Pool & hot tub guides
Reference charts and how-to guides for pool water, with the numbers worked out and links to the calculators you’ll need.
- Ideal pool chemistry levels chartPool and hot tub chemistry levels in one chart: chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium, CYA, salt and bromine, with CDC/MAHC limits beside common home targets.
- Pool chemical dose chart per 10,000 gallonsHow much chlorine, acid, soda ash, baking soda, calcium, stabilizer and salt per 10,000 gallons, worked from the chemistry, plus per 10,000 litres.
- Chlorine types compared: liquid, bleach, cal-hypo, dichlor, trichlor and saltLiquid chlorine, bleach, cal-hypo, dichlor, trichlor and salt cells compared: strength, dose per 1 ppm, what each adds to the water, pH effect, storage.
- Above-ground pool sizes and gallons chartGallons for round above-ground pools from 12 to 33 ft and ovals from 12×24 to 21×41, at 48, 52 and 54 in walls, plus why maker tables give other numbers.
- Hot tub sizes and gallons chartHow many gallons is a hot tub? Real models from 6 to 9 ft with seats and gallons from the makers’ spec sheets, plus inflatable tubs and a swim spa.
- Pool filter sand chart by modelHow much sand your pool filter takes: pounds of #20 silica and 50 lb bags for Hayward ProSeries, Pentair Triton II and Sand Dollar, and Intex models.
- Pool words explainedPlain meanings of pool words: free vs combined chlorine, CYA, TA, LSI, SLAM, ppm, turnover, gpm, backwash, cove, fill line, beaded liner and more.
- How to balance pool waterBalance pool water in the right order: alkalinity, pH, calcium, stabilizer, then chlorine. Why it matters, the saturation index, and a worked example.
- How to shock a poolWhen to shock a pool, how high to take chlorine (label, SLAM and CDC levels), step-by-step dosing, clearing a green pool, and when it’s safe to swim again.
- How to close (winterize) a poolWhen to close a pool for winter, balancing and shocking first, lowering the water, blowing out lines, antifreeze, plugs and covers for any pool.
- How to open a pool in springOpening a pool after winter: when to open, removing the cover, reconnecting equipment, refilling, then testing, balancing and shocking, even a green pool.
- Pool chemical safety: storing, handling and never mixingHow to store and handle pool chemicals safely: what never to mix, adding chemical to water, protective gear, spills, exposure first aid, children and pets.
- Salt water pool basicsHow a salt water pool works: why salt isn’t used up, salt levels by cell maker, stabilizer and chlorine targets, pH drift, top-ups, shocking and draining.
- Pool heater vs heat pump (and solar, and a cover)Gas pool heater, heat pump, solar or just a cover? DOE efficiency figures, a worked cost comparison per heat-up, sizing, and heat-up times.
- Pool running costs: what a pool costs each monthWhat a pool costs to run each month, line by line: pump power, heating, chemicals, top-up water and a salt cell, with worked examples and where to save.