Practical articles for pool owners on skimming, water testing and choosing the right equipment.
143 articles
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Put chlorine tablets in the feeder your pool is designed for—like a floater, skimmer basket, or chlorinator—and never loose in the water.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Yes. A saltwater pool still uses chlorine for sanitation, but the salt chlorine generator usually makes it for you. Keep testing and follow the manual.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Baking soda can nudge pool pH upward, but its main job is raising total alkalinity. Test first, make one change at a time, and follow the label.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 4 min read
Chlorine lock usually means your pool chlorine is present but not effectively sanitizing. The usual culprits are high stabilizer, poor circulation, contamination, or skipped maintenance.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 24, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
If pool alkalinity keeps dropping, repeated acid use, aeration, rain, top-offs, or source water are often the cause. Learn how to trace the pattern safely.
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 raise free chlorine, test the water first, remove debris, confirm circulation, and add sanitizer only as directed on the label and manual.
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 pH in a saltwater pool, confirm the reading, keep the water circulating, and use a pH-lowering chemical only as the label and pool manual direct.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Yes — over-shocking can irritate swimmers, bleach surfaces, and keep the pool unsafe until chlorine drops back into range. Stop, test, and follow the label.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
The safest order is simple: test first, clean and circulate the pool, then add only the needed pool chemicals one at a time, following the label and manual.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
There is no universal wait time. Let the pump circulate the water, follow each product label, and retest before adding the next pool chemical.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Yes, you can shock a pool during the day, but direct sun can reduce effectiveness. Follow the label, keep swimmers out, and test before reopening.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.
Water Chemistry · Archive date: · 3 min read
Test total alkalinity with a pool test kit or test strips, follow the label timing exactly, and sample water away from returns for a more reliable result.
Written for PoolSkimmer on Oct 23, 2026; assigned an earlier archive date, not published on that date.