Practical articles for pool owners on skimming, water testing and choosing the right equipment.
18 articles
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Household bleach can sometimes chlorinate a pool, but only if the label and pool manual allow it. Unscented sodium hypochlorite is the key ingredient to check.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
To lower chlorine in your pool, stop adding sanitizer, keep the water circulating, retest the free chlorine, and let time, sunlight, or dilution do the rest.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Scale-prone pool water often shows rising pH, hard water, white crust, rough surfaces, and cloudy deposits before visible scale buildup starts.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 7, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Maintain pool pH by testing regularly, keeping the water circulating, and making careful, label-directed adjustments before small changes become bigger water problems.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
To raise free chlorine in a pool, test first, restore circulation, remove debris, and then add chlorine exactly as the product label and equipment manual direct.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 24, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
The right amount of soda ash depends on your pool volume and current pH. Test first, follow the label, circulate the water, and retest before adding more.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 24, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
To shock a saltwater pool, first clean and test the water, then use only the shock product’s label directions, keep circulation running, and stay out until it is safe.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 24, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Pool water can look crystal clear and still be unsafe if sanitizer, pH, alkalinity, or calcium hardness drift out of range. Here’s what to check first.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 7, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
To lower pH in a swimming pool, confirm the reading first, then use a pH reducer only as the label directs. In salt water pools, check circulation and equipment if pH keeps rising.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 24, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
To fix alkalinity in a pool, first verify the reading, then determine whether total alkalinity is too low or too high before making any water-care changes.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 24, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
To raise pool calcium hardness, use a calcium chloride product only after testing, then follow the label and your pool manual while the pump circulates water.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 24, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Most above ground pools need chlorine or another sanitizer, pH and alkalinity balancers, and an occasional shock treatment. Test first and follow the label.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 24, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.