Metal corrosion is common in and around swimming pools, but what is corrosion? This article explains the chemistry and offers some examples. For a deeper dive into the science, you can read the full article here, where the focus is on indoor swimming pools and stainless steel corrosion.
In swimming pools and spas, calcium phosphate scale is rare. But in the right conditions, it can form scale deposits that are harder to manage (and remove) than calcium carbonate. This article explains calcium phosphate, how it forms and precipitates, and how you can prevent it.
Every year, dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa travels across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, and it is vitally important to our global ecosystem. The nutrient-rich Saharan dust, abundant in phosphorus, nourishes the ocean's phytoplankton and algae, while also acting as a natural fertilizer for the lush Amazon rainforest. That same dust also gets into swimming pools.
It's a common belief that bright, sunny days lead to more chlorine loss in swimming pools than cloudy, rainy days. But is this really the case? We set out to investigate this theory. This article explains what UV does to chlorine, and the impact of clouds and cyanuric acid on chlorine photolysis.
For swimming pool owners and service professionals, understanding the role of Cyanuric Acid (CYA) goes beyond its basic function of protecting chlorine from sunlight degradation. This article explores the role of cyanurate alkalinity as a pH buffering system and how it influences the overall water balance.
In this article, we explain how alkalinity buffers pH. We focus specifically on the significance of pKa values in water chemistry and how they impact the buffering capacity against changes in pH.
Chlorine products have different pH values when dissolved in water, but their impact on the pH of a swimming pool is not always significant. This article discusses how each chlorine type impacts pH and why.
In our last article, we introduced the concept of the Mole, a unit of measurement that allows us to weigh atoms, ions, and more complex molecules. This article expands on that lesson to demonstrate how to read product percentages listed on chemical labels. In particular, we're focused on Chlorine %.
In this article, we will discuss the significance of the mole in chemistry and how it is applied to chemical reactions and products.
One of the most common mistakes in pool chemistry testing is testing a water sample that is too cold. Let's discuss why.
Of the three most common types of in-ground swimming pools (concrete, vinyl liner, and fiberglass), fiberglass pools are sold as having the least maintenance and risk of problems. For the most part, that's true. But as we will learn in this article, water chemistry still matters in fiberglass pools. Especially calcium hardness and overall LSI balance.
Bromine is the most popular alternative sanitizer to chlorine. They are both halogen elements and neighbors on the Periodic Table. However, the chemistry of bromine differs from that of chlorine, and that's precisely what we'll delve into in this article.
Do you have sharp crystals in your swimming pool? Depending on your circumstances, they may not be calcium carbonate (aka calcite). They could be calcium sulfate crystals. This article will explain what calcium sulfate is, how and why it forms crystals in swimming pools, and how to prevent it.
When troubleshooting a swimming pool, it helps to know what can cause individual chemistry factors to increase and decrease. This article is an overview of the most common chemistries we measure in swimming pools, and what causes their levels to change up or down.
We have also included a Rule Your Pool Podcast episode for each factor we talk about in this article.
Our water chemistry program defies swimming pool industry standards, textbooks, and pool stores. This article explains why we are different.
Hurricanes are devastating forces of nature, and they are not to be underestimated. When discussing this topic, we are mindful of how serious hurricanes are and that they destroy people's homes and livelihoods. This article aims to answer common questions we get during hurricane season, particularly about how to recover a swimming pool in the aftermath of a hurricane.
Anyone can be decent at what they do. Anyone can do the bare minimum and be "good enough." But this way of thinking often prevents people from being great. Being great requires a different mindset entirely.
The use of borates in swimming pools dates back several decades, though the recent popularity of borates makes them seem new and cutting-edge. While we at Orenda do not endorse the use of borates, they are becoming more widely used. Because borates impact the LSI, we have included borates in our Orenda App 3.0 update. And since borates are in our calculator, we're here to explain what they are and how they work in this article.
This article does not contain dosing information, and neither does the Orenda App. If you choose to use borates, consult dosing information elsewhere.1
When is it necessary to dilute your pool? Let this article be your guide to when (and how much) to dilute your pool.
There's no match for knowing exactly how much water a pool contains, including the plumbing system. So in this article, we're going to make the case for using a water flow meter when filling (or refilling) a swimming pool.
Just like 2021, supply-chain and labor shortages are causing uncertainty in the economy. But amidst the unknowns, a few things are certain, and this article is here to help you plan for them and adapt accordingly.
In this article, we discuss how salinity and water temperature affect saltwater pools; specifically how they affect the performance of a salt-chlorine generator.
We have recently noticed that most swimming pool service companies we speak to do not have a well-defined, standardized operating procedure (SOP) for water chemistry. Regardless of the number of pools the company services, we believe all service companies can benefit from standardizing a few things. This article will explain why.
What causes organic staining in swimming pools? Why do leaves, pine needles, acorns, berries and other plant droppings stain pool surfaces? The answer to both questions is tannins, and this article will explain more.
What should your calcium hardness be? What should your total alkalinity be? Are there ideal numbers? And if so, what are they for your pool? This article discusses these questions through the lens of overall water balance.
It was another odd year in the world, and at Orenda, we thought a recap is in order. If we could choose two words to summarize 2021 in the swimming pool industry, they would be inflation and consolidation.It all started in...
Since releasing the Orenda App in early 2017, customers have been asking for a way to save their chemistry history, pool information, and last week's chemistry. We listened.
Most people probably think swimming pools are waterproof. You might be surprised to learn that most pools are not actually waterproof. Sure, vinyl liner and fiberglass pools are, or at least should be. But in-ground concrete pools are not. In this article, let's discuss the process of waterproofing for concrete pools, and if waterproofing is necessary for your pool.
Hosting a pool party? You might want to be aware of the challenges your pool will need to overcome. But no worries, we've got you covered in this article.
The 2021 chlorine shortage has brought about an acid shortage too. As a result, pool owners, builders, plasterers, and service professionals may need to find alternatives to muriatic acid until the supply chain gets caught up. This article will introduce you to CO2 and two acid alternatives.
Swimming pool vinyl liners are a popular alternative to cement-based finishes and fiberglass pools. At Orenda, the majority of our focus has been on cement-based finishes (plaster, quartz, pebble, etc.) because of their interaction with water chemistry–especially during the initial few days of a startup. But this article is specific to vinyl liners and how they interact with the water. Spoiler alert: the LSI still matters.
The COVID-19 supply chain shortages have hit the swimming pool business. A parallel consequence of the chlorine shortage is now an acid shortage. This article will explain how to reduce acid demand by balancing your water chemistry in a more favorable way. You will learn how to stop chasing pH, and instead, learn how to contain it. The results will be less wasted chemicals and more predictable water chemistry.
PPM stands for Parts Per Million. Those of us in the pool business often take acronyms for granted, as though everyone knows them. This article will explain PPM and why it matters.
The chlorine shortage that we have been talking about for months is now national news. Panic buying has already begun. Even if you're willing to pay more for chlorine, you may not be able to get enough of it this summer. Let's discuss how you can adapt.
In much of the world, cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years. And while cicadas are not born to be swimmers, their sheer numbers will lead to many landing (and dying) in pools. Let's discuss how to handle these giant insects.
Have you ever managed a swimming pool where the alkalinity level fluctuates? Usually, alkalinity decreases each week due to acid use, but what about an alkalinity level that rises? Those of you with CO2 feeders are probably already familiar with a seemingly endless rise in alkalinity. If you have ever wondered why alkalinity sometimes climbs on its own, this article is for you.
Our 100th blog article marks an achievement that we owe to you, our readers, with sincere gratitude. We want to use this article to discuss our company and mission and ask for your continued feedback in 2021.
As 2020 draws to an end, there is perhaps one thing that unites people from all over the world: we want to get back to normal. This article is our end-of-the-year wrap-up and a positive outlook for swimming pool owners and industry professionals in 2021.
Swimming pool covers impact water chemistry in different ways. This article discusses each type of pool cover and how they affect water chemistry. Perhaps most importantly, we will discuss how the type of pool cover you have determines how the pool should be winterized and closed.
Swimming pool service companies have traditionally ignored and absorbed gradual price increases, because nobody likes raising prices on customers for the same services rendered. Due to COVID-19 and other unforeseen circumstances, that is no longer possible in 2021. We are writing this article to inform homeowners about what has happened to our industry and how you can prepare for the increased costs of maintaining your swimming pool.
If you own or maintain a saltwater pool, there's a good chance you have seen calcium flakes in it too. This article will explain what the flakes really are and debunk some myths about them. Let's get into it.
There are few topics with as many misconceptions as saltwater pools. Perhaps it all went wrong from the start, when the term was coined about 40 years ago. The name certainly gives you the least relevant information – the pool is not salty like the ocean, and the salt in the pool isn’t even the star of the show. So let's dive in.
Calcium nodules in pools look like little calcium volcanos or blisters that ooze out of pool walls and floors. While there are varying opinions on this topic, in this article, we will explain what nodules are and why they occur. Then we'll discuss how to prevent and fix calcium nodules.
This lesson explains why pH naturally rises. If you maintain pools on a weekly basis, you have probably noticed that the pH is almost always higher after a week. That's not your fault. It's natural. This article explains why.
Swimming pool temperature impacts the water chemistry in a big way. This article will outline a few reasons why.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is a metric used in water treatment that measures all dissolved minerals, salts, chlorides, metals, organics, and many other contaminants in water. TDS impacts water conductivity and is related to corrosion, chemical efficiency, water clarity, and is an often-forgotten factor in the LSI.
Today we are discussing two of the six LSI factors: water temperature and Cyanuric Acid (CYA). There is a widespread belief in the industry that hotter weather means pools need more CYA to protect chlorine from sunlight degradation. Is it true? Let's find out.
It is widely known that pH controls the strength and efficacy of chlorine. And that's true, except when Cyanuric Acid (CYA) is in the water. CYA changes the entire dynamic, and that's what we discuss in this article.
Believe it or not, swimming pools can leak in both directions. Most of us think of pool leaks as water escaping out of the pool, but this article is about water pushing into the pool from the outside from hydrostatic pressure. We'll discuss what the consequences are, how to fix them, and more importantly, how to prevent these issues from the beginning.
When water evaporates, it leaves behind minerals, metals, and other dissolved solids like salt. Naturally, whatever is left behind will accumulate over time. Let's discuss the impact that evaporation has on water chemistry, and how you can be proactive and adapt to it.
What is the recommended way to add acid to a commercial swimming pool? We have discussed how to add acid to a residential pool, but this article will focus on the consequences of incorrectly adding acid on a pool with chemical automation. Mainly, pool surfaces get etched–especially the floors. Spoiler alert: acid dilution is a smart solution.
This article will outline six bad habits that you can change immediately–for free–that will give you an immediate return on investment (ROI).
"How do I calculate the volume of a pool?" This article will guide you on how to measure a swimming pool and calculate its volume of water. Let's begin.
Pool chemistry is a lot like cooking. All the best chefs in the world use measuring cups.
Do you need to reduce alkalinity or pH in a swimming pool? If so, you may need to add some acid. This article introduces the best known practices for how to safely handle acid products, and how to add acid to a pool properly. Yes, it DOES matter how (and where) the acid is poured in the pool. And we debunk the myth of the "column pour."
This article discusses how to manage a pool when the source water is scale-forming (≥ +0.31 LSI). This could mean the water has high calcium hardness, high total alkalinity, high pH, or any combination of the three.
There are few certainties in life: death, taxes, deadlines, and homeowners who want to suspend or cancel pool service during the winter. We understand the logic behind suspending pool service, but we also know that the logic is based on incomplete information. As pool professionals, it is our responsibility to inform customers–homeowners who ultimately make the final decisions about their pool–about what cold water can do to their pool over the winter.
This article provides an overview of algae and explains how to kill and prevent them from taking over your swimming pool.
SC-1000, our scale and metal control product, is concentrated and effective. It is arguably our most dynamic product, serving several functions. But for all its benefits, SC-1000 has one major downside––it neutralizes chlorine. This article explains why this happens, and how you can mitigate it.
Traditional pool industry teachings tell us that maintaining the pH within the ideal range of 7.4 to 7.6 is crucial for swimming pools. But why? And is there actually an ideal pH in the first place? Let's find out.
Cold water is more aggressive than warm water. Not surprisingly, most pool surface damage occurs during the winter. Problems like calcium crystals and winter dust can be prevented by taking an LSI-based approach to pool winterization. In this article, we will explain how.
By Keith Coursin - President, Desert Aire Corp.
Chlorine is the most popular pool sanitizer. Its responsibilities include sanitization, disinfection and oxidation. Needless to say, having a good residual of free chlorine is essential to having a healthy and safe pool to swim in. This article will explain how to add various types of chlorine to your swimming pool. Let's get started.
First and foremost, a word of caution. NEVER mix different types of chlorine together. Even storing them near each other can be dangerous. Chlorine is a volatile oxidizer and when mixed with other types of chlorine, it can be deadly. Always use protective gloves and glasses, and use caution. In fact, as a rule of thumb, NEVER mix chlorine directly with anything else.
Calcium carbonate scale forms in swimming pools and other water systems when the water is over-saturated with calcium carbonate. This can be measured and predicted using the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI). This article discusses why saltwater chlorine generators and pool heaters tend to scale more frequently than the rest of the pool. Hint: temperature matters.
Do you need to raise alkalinity or pH in your swimming pool? If so, there are two dry chemicals that you can choose from. One is sodium bicarbonate (bicarb), and the other is a higher pH substance called soda ash.
This article will walk you through how to safely and properly add either of these chemicals. And yes, bicarb and soda ash are different! The procedure for adding them, however, is identical. We just dose them differently. Adding dry chemicals like soda ash and sodium bicarb is not as simple as it sounds...you don't just throw them in the pool. Like any other dry chemical, we should pre-dissolve sodium bicarb or soda ash in a bucket prior to adding to the pool. Let's explain.
Many people think The Orenda Startup® is a calcium-based startup. But that's not always the case, and we want to set the record straight. The Orenda Startup® is an LSI-based startup.
A "hot start" is a method for starting up a new or resurfaced pool using a lot of acid. It is extremely aggressive–by design–so it etches calcium off the surface, hopefully evenly. The objective of a hot start is to "burn up" plaster dust and any imperfections left behind by the plaster application process, so that the customer is left with a beautiful looking pool. A hot start may also be called a "zero alkalinity startup" or an "acid startup". This article will discuss what hot starts are, why they are used, how they are done, and the chemistry behind the process.
It happens all the time. Swimming pool pH climbs, or sometimes spikes, and all sorts of problems like calcium dust and carbonate scale can occur. But what causes high pH in pools? Why does the pH sometimes climb, and other times stay relatively steady? In this article, we will discuss pH and how it shifts, and offer some remedies to correct the pH, based on each situation.
When first using Orenda products like SC-1000 and CV-600/700, the initial dose is called the purge dose. So what is a purge? And why is it necessary? This article will explain.
Our Fourth and final Pillar is to minimize cyanuric acid (CYA). Maintaining CYA at a manageable level can be a struggle, and we realize that. But CYA has a major impact on chlorine efficiency. It can be summarized in two words: avoid over-stabilization. This article will explain what CYA is, why we use it, how it gets into our water, and how to manage it to prevent over-stabilization.
Phosphates. The invisible common denominator behind many pool problems, elevated chlorine demand, and sometimes even cloudy water. Removing phosphates is the third of Orenda's Four Pillars of Proactive Pool Care. This third pillar is an easy one to master. The action step is simple: keep your water's phosphate levels as low as possible; ideally below 500 parts per billion (ppb). In this article, we will explain why phosphate removal is so beneficial and important, even if it's not always mandatory.
Bather waste. Non-Living Organics. Body Butter. Grease and oils. Whatever you want to call the organic waste products that contaminate swimming pools, managing them is the second of Orenda's Four Pillars. So what do we know about non-living organics? We know that swimmers and animals that use the pool leave behind oils and other carbon-based waste, and chlorine will try to oxidize these contaminants. Unfortunately, oxidation is not chlorine's specialty. Chlorine–or more specifically, the strong form of chlorine in water, Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl)–is primarily a sanitizer and disinfectant.
LSI Balance and Calcium Management is the first of Orenda's Four Pillars. This is arguably the most important of the Four Pillars because it is about understanding water and how it behaves. This article aims to simplify chemistry, so it can be more easily understood. If you are a chemist (who is not already familiar with this subject) and you would like to get more in depth on the science of this topic, this is one of our primary sources. We will link to other external sources in this article as well. So let's get into it.
Are you proactive in your approach to pool management and water chemistry, or are you reactive? Based on the types (and amounts) of products sold in the pool business, it is clear that plenty of pool people are reactive. According to Dr. Charles Bens, less than 10% of healthcare costs go toward proactive measures...which means over 90% is spent reacting to diseases and illness. In other words, over 90% of the medical industry is treating symptoms and consequences, not preventing them. Amazingly, the same argument could be made in the swimming pool industry.
Almost every year, devastating wildfires burn in the western United States and Canadian forests. Even if you are far enough to not see the flames and smoke, swimming pools in the region may still be affected. Wildfire ash and soot can travel hundreds of miles.
"New: Specifies that numerous pool chemicals (stabilizers, pool-grade salt, clarifiers, flocculants,...
There are three distinct types of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) commonly found in swimming pools: calcium carbonate scale, calcium (calcite) crystals, and various forms of calcium dust. This article focuses on calcium dust.
If you have ever added soda ash to a swimming pool, it probably clouded up the water. Here's why.
High levels of Cyanuric Acid (CYA) in pool water can cause issues with both water quality and water balance. Overstabilization slows chlorine down and lowers the LSI, making water more aggressive. Because of these reasons and more, keeping CYA to a minimum is our Fourth Pillar of Proactive Pool Care.
My grandfather has a few rules that go unquestioned and are universally obeyed. One of them is "leave it better than you found it." It could mean the bedroom I'm staying in at their home...or the kitchen after I eat lunch. It also applies to borrowing tools, the car, the tractor, or anything else that does not belong to me. Leave (or return) it better than you found it. A profoundly simple rule to remind us to respect others and their property.
High phosphates seem to weaken chlorine, as evidenced by low chlorine readings, lowered ORP, and the most visual of all evidence: algae. What’s really going on?
Nitrates, Nitrites and other Ammonia-based compounds can be confusing. We'll try to simplify it and why these things matter in swimming pools. We encourage you to read more into these subjects if you want to learn more.1
Simply put, over-stabilization occurs when too much cyanuric acid is added to pool water. Over-stabilization is a problem because cyanuric acid (CYA) can slow down chlorine’s ability to kill pathogens and algae. To explain this, you need to know that hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the active form of chlorine in pools. The concentration of HOCl is affected by both the pH and the CYA concentration. Figure 1 shows the well-known relationship between pH and HOCl.
Automating chemical feeds in swimming pools is almost always a good idea. Orenda products are no different. This is a step-by-step guide with a video to walk you through how to install a feed pump on a swimming pool.
The Orenda Startup™ originated from an idea shared with us by a plastering company in San Diego, California, called Blue Moon Pools. We want to share their story and how they helped change our industry.
What are you going to do if you remove a winter pool cover and find calcium crystals in the pool? If you have encountered winter crystals in the past--and you may have thought it was 'scale'--what did you do in the past? Did it work? This article will outline four things Orenda recommends if you are trying to open a pool with crystals in it.
What if range chemistry is the wrong thing to focus on when managing water? What if the ranges do not always apply, like in the winter? Theoretically, the textbook ranges for chemistry are ideal. But in reality, that's not always the case. In this article we will explain why we prioritize the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) first, and range chemistry after that.
Water chemistry readings are only as accurate as your test kit. And the history of that pool's water chemistry is only as accurate as your honesty (and diligence) when recording test results. In this article, we'll outline five rules for testing water chemistry.
This article aims to shed light on what really goes in a pool that is winterized. When the temperature drops, chemistry changes. Pools must be treated differently in the winter than they are in the summer, You can read our primary article about Proactive Pool Winterization here.
Total Alkalinity (TA) often gets confused with pH and words like alkali and alkaline. This topic is widely misunderstood in the pool industry. Most of us know how to test for TA, but may not know what it actually is, what it does, and why it's important.
How should we add calcium chloride to a swimming pool? How can we make sure we're handling it safely, and properly, to avoid unintended consequences? Adding calcium is not as simple as it sounds...you don't just throw it in the pool. Calcium chloride doesn't dissolve the same way as dry acid, sodium bicarb or a non-chlorine shock; calcium chloride gives off a lot of heat. Like any other dry chemical, however, calcium chloride should be pre-dissolved in a bucket prior to adding to the pool. Let's explain.
Way back in 1984 I founded my service and repair company, The Pool Surgeon. I had no idea what ORP and LSI abbreviations meant, let alone their definitions. To be completely honest with you, I am not certain I was any better informed in the first 25 years of my pool career. As ashamed as I am to admit it, I'm admitting it because it's the truth.
Cyanuric Acid (CYA), also called stabilizer or conditioner, protects chlorine from sunlight. But CYA is a double-edged sword, causing a significant impact on both water quality and water balance. CYA is so important to pool chemistry that we decided to make Minimal CYA our fourth Pillar of Proactive Pool Care.
Calcium hardness has a bad reputation, and that reputation is undeserved. When people see calcium scale or plaster problems that are white in color, they immediately assume it's calcium's fault. In reality, calcium is actually your best friend for water balance, as it is remarkably stable, and able to help you keep your pool in LSI balance year-round.
What kinds of phosphates might be in a swimming pool? There are several variations, and this article will outline some of them. Mainly, we want to illustrate that some phosphate compounds will not show up on an orthophosphate test kit.
Delayed gratification doesn't sell. In an effort to get ahead, tech companies (social media platforms, in particular) are in a race to feed our instant gratification appetites. Want that item? Get online and order it, it will arrive in just a few days. Wait, no, order it directly from the app. Wait, even better, tell Siri, Alexa or "Ok Google" to order it for you! Ahh, yes, progress.
This article discusses dissolved metals in swimming pool water, and how they impact water chemistry. For instance, when metals are oxidized, what do they do? We will cover oxidation, staining, sequestration and chelation, and more.
Pool owners can get frustrated with pool service techs when the water doesn't look good, or problems occur. It is understandable, and maybe the service tech is at fault...but then again, maybe they are not. Know the facts of the problems before pointing fingers. Otherwise, you're just stuck with the problem.
Breakpoint chlorination is an important concept in pool chemistry. Let's explore what it means and the difference between breakpoint chlorination and superchlorination (shocking).
The LSI calls for the carbonate alkalinity of pool water...but this is a confusing term. Pool chemistry test kits only measure Total Alkalinity (TA). So what is Carbonate Alkalinity? And how is it different from TA?
Enzymes are proteins and amino acids that catalyze certain chemical reactions. Swimming pool enzymes like CV-600 are made to break down and remove non-living organics and oils, which helps reduce chlorine demand and clarify the water.
I got a text from a customer in the Northeast that just finished plastering a pool the week before. The text had a picture in it of a green pool, and it read:
If you have ever opened a winterized swimming pool in the spring and found calcification on the walls and floor, it is most likely not scale. The odds are it's actually calcite crystals in your pool. This article will explain the differences between scale and crystals, as well as how to treat and prevent the crystals from coming back.
NOTE: This article has been revised from its original version due to learning more from laboratory results. We still have more unanswered questions about crystals than we have answers. Why do they harden? How many forms are there (we know of at least 3)? Why are some crystals easy to clean up, and others stubborn? What common denominators are involved, beyond cold water and lack of calcium hardness?
Seasoned pool operators know the triad of great pool water: filtration, circulation, and chemistry. Filter channeling is a problem that undermines the efficacy of sand filters. Let's learn what channeling is and what can be done to fix and prevent it.
The Orenda App and Orenda Calculator® are some of the most widely-used tools in the pool industry. Here's an overview on how to use them.
The following is a true story, exactly the way I remember it. Not that I could ever forget my time in that tiny warmup pool...
While chlorine is the most commonly-used residual sanitizer in the world, there are some alternatives. But not every chlorine alternative is capable of doing everything chlorine does, nor is it capable of doing the job as well as chlorine does. Free chlorine is the most popular sanitizer for a reason. That said, here are some non-chlorine alternative sanitizers.
Chlorine is the most popular sanitizer/disinfectant used in swimming pools. This article covers the different types of chlorine and how to use them. We will link out to more in-depth articles for each type of chlorine (eventually).
After the initial fill/startup, the vast majority of damage done to a swimming pool occurs during the winter. This is because cold water lowers the LSI, making water more aggressive. In other words, etching and corrosion are more likely to happen in cold water.
Pools get cloudy for a number of reasons. This article will discuss several of them, but keep in mind you could have a combination of these factors going on. There are three distinct types of water clouding: water quality issues (green, yellow, or brown cloudiness), water balance issues (pure white or gray), and chemical conflicts (usually bubbly or films floating around on the surface).
If you do not know the chemistry of the source water, making decisions about how to treat your pool become more difficult. This article covers the importance of knowing the chemistry from the tap.
I have never plastered a pool in my life. In fact, until this week, I had never even seen pool plaster being applied. To be honest, I did not even know the difference between plaster, cement, gunite, concrete, shotcrete, or any other type of -crete. Because of this utter lack of knowledge and experience, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this year's National Plasterers Council (NPC) annual conference in New Orleans.
Calcium hardness is one of the most important factors in water chemistry, and swimming pool chemistry especially. It is one of the six LSI factors, and because it does not fluctuate much, we love using calcium hardness as a foundation for water balance. Let's discuss why.
In January 2019, the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) merged with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) and became the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance.
We have revised this article, which was originally written as a guest blog by the NSPF itself. Now we want to showcase the new organization and what it offers the industry. And as far as we can tell, both the NSPF and APSP still maintain their original websites and content, including guest articles from Orenda and others.
Can a fouled sand filter be cleaned enough that replacing the sand becomes unnecessary? Challenge accepted.
The organization referred to in this article is NSF International, formerly the National Sanitation Foundation. It is separate from the National Science Foundation. Founded in 1944, it exists to provide third-party testing and validation of products available to the public. Directly from their website:
Today, we're diving deep into the fascinating world of Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP). Whether you're a swimmer, a pool owner, or just someone with a thirst for knowledge, understanding ORP can shed light on the science behind maintaining clean and safe swimming pools.
The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) is a cornerstone of the Orenda program. The LSI is the unbiased measurement of water balance, as defined by calcium carbonate saturation. It determines if our water is aggressive/corrosive (low LSI), balanced, or scale-forming (high LSI). It sounds simple enough, but let's dive in and show you just how much it matters to other aspects of water chemistry.
Not only is peeing in the pool disgusting, it also results in harmful disinfectant byproducts (DBPs) being off-gassed from the water. Examples of these DBPs are chloramines (specifically the airborne NCl3, Nitrogen Trichloride), chloroform, cyanogen chloride, and other gases. They are harmful and cause swimmers like me to develop asthma and lifeguard lung. Ironically, our urine is one of the root causes of the harmful air we breathe. One would think that would be enough to stop swimmers from peeing in the pool. But there are valid reasons why swimmers pee.
Pool builders, plaster applicators, and service techs know that a pool startup can be a real pain. Plaster dust is just the tip of the iceberg. For residential pools especially, most pools have water filling them within hours of finishing the plaster. That means the tap water and its chemistry is immensely important in the curing process (hydration) of new pool plaster.
In the event of an Accidental Fecal Release (AFR), the CDC has published a recommended limit of Cyanuric Acid (CYA) at 15 ppm for commercial swimming pools. The vast majority of outdoor pools in America have far more than 15 ppm of CYA already, so what can be done?
Any pool is capable of having world class water clarity, provided they have the right components and management practices. Most pools face cloudy pool water at least some of the time. In this article, we focus on the pools that consistently have stunning water clarity. What are they doing differently?
Have you ever asked "what's the difference between pH and alkalinity? Many of us in aquatics confuse total alkalinity and pH. It’s understandable, given how blurred the line is between words like “alkaline” and “alkalinity.” Indeed, alkalinity and pH in water chemistry are closely related, but they are not the same. This article will distinguish between them.
As a follow up to part 1 and part 2 of the history of pool indoor air quality (IAQ), I reached out to Keith Coursin, the President of Desert Aire Corp, a prominent pool dehumidifier manufacturer. Coursin has been in the field of HVAC technology since his 20's; in my personal opinion he's one of leading experts on pool dehumidification in the world. This is my interview with Keith Coursin.
Scum lines are exactly what they sound like: lines of scum that form around the water’s edge, adhering to tile, grout, gunite and even stainless steel. By scum, we mean carbon-based bather waste (such as body oils, sweat, grease etc.), as well as body products (like deodorant, perfumes, sunscreen and lotions). If you are unfamiliar with scum lines, ask any lifeguard. They are often assigned to scrub them off with a brush and cleaning gel, and it takes a good bit of time and labor. Not to mention, a lot of cleaning products.
Continued from History of indoor pool air quality (IAQ) | Part 1.
Indoor air quality problems are usually equated to chloramine issues. Airborne chloramines are an inevitability with swimming pools, and pool operators alone cannot prevent them entirely. It takes a coordinated effort on both the water side and the air side for healthy indoor air quality to occur. This article is part 1 of explaining the issue.
Carbonate Scale is a buildup of hardened calcium carbonate (CaCO3) on pool surfaces or equipment. Scale can be a big problem for a pool and its plumbing system (and other water systems besides pools, like fountains).
Given the popularity of salt chlorine generators in residential and commercial pools, it is appropriate to share some valuable information for saltwater pool owners/operators, or those considering making the switch to salt.
A stunning number of pool operators ask us about backwashing. Of all the topics in pool operation, one would think backwashing is fairly straight-forward. When the pressure in the filters gets to a certain point, backwash. Right? Well, as it turns out, that's not what pool operators—especially inexperienced ones—ask us. It's not about 'how' or 'when' to backwash. It's more like...
Technically speaking, chloramines are chemical byproducts of chlorine oxidizing inorganic ammonia in water. The term chloramines is used generically to describe all disinfection byproducts (DBPs) that result from chlorine oxidizing nitrogen compounds. Chloramines and these other DBPs are the main cause of air quality problems in indoor pools.
Chlorine is primarily a sanitizer. It's secondary role in pool chemistry is oxidation of other contaminants, like bather waste. Unfortunately there is a lot of bather waste and other oxidants that reduce chlorine rapidly, which interferes with its primary mission of sanitization. Enzymes devour non-living organics (bather waste). Supplementing your chlorine with enzymes is part of our Second Pillar of Proactive Pool Care.
I have spent a good chunk of my life in the water as a competitive swimmer. I estimate that I’ve swam (conservatively) over 23,000 miles in my life to date, which is nearly the circumference of the Earth. Swimming is a passion of mine, and obviously, swimming requires water of a certain quality. No one should have to swim in water that is polluted or toxic.
Phosphates in pool water have become a common problem, yet the topic is largely misunderstood or misrepresented. Do you know what phosphates are, where they come from, and why they cause issues for pool chemistry? If not, this article is for you.
