Why balanced water matters
Clear water isn't the same as safe, balanced water. Chlorine is what kills germs and algae, and pH controls how well that chlorine works. When the numbers drift, swimmers get red eyes and itchy skin, algae gets a foothold, and the plaster, tile and equipment start to wear out early. Public health guidance, like the CDC's healthy swimming advice, puts chlorine and pH at the center of pool safety for exactly that reason. These are the numbers Royal Pool Pros tests and balances on every weekly visit.
The ranges we hold your pool to
Free chlorine is the working chlorine in the water. We keep it between 1 and 3 ppm in a traditionally chlorinated pool, toward the higher end in July and August when the heat burns it off. pH stays between 7.4 and 7.6, the window where chlorine is efficient and the water feels comfortable. Total alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm keeps the pH from bouncing around.
Calcium hardness belongs between 200 and 400 ppm for plaster and pebble pools. Too soft and the water pulls calcium out of the plaster; too hard and you get scale. Cyanuric acid, the stabilizer that protects chlorine from the sun, stays around 30 to 50 ppm. Let it climb too high and the chlorine gets sluggish.
- ■Free chlorine: 1–3 ppm
- ■pH: 7.4–7.6
- ■Total alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
- ■Calcium hardness: 200–400 ppm (plaster/pebble)
- ■Cyanuric acid: 30–50 ppm
Test it, don't guess it
The biggest mistake we see is adding chemicals without testing first. Always test, then adjust, and never mix pool chemicals together. Royal Pool Pros tests every pool on every visit and logs every chemical we add, so we can spot a trend before it turns into a problem. If you'd rather not play chemist in your backyard, we'll handle it for you across Madison, Ridgeland, Gluckstadt and the rest of Madison County.