test kit & testing reagents
Chlorine, pH & Total Alkalinity are the main balances to keep in check. With a well-stocked test kit, you can make sure the pool is in balance even when you can’t get into the store.
Chlorine / Bromine
We suggest having at least 2 kg of on hand for a pool or 1kg Bromine for a spa (powdered chlorine will last longer and is easier to store than liquid chlorine)
Hydrochloric Acid / pH Reducer
5 litres of Hydrochloric acid will usually last around 4-6 weeks for average-sized pools or 500gms of pH reducer for spas.
Buffer / Total Alkalinity Increaser
2 kgs of pH buffer for pools or 500gms of TA Increaser for spas will last you a month or more, depending on the weather conditions.
Salt & Minerals
Having a few extra bags on hand, ideally, 2-4, will allow you to top up if your chlorinator production drops.
Clarifier
1ltr Quick Clear Liquid clarifier (or 3 - 4 Super Clear clarifying tabs) will help your filter remove organic and inorganic waste.
Oxidiser
1 kg Oxysheen will help the chlorine kill germs and bacteria much faster and efficiently.
Book a pool test and balance online below or
call 03 9769 3252 to keep your pool going over the next few months.
Pool Safety Guide
Pool safety is imperative for a relaxed and happy swimming environment. Ensure your pool has these basic safety checks complete before you swim.
Having a pool is a great way to cool off, keep the kids entertained and keep fit. We've put together a short checklist of things that we think will help to ensure your pool is safe so you, your family, and your friends can continue to enjoy it all Summer!
The checklist features 8 parts; The swimming pool gate, swimming pool fence, around the swimming pool fence, supervision, pump, grates and suction, emergency preparation, chemicals & electricity.
We encourage all pool owners to make this weekend your home pool safety weekend before Summer.
Disclaimer: This checklist does not substitute for a full pool safety inspection and is for awareness purposes only.
#1 Swimming pool gate safety guide
Must open outward from the pool.
Must be self-closing and self-latching from any distance.
The latch must be more than 1.5m from the ground.
Must latch catch on the first swing.
#2 Swimming pool fence safety guide
Secure and in good working order.
No more than 100mm from the ground.
Should be at least 1.2m high.
No vertical gaps more than 100mm apart.
#3 Around the swimming pool fence safety guide
Pool aids and toys should be stored securely and out of view.
Objects that could be used to climb the fence should be removed from the area.
#4 Supervision safety guide
Adult supervision in combination with pool fencing is the most effective method of preventing children from drowning.
#5 Pump, Grates, and Suction safety guide
Always turn off the pump before removing lids, clamps, or connections.
Ensure that no fittings are broken or missing
Fix leaks immediately.
Be aware that the filtration system is under a high amount of pressure
#6 Emergency preparation safety guide
Up-to-date CPR and first aid skills
Keep an up-to-date CPR sign in a prominent place in the pool area ideally near the pool steps - Contact us by phone, email, or come in-store to get a new CPR sign.
#7 Chemicals safety guide
Store all chemicals securely, out of view, and reach of children.
Always mix chemicals into the water, NEVER pour water into chemicals.
Use chemicals in an open, well-ventilated area.
When pouring chemicals into the pool, pour slowly & carefully to avoid splashing onto yourself or the surrounding area.
Heavily dilute spills with lots of water and clean up immediately.
#8 Electricity safety guide
Electricity and water do not mix. Keep plugged in electrical devices such as stereo equipment away from the pool and where puddles can accumulate.
A residual current device (rcd) or residual current circuit breaker (rccb) can save lives.
For more information, suggestions, tips or to talk to us about getting a certified pool inspection, come in-store, call or email us today.