What is Calcium Chloride?
Calcium chloride is a salt compound that is often used in pools as a pH buffer. When added to water, it increases the water’s alkalinity, which can help to stabilize pH levels. It is also a popular choice for swimmer sanitation, as it can help to kill bacteria and viruses.
Calcium chloride can be found in both powder and tablet form and is typically added to pools through a skimmer.
Why is Calcium Chloride Essential to your Swimming Pool?
You have heard of adding calcium chloride to your pool. You may wonder why? Calcium chloride is so essential to your swimming pool because it contributes greatly to the structural health of the pool itself.
Adding calcium chloride to your pool will increase the overall calcium hardness levels in your pool. This fortification is essential. The recommended ratio is two hundred and fifty parts per million. Now that you know the importance of adding calcium chloride, you may wonder how to add it to your swimming pool.
How to add calcium chloride to a swimming pool?
The first step in the process is to find out the current condition of your pool. You need to test the current calcium hardness of the pool. You can call a professional to come to inspect the situation for you. However, you can also purchase test kits in most local pool supply stores. You will need to have the results of the test before proceeding to the next step.
The second step is to measure the amount of calcium chloride you will need. A helpful guideline is as follows, use 2 oz. of calcium chloride for every 1,000 gallons of water to raise the ppm by 10. If your pool holds 10,000 gallons of water, and you wish to raise the ppm by 20, you must add 40 oz. of calcium chloride to the water.
Third, you will need to dissolve the appropriate amount of calcium chloride into a water bucket. This is very important because if you pour the solution straight into a pool you run the risk of scale forming on the surface of the pool. In addition, the pool will appear very cloudy. Next, take the solution in the water bucket and add it to your swimming pool.
As a caution do not add more than 10lbs of calcium chloride per 10,000 gallons of pool water at one time. It is wise to wait at least 12 hours before adding any more calcium chloride to the pool.
Following this step, you need to brush the entirety of the pool. This step mixes the water with the calcium chloride. The brushing makes sure that no materials on the bottom of the pool go undissolved. Lastly, retest the water about 12 hours to twenty-four hours later. Retesting is done for the purpose of checking that the proper levels have been obtained.
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What tools are needed?
You will need a calcium hardness test kit, the proper amount of calcium chloride, a large plastic bucket, a pool brush, and safety equipment such as glasses and gloves.
Once you have all these tools you are ready to add calcium chloride to your pool! However, you may also choose to call a service professional.
This may be a wiser course due to the safety risks. Calcium chloride reacts violently in the presence of other chemicals. Due to this, it’s vital that precautions are taken.
Remember to store calcium chloride safely away from other chemicals, and never handle it without proper safety equipment.
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