Borate Balance

BORATES BALANCE BETTER

A change in pH of 1.0 can change the sanitizing efficiency of chlorine by 40%! 

Maintaining water balance factors in their correct ranges can greatly contribute to higher chlorine efficiency and improve the overall quality of pool water. 

Maintain water balance factors for ideal pool water:

• pH 7.2 - 7.6
• Total Alkalinity 80 - 120 ppm
• Calcium Hardness  200 - 400 ppm
• Borates 30 - 50 ppm

Want to really make sure your water balance is correct? Plug your numbers in our LSI calculator. If your results are between -0.3 and +0.3, your water is considered balanced. 

If you're not using Borates yet, learn more HERE.

Borates can not only keep your pool water in balance, they can prevent or slow scaling (including salt cell generator scaling), prevent staining, reduce skin and eye irritation, keep equipment cleaner, and add sparkle and softness to the water. Borates are only lost through splash-out or during backwash, so a once-per-season addition may be all you'll need. 

Click the video to learn more about borates.

Clean

CIRCULATE FILTRATE CLEANATE

Download the '3 Ways' Poster

Circulation, filtration and regular cleaning keeps organics from building up on surfaces and in the water. 

• Circulation prevents 'dead spots' where algae can grow uninhibited. Circulation moves water through the filter, heater, erosion feeder, or anything else designed to enhance water quality. Circulation also mixes chemical additions and helps water maintain an even temperature.
• Filtration pulls particulates from the water, whether organic or inorganic. Sand filters are the most common style - offering economy, ease of use, and relative quality of removal. Cartridge filters remove smaller particulates and waste less water than sand filters that require a more frequent backwashing. Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters remove the smallest-size particulates of available residential options. 
• Particle removal by filter type
  • 25 Microns - Sand Filters
  • 15 Microns - Cartridge Filters
  • 4 Microns - D.E. Filters
    • 70 Microns - Human Hair
    • 8 Microns - Red Blood Cells

Cleanation is a made up word to describe the physical removal of particulates from the water by you... or your pool boy.

There is no such thing as too clean! It's important to physically remove debris, especially organics from your pool's water, surfaces and filtration system.

Routine cleanings include:

• Brushing
• Netting/Skimming
• Vacuuming
• Removing debris from skimmer and filter baskets.

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An automatic pool cleaner (APC) is an amazing way to keep your pool looking great. It is not a substitute for routine cleaning, but they can be invaluable assets to proper water care. 

Don't forget to clean your filter media via backwash or chemical cleaning as needed. Physically remove any non-attached items like stairs when cleaning to prevent trapped algae growth.

Remove

REMOVING THE YUCK

Chlorine exists in your pool water in two forms: Free and Combined

Free Chlorine

Free Chlorine is just that - Free - free to go after bacteria, viruses and other water nasties that can sicken swimmers. Free chlorine is a powerful disinfectant. 

Disinfectant; having the ability to kill or inactivate microorganisms and pathogens, and oxidize contaminants. Disinfectants must also maintain a concentration in the water for an extended period of time. (a residual for killing and oxidizing contaminants as they enter the water)

 

Combined Chlorine 

Combined Chlorine is chlorine that is tied up, locked in a struggle with some form of contaminant in the water. When combined, chlorine is present as chloramine. Chloramines are stinky irritants that are very poor sanitizers. 

 

You want free chlorine in your water, because free chlorine is an amazing sanitizer. The best way to keep your chlorine free, is by preventing things from tying it up. 

Two contaminants that add to the creation of  combined chlorine are oils and phosphates. 

Oils enter the pool by way of swimmers. Sweat, sunscreen and lotions can create a nasty mess in swimming pools. These nasties can cause havoc in your pool water. Luckily, enzymes can help break down these contaminants into smaller bite-sized bits that can then be broken down by your filter or broken up by your sanitizer or oxidizer. 

Haviland offers broad-spectrum enzymes that unlock a wider range of foreign elements. 

 

Phosphates are found in lawn care products, agriculture production, some pool products and even through your municipal pool water. Phosphate removers bring phosphates out of the water and allow your filter to grab them.